1 Sep 2008 17:46
Knowledge and the Means of Knowledge - 19
We are discussing Vedanta ParibhASha of Darmaraaja Advarindra, as I understand. VP addresses briefly the
ontological status of pariNAma and Vivarta aspects of creation and then discusses the status of silver
that is seen where nacre is. Because of the importance of this topic, we provide some detailed analysis of
creation as a transformation.
Knowledge and the Means of knowledge -19
Creation as a transformation:
Vedanta says Brahman is one without a second – ekam, eva, advitiiyam. One, alone, without a second, and
Shankara comments on the use of these three separate words – ekam, eva and advitiiyam – to negate
differences of any kind. Three kinds of differences can exist; vijaati, sajaati and swagata bhedas and
hence Shankara says three separate words are used by the scripture only to negate all these three types of
differences. Differences between different genus (says trees different from stones – vijaati
bheda), differences within the same genus or family (among the trees say mango tree is different from
coconut tree, etc – sajaati bhedas) and differences within a unit or vyakti (in a tree the roots,
branches, leaves, fruits, etc are different- swagata bhedas). The differences exist because all
objects are made up of parts. In Brahman, since it is one without a second, there is nothing else to
differentiate it from. Hence scriptures also call
Brahman as agotram – meaning it does not belong to any family or genus since it is one without a second. It is
undifferentiated homogeneous mass of consciousness defined by Vedas as prajnaanam brahma. We have
discussed this before that it is a swaruupa lakshaNam of Brahman implying that consciousness is Brahman
and Brahman is consciousness. Since consciousness has to exist, Brahman is also defined as pure
existence. Being one without a second Brahman has to be limitless or anantam which also means that it is of
the nature of pure aananda swaruupam. Implication of all this is that there cannot be anything other than
Brahman, and therefore there cannot be anything other than pure undifferentiated infinite
existence-consciousness.
The question then arises as to how to explain the universe of things and beings consisting of many conscious
and inert entities. Brahman, a conscious entity without a second appear to transform itself into many
(Continue reading)
RSS Feed