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242
VEDÂNTA-SOTRAS.
Self is different from Åditya and the other individual souls: "He who, dwelling within Aditya (the sun), is different from Aditya, whom Aditya does not know, of whom Aditya is the body, who rules Aditya from within ; who dwelling within the Self is different from the Self,' &c. (Bri. Up. III, 7, 9 ff.); Of whom the Imperishable is the body, whom the Imperishable does not know; who moves within Death, of whom Death is the body, whom Death does not know; he is the inner self of all beings, free from evil, divine, the one God Narayana' (Sub. Up.VII). These texts declare all individual souls to be the body of the sinless highest Self which is said to be the inward principle of all of them.-It is thereby completely proved that the highest Self is something different from all individual souls such as Aditya, and so on.-Here terminates the adhikarana of the one within.'
The text, That from which these beings are born,' teaches that Brahman is the cause of the world ; to the question thence arising of what nature that cause of the world is, certain other texts give a reply in general terms (Being only this was in the beginning'; It sent forth fire'; 'The Self only this was in the beginning,' &c.); and thereupon it is shown on the basis of the special nature of that cause as proved by the attributes of thought' and bliss,' that Brahman is different from the pradhana and the individual souls. The remaining part of this Pâda now is devoted to the task of proving that where such special terms as Ether and the like are used in sections setting forth the creation and government of the world, they designate not the thing—sentient or non-sentient—which is known from ordinary experience, but Brahman as proved so far.
23. Ether (is Brahman), on account of the characteristic marks.
We read in the Khåndogya (I, 9), What is the origin of this world?' 'Ether,' he replied. For all these beings spring from the ether only, and return into the ether. Ether is greater than these; ether is their rest.' Here there arises the doubt whether the word 'ether' denotes
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