World Literature Program

Dr. Robert Churchill, Hindu Cosmology

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World Literature I
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Dr. Robert Churchill's

HANDBOOK FOR THE STUDY OF EASTERN LITERATURES

Hindu Cosmology

 

Brahman -- The Total Godhead

* Existence Itself

* Absolute Oneness

* Absolute Joy

* Absolute Knowledge

* Absolutely Unknowable by conscious human mind

* Absolutely Present within all creatures/objects

 

Brahman Within = Atman -- (The two are One: No Division)

* Brahman, in absolute sense, can not be known by conscious human mind. But Brahman can be experienced:

* Samadhi = Union with God: superconscious state achieved by saints. Steps to reach this mystical vision are described in Bhagavad Gita:

(1) sense contact with outer world broken;

(2) by discrimination, spiritual discipline, meditation--mind turns inward on itself;

(3) realize presence of Atman (indwelling Godhead).

 

* Brahman beyond action; therefore, Brahman can not be said to create/destroy.

 

Ishwara (Brahman united with His Power) = Creator, Preserver, Destroyer of Universe = Personal God. Ishwara is all human intellect can know of God.

* Ishwara has three personalities/aspects:

(1) Brahma--divine function of creation

(2) Vishnu--divine function of preservation

(3) Shiva--divine function of dissolution (not destruction).

(Universe is never destroyed. Since universe is subject to eternal power of Brahman, universe is part of beginningless/endless process which alternates between two phases:

(1) potentiality

(2) expression/manifestation

 

* When one "expression" of universe dissolves, it passes into phase of "potentiality"--a seed-state awaiting its next creation/expression.

* Creatures in universe continually being reborn/redissolved. They return to power of Brahman which sent them forth, remaining there in unmanifested state until time for re-manifestation arrives.

 

Power of Brahman = Prakriti/Maya (basis of all mind/matter)

* Whenever Ishwara wishes to be born among humans, He fashions Himself a body out of Prakriti. But, as God, He remains the Master of Prakriti, even in his human form. He enters/leaves the world at will.

* Humans are also a combination of the Atman and Prakriti. But humans are subject to Prakriti, deluded by it into thinking they are not Atman.

* When humans unite with Atman, they throw off delusion, winning liberation from process/cycle of birth/death. Liberated men/women cannot be reborn because they are no longer subject to Prakriti.

 

Prakriti = composed of Three Gunas (forces):

(1) sattwa

(2) rajas

(3) tamas

 

* in phase of potentiality, three gunas in state of perfect equilibrium and Prakriti remains undifferentiated.

* manifestation/creation phase disturbs equilibrium. Gunas begin combining to form all aspects of differentiated mind/matter. All three gunas present in everything, but one guna always predominates.

* In Physical world:

sattwa = everything pure and fine

rajas = active principle

tamas = principle of solidity/resistance

 

--sattwa predominates in sunlight

--rajas predominates in erupting volcano

--tamas predominates in block of granite

 

* Gunas also represent different stages in evolution of any entity:

--sattwa = essence to be realized

--tamas = inherent obstacles to that realization

--rajas = power by which obstacles removed and essential form becomes manifest

 

* In Mind of Humans:

--sattwa = tranquility, purity, kindness

--rajas = passion, restlessness, aggressive activity

--tamas = stupidity, laziness, inertia

 

* Sometimes one guna predominates in human mind, sometimes another; thus, human moods/characteristics vary accordingly. But we can cultivate any one guna by actions/thoughts/ways of living:

--tamas can be overcome by cultivating rajas

--rajas can be overcome by cultivating sattwa

 

* But ultimate ideal is to transcend sattwa and reach Atman (above/beyond gunas).

 

Some other important terms:

• Dharma-- "the truth within"; one's obligation, duty, responsibility.
• Karma
  • (1) work, a deed, action
  • (2) effect of work, deed, action
  • (3) causal law governing action and its effects in physical, psychological, spiritual planes.
• Yoga
  • (1) Union with God
  • (2) prescribed path of spiritual life. Various yogas are different paths to union with God. I. E., Jnana Yoga = path of wisdom/contemplation; Karma Yoga = Path of selfless, God-dedicated action.

 

 

last updated: 8/5/2003