Nothingness/Illusion/Real

[Guest guest]

Morning All,

 

I thought this was a really clear elucidation of maya and illusion

and Brahman, I asked if I might quote this it's from:

egodust / F. Maiello who posted it to the

Advaitin List a few days ago,

 

"What i was attempting to show is the fact that not

all jnani-s possess the universal metaphysical key.

and those that do, would be capable of piercing the

outer teachings of all sages (of whom Aurobindo is

also one), and discovering their essence, which is

esoteric.

 

here's Sankara's advaitic formula:

 

1. Brahman is the only Reality.

2. The world is an illusion.

3. Brahman is the world.*

 

*the third axiom is translated as "jiva is not apart

from brahman." however, jiva is also the perceptual

hub of jagat and Isvara (the world and God). jiva

has *created* the world and God (drishti-srishti vada

[the creation-follows-perception doctrine] which is

called forth by the nature of this third axiom).

 

What this apparent contradiction of ideas is saying is that the world

is an illusion on its *own terms*, but is Reality as Brahman Itself!

Moreover, it's important to understand that the world, or anything

in it, is not an aspect of Brahman, but Brahman Itself. That is, every

concept, object, event and perception in and of the world is AT ONCE

the Entirety.

 

Moreover, it should be understood clearly that the only condition where

illusion arises is if any conceivable thought or thing in Life is

believed to be a separate reality apart from its substratum source in

the Absolute (Brahman). Aside from that, everything is real and is

Brahman itself. As the Upanishads tell us, "All this, verily, is

Brahman." So that, whenever something is spoken of in these pages

as not real, it is meant, not real apart from its substratum source

in Brahman. The idea that the world is purely an illusion is a

misconception commonly attributed to Advaita Vedanta; whereas it's

really not saying that at all! It is vitally important to understand

this. If not, we're propounding dualism. Advaita is telling us the

entirety of what is, Manifest and Unmanifest, Immanent and

Transcendental,

Relative and Absolute, Phenomenal and Noumenal, Physical and Spiritual,

is ONE BEING.) " End Quote