Digest Number 2489

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Whether or not Ishvara actually exists, as individual

organisms making our way through the world, our

existence is always entirely dependent on our

surroundings. In a way, it's the same thing as

Ishvara, an omnipotent being who has complete power

over us.

 

One doesn't necessarily need to accept that Ishvara

exists, but they must accept that their lives are

always subject to the whims of the world.

 

In such a case, why not be a devotee of this power?

Call it Ishvara, Kali, the universe; whatever suits

your purpose. From the regard of the absolute it's

moot, as you say, so it doesn't matter what you are

calling it.

 

--jody.

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I guess what you are suggesting is known as the

pantheistic approach and I for one think it is not as

satisfactory as a personal concept of Ishwara. I cant

imaginge myself being a devotee of some abstract

power. Further, there is really no concept of "faith"

when you think of nature as a power. Nature always

plays by the rules and it can be predicted and

understood to a remarkably accurate extent. On the

other hand Ishwara doesnt have to play by the rules

and thats where "faith" comes in. We have different

capacities - some of them intellectual, some of them

emotional etc etc. A comprehensive spiritual path

should make use of all them while striving towards the

Divine. And love and devotion (and obviously belief)

in Ishwara are very important for our

"Bhavatmik/emotional" development. Without it, things

become a bit dry - sort of like Buddhism.

 

Please correct me if I have misunderstood something or

my understanding goes against Advaita thought.

 

-Mayuresh.

 

 

 

 

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