World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 870

customs. [Janam bibhretī bahudhā vivācasam nānā dharmāņam pṛthivi yathaukasam.XII.1.44].
Upanisads are the expression of Vedic vision and thought. They reveal the most profound spiritual truth. According to Upanisadic literature, everything in the universe is rooted in pure consciousness and pervaded by pure consciousness. It declares the spiritual unity of all existence in the universe in categorical terms by stating that 'All this is Brahman [Sarvam khalu idam Brahma.'-Chandogya Upanisad III.14.1,] In this cosmos, whatever exists-living and so-called non-living, all that is pervaded by one Divine Consciousness'[Īśāvāsyamidam sarvam yatkiñca jagatyām jagat- Isa Upanisad-1]. All things are connected together to one common background known as the Brahman, which is all pervading pure consciousness. This divine consciousness indwells in every entity in the world of objects, permeating everywhere in its homogeneous, all- pervasiveness. It is inside if all and also outside of all' [Tadantarasya sarvasya tadusarvasyasya bahyataḥ-Iśa Upanisad-5; Antarbahiśca tat sarvam vyāpya nārāyaṇasthitaḥ-Mahanarayana Upanisad]. This all pervasive nature of ultimate Reality [Brahman] the pure consciousness is beautifully described in various Upanisads. The Mundaka Upanisad states that 'In front is Brahman, benind is Brahman, It is to the right and to the left. It spreads forth above and above and below. Verily, Brahman is this effulgent universe.'
[Brahmaivedamamṛtam purastād brahma paścãd brahma dakṣinataścottarena.Adhaścordhvam ca prasṛtam brahmaivedam viśvamidam varistham. Mundaka Upanisad. II. 11]. The Aitareya Upanisad declares that "The Reality behind all these things of the universe, is the Brahman, which is pure consciousness. All things are established in consciousness, work through consciousness, and their foundation is consciousness' [Yatkiñcedam prāṇi jangam ca patatri ca yacca sthāvaram sarvam tat prajñānetram, prajñāne pratisthitam, prajñānetrolokah, prajñā pratisthā, prajñānam Brahma.III.V.3] Taittiriya Upanisad state that 'Everything in this universe is originated from this One Divine Consciousness, sustained through It, and going to dissolve in It in the end' [Bhrguvalli.II.16.]. It also says that, all things are bound to one thread; all are connected together to one common background known as the Brahman, which is Absolute Existence, Absolute Consciousness and Absolute Bliss.[ Satyam, jñānam,anantam Brahman.- Brahmānadavalli1.1]. Everything in the universe is connected together to one common whole. The great Absolutist sage Yajnavalkya in Bṛhadāranyaka Upanisad beautifully describes this inseparable whole; 'everything exists in space or unmanifested ether, the space exists in imperishable Brahman- the ocean of consciousness. This Reality, O Gārgi, has interpenetrated the whole universe; everything exists in this imperishable Brahman [Sa hovāca
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