Maya and the evolution of the conception of God

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We see, then, that through freedom the sciences were built; and in

them we have two sets of opinions, the one the materialistic and

denouncing, and the other the positive and constructive. It is a most

curious fact that in every society you find them. Supposing there is

an evil in society, you will find immediately one group rise up and

denounce it in vindictive fashion, which sometimes degenerates into

fanaticism. There are fanatics in every society, and women frequently

join in these outcries, because of their impulsive nature. Every

fanatic who gets up and denounces something can secure a following.

It is very easy to break down; a maniac can break anything he likes,

but it would be hard for him to build up anything. These fanatics may

do some good, according to their light, but much more harm. Because

social institutions are not made in a day, and to change them means

removing the cause. Suppose there is an evil; denouncing it will not

remove it, but you must go to work at the root. First find out the

cause, then remove it, and the effect will be removed also. Mere

outcry will not produce any effect, unless indeed it produces

misfortune.

 

There were others who had sympathy in their hearts and who understood

the idea that we must go deep into the cause; these were the great

saints. One fact you must remember, that all the great teachers of

the world have declared that they came not to destroy but to fulfil.

Many times this has not been understood, and their forbearance has

been thought to be an unworthy compromise with existing popular

opinions. Even now, you occasionally hear that these prophets and

great teachers were rather cowardly and dared not say and do what

they thought was right; but that was not so. Fanatics little

understand the infinite power of love in the hearts of these great

sages who looked upon the inhabitants of this world as their

children. They were the real fathers, the real gods, filled with

infinite sympathy and patience for everyone; they were ready to bear

and forbear. They knew how human society should grow, and patiently,

slowly, surely, went on applying their remedies, not by denouncing

and frightening people, but by gently and kindly leading them upwards

step by step. Such were the writers of the Upanishads. They knew full

well how the old ideas of God were not reconcilable with the advanced

ethical ideas of the time; they knew full well that what the atheists

were preaching contained a good deal of truth, nay, great nuggets of

truth; but at the same time, they understood that those who wished to

sever the thread that bound the beads, who wanted to build a new

society in the air, would entirely fail.

 

We never build anew, we simply change places; we cannot have anything

new, we only change the position of things. The seed grows into the

tree, patiently and gently; we must direct our energies towards the

truth, and fulfil the truth that exists, not try to make new truths.

Thus, instead of denouncing these old ideas of God as unfit for

modern times, the ancient sages began to seek out the reality that

was in them. The result was the Vedanta philosophy, and out of the

old deities, out of the monotheistic God, the Ruler of the universe,

they found yet higher and higher ideas in what is called the

Impersonal Absolute; they found oneness throughout the universe.

 

He who sees in this world of manifoldness that One running through

all, in this world of death he who finds that One Infinite Life, and

in this world of insentience and ignorance he who finds that One

Light and Knowledge, unto him belongs eternal peace. Unto none else,

unto none else.

 

- Swami Vivekananda