Regarding nirguna nature of Brahman

[Guest guest]

advaitin, Rama Mishra <yajvanatha> wrote:

>

> Hello,

> I am new to Advita but keen on understanding the subtle tenets of

it. I hope my questions will be answered by the more enlightened on

the list.

>

> The nirguna brahman is said to be devoid *any* kind of traits. I

fail to understand, how could it then be that it is a serves as a

substratum/support for (AdhAra) *anirvachaniya avidya*. I mean to

say, would not "support for an anirvachaniya-something" itself be a

trait of Brahman.

>

> Kindly bear with my ignorance.

>

> Regards

> Rama

 

Namaste Rama Mishra -ji,

 

Your question is very fundamental. But in asking your question you

have yourself tripped! You are referring to Brahman as 'NirguNa

Brahman'. Why did you have to do it? You wanted to communicate that

your Brahman is not having any attributes. But the

qualifier 'nirguna' itself becomes a 'trait' or 'quality'! Thus you

can see, any attempt at communication messes up our expression and

leads to a messing up of the thoughts attempted to be conveyed.

 

Now let us come to your main question . How can Brahman which has

no attributes be attributed to be a support or substratum for

the 'anirvachaniya avidya'? I think you are referring here to

somebody's statement that Brahman is the basic substratum for the

created universe. If that is so, the analogy of the movie screen and

the movies appearing on it will give you the answer. The screen is

the support for the pictures shown on it, pictures are on the

screen, but the screen itself is picture-less.

 

If on the other hand, your 'anirvachaniya avidya' means, -- as it

should -- the inexpressible (cosmic) ignorance, then the answer to

your question has to be different. Brahman has no ignorance. So

Brahman cannot support ignorance. Ignorance is in us -- who have

identified ourselves with our BMI. There is no ignorance in those

who stand aloof from the BMI.

 

Ignorance itself is only apparent. In reality there is no

ignorance. So from the absolute point of view, there is no

ignorance, and no need to talk about the 'substratum' for that

ignorance. From this point of view there is only the screen, no

movie!

 

If again , your statement about 'anirvachaniya avidya' is from the

vyvaharic (not absolute) point of view, then in this world-view,

everything is an appearance (caused by mAya). Now the screen analogy

comes into play. The movie is only an appearance; it comes and

goes. But while it comes it needs a 'support' and it is the

screen. But the screen did nothing to be the 'support' for the

movie. The screen just is. Brahman is. Avidya is only in the world-

view. It is our ignorance which sometimes thinks of the movie as

real! At some other times we know that the movie is only a

projection and there is only the screen there. So ignorance itself

is not a permanent truth; it is and it is not. Therefore it is

anirvachaniya!

 

I am not sure whether my explanation answers your question. But I

think the thinking has to start along these lines to arrive at a

complete answer.

 

PraNAms to all advaitins.

profvk

[Guest guest]

advaitin, Rama Mishra <yajvanatha> wrote:

>

> Hello,

> I am new to Advita but keen on understanding the subtle tenets of

it. I hope my questions will be answered by the more enlightened on

the list.

>

> The nirguna brahman is said to be devoid *any* kind of traits. I

fail to understand, how could it then be that it is a serves as a

substratum/support for (AdhAra) *anirvachaniya avidya*. I mean to

say, would not "support for an anirvachaniya-something" itself be a

trait of Brahman.

>

> Kindly bear with my ignorance.

>

> Regards

> Rama

 

Namaste,

 

NirGuna means no attributes, it is language to describe in the

negative for no description can fit Brahman.

 

Brahman is not the substratum, Why? because it never happened--

Ajatavada.

 

Saguna Brahman is posited to add some validity for debate, and

explanation.

 

Ask yourself the questions.

 

1. Where does the world go to in deepest sleep?

 

2, Where does it go when the Mukta drops the body?

 

The answer is it doesn't exist for Brahman cannot be divided or

described-----it didn't happen at all..........ONS..Tony.