Essence of Vedanta - Part 27

Dear All,

Let us try and learn more on THE GOD as ANANTAM, in this post.

The famous sutra in Brahma Sutra is

Janmadyasyayatah (tat Brahmah)

(Brahman is that from which Creation (shristi) etc. (as also Sthiti and Laya) takes place)

Brahman is Utpathi shristi, sthiti, laya karanam. 

But being the cause of Creation etc. is not intrinsic to the nature of Brahman. 

However, these help us to distinguish Brahman from Jagat or jiva.

So this statement indicates the one indivisible Brahman. Every object in the manifested universe is an entity limited by it identity. 

Identity is a product of space and time. But each of these objects is also vested with the infinite possibilities associated with them. When identified with its current being an object is a finite thing. When identified with its infinite possibilities it is infinite. 

Actually, existence-consciousness means consciousness, which is – or existence, which is aware of its existence. In that state, which is called Brahman-knowledge or Brahman-experience, there is simultaneous experience of all things. 

Here, in this world, whatever freedom you may have is limited by the existence of other things in this world. Your freedom is limited by the freedom of another person and, therefore, your freedom is limited to that extent. You cannot have unlimited freedom in this world. But That (Brahman) is unlimited freedom. It is unlimited because anantam brahma: "Infinite is Brahman."

Brahman is sathyam  which has been understood by knowing that  brahman is the primal cause and is not an effect of any other cause.

Such a sathyam, the consciousness which is the substratum of the created world is also to be understood as anantham because, being the cvause of the whole creation and created and with nothing as cause for creation of Brahman, Brahman remains even after the creation and created dissolves during involution.

Thus, unborn and eternal, consciousness is infinite .

It should not be misunderstood or misconstrued that these three attributes- sathyam, jnanam and anantham are different from the seeker/ knower.

ANANTAM- SUMMARY POINTS

·       Satyam word is used but the limitation created by the word Satyam will be neutralized by Anantam. Likewise the limitation created by the word Jnanam will be neutralised by Satyam and by Anantam.

·       Though the objects keep changing with time, space and substance, the illumined knowledge with which the objects are pursued and perceived in all the states of consciousness, remains absolute 

·       Brahman-experience, there is simultaneous experience of all things. There is all-existence, a simultaneous knowledge of all things – omniscience, a simultaneous enjoyment of all things, and perfect freedom. It is perfect freedom because there is nothing to obstruct your freedom in that state. Thus, brahman  experience is perfect freedom, which is infinite (Anantam)

·       Sathyam - truth may be misconstrued as inert/Jada. (All objects created by human, will have a cause which is inert. Ex. A pot created by mud where mud is inert.)

·       Only the creator Purusha or Brahman and Prakriti are eternal truth and also not inert., because, Sathyam is elaborated as consciousness, i.e., the intelligent cause for  creation, but it remains as a cause which is unborn or caused by any other cause. 

·       To further clarify that the consciousness or Jnanam is a thing which will never come to an end, it is further explained as eternal truth, eternal consciousness, which is ETERNAL and INFINITE- ANANTAM.

·       A thing, which causes the termination of idea of the other thing, forms the limit of the other thing.

Love.