Adhikarana VI — Meditation on all attributes of the Lord

↑

⇐ ПредыдущаяСтр 332 из 723Следующая ⇒

Adhikarana VI — Meditation on all attributes of the Lord

Now the author discusses the following point. In the Vedanta texts the attributes of Brahman are described to be as perfect bliss, omniscience, etc.

Doubt: Now arises the doubt, whether in meditation on Brahman these attributes should be combined, in every act of meditation or not.

Purvapaksha: The opponent holds the view that these attributes are not to be combined in meditation. Only those attributes can be combined, which are taught under one topic or head of teaching: because, there is no authority for the combination of those attributes which are read under a different context altogether. Nor is there any such rule, that all attributes of Brahman must be combined together, in a single act of meditation, in however different a context they might have been read. Therefore, all attributes of Brahman are not to be combined.

Siddhanta: The right view is that they are to be so combined, as is shown in the following Sutra.

SUTRA III. 3. 12.

आनन्दादयः प्रधानस्य॥३.३.१२॥

ānandādayaḥ pradhānasya ..3.3.12..

.. Anandadayah, bliss and others. … Pradhanasya, of the Principal, i.e., Supreme Self.

12. The attributes like bliss and the rest belonging to the Principal (Brahman), should be combined in meditation. — 373.

COMMENTARY

«Of the Principal», namely, of the Supreme Self to whom belong these attributes. All of them must be combined together in every act of meditation.

All those attributes, like perfection, bliss, omniscience, fulness, compassion and motherly love for those who have taken refuge under Him, etc., which are taught in the sacred Shrutis, as belonging to the Principal, namely to the Supreme Self, who is the substrate of those attributes, must be combined together in every act of meditation; because they serve the purpose of creating a love (thirst) for the Lord.

Note: There are certain attributes of Brahman which, mentioned in one Upanishad, are not mentioned at all in others. Of course, those attributes in which all the Upanishads concur, should be combined, but should the particular attributes mentioned in some, but not in others, be so combined. According to the concordance of the Upanishads, the attribute «Ananda» or bliss is, strangely enough, not mentioned at all in the Chchhandogya Upanishad. Should Brahman be meditated as blissful?

Adhikarana VII — God as Blissful

In the Taittiriya Upanishad, the blessed Vishnu is described as Anandamaya having joy for His head, etc.

Vishaya: In the Taittiriya Upanishad, II., 5. 1., occurs the following description of the Anandamaya Purusha:

Different from this, which consists of understanding, is the other inner Self, which consists of bliss. The former is filled by this. It also has the shape of man. Like the human shape of the former is the human shape of the latter. Joy is its head. Satisfaction its right arm. Great satisfaction is its left arm. Bliss is its trunk. Brahman is the scat (the support).

Doubt: Are these particular attributes of Brahman («Joy», «Satisfaction», etc.) to be combined in every meditation on Brahman?

Purvapaksha: In the last Sutra it has been taught that attributes like bliss, etc., are to be combined in every act of meditation on Brahman. The particular attributes of Joy, Satisfaction, etc., taught in the Taittiriya Upanishad, are not different from bliss, therefore, they must be combined in every act of meditation.

Siddhanta: This combination should not take place, because of the following Sutra.

Познавательные статьи:



Как правильно слушать собеседника

Типичные ошибки при выполнении бросков в баскетболе

Принятие христианства на Руси и его значение

Средства массовой информации США