________________
GOD.
119
inalienable attribute of Life, and Life being characterised by be-ing, God may be described as that which is. If we were to put these words in the mouth of Life, personified as God, they would become 'I am,' or 'I am that am,' that is, 'I am he who is. Accordingly, we find in nearly all the scriptures of the world God revealing his name as 'I am.
Sometimes when emphasis is to be laid on the indefinable nature of Life, the 'I am' becomes 'I am that I am.' In the Zoroastrian faith, one of the most secret names of the Almighty is “Ahmi” (I am). So is “Ahmi yat ahmi” (I am that I am).*
In the Old Testament, God is said to have revealed his name to Moses, saying, “I am that I am," and to have directed him to tell the people of Israel: “ I am' hath sent me unto you” (Exodus, III. 14).
So, also, in the Hindu Scriptures the Absolute is known by the great ineffable name of “ Soham Asmi" (I am he who is).† The Sanskrit, ' Asmi yad asmi' is literally, 'I am That I am.'i
Jesus Christ also used "I am" in reference to Life
(2) with reference to some special attribute previously trans
ferred to the object (sthapana nikshepa), e.g., calling the pieces of wood used in chess-play knights, bishops, and so
forth; (3) with reference to the potentiality residing in the thing,
(darvya nikshepa) e.g., calling a raja's son raja ; and (4) with reference to function or calling (bháva nikshepa), e.g.,
to nickname a person devotee because of his performing
devotion, * Isis Unveiled, Vol. ii, page 221 ; Avesta, XVII. 4 and 6. f Isavasya Upanishad, 16. I See The Fountain-Head of Religion' by Ganga Prasad.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org