Concept and symbol

[Guest guest]

....At times even the concept cannot be formulated about the highest

abstraction or generalization of a truth or reality. This is true with

regards to the highest abstraction of Transcendental Reality. Not only

the words fail but also the mind fails to grasp and express the

abstraction. With language, imagination, thought, and ideas also fail.

Then such concepts are " downsized " to lower symbols of God, with or

without form or attribute. The symbol of God itself now becomes the

concept of highest abstraction and generalization! Various sections of

humanity, race, clan, associations, nations, and people try to use

symbol of their choice to actualize the concept of God. Jesus for some,

Buddha for others, OM for a few, and so on. And now if aboriginal in

India, Australia, USA continue to see God in trees and mountains, the

dead and the ghosts, why should we not accept that symbolism!

 

History of art and literature, science and religion is the history of

bridging this gap between the concept and the symbol to its closest

possible

representation. Thus great individuals, books, literature, music, work

of art, etc. come to existence as the best possible symbols of the

concept.

 

In science it takes the form of successive enrichment in scientific laws

and theorems, while in religion it progresses from lower form of worship

to higher form -gauni Bhakti to para Bhakti. From grosser to subtle,

from forms with attributes to formless without attributes the journey

continues!

*

dr c s shah

 

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