World of Philosophy

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

Page 947

of ultimate Reality- the Brahman of the Upanishadic philosophy. According to Upanishads, the Brahman- the Supreme Reality is indefinable, indescribable in human language, because it is beyond human intellect, thought and speech. Katha Upanishad clearly states that 'The Brahman cannot be attained or realized through speech, mind and by eyes' [nai va vacha na manasa praptum shakyo na chaksusha- II.VI.12.). 'It cannot be known through intellect and great learning' [ na medhaya na bahuna shrutena- Katha Up.) 'It cannot be grsped or apprehended by inference' (naisha tarkena matirapaneya' Kayha Up.].Speech cannot describe it and mind cannot think about It.Therefore it is said in the Taittiriya Upanishad 'whence the speech returns with the mind without attaining It'ya to vacho nivartante aprapya manasa saha -II.9]. Brahman cannot be described, because, It is attributeless [ kevalo nirgunascha- Shweashvatara Up.). BTBrahman cannot be grasped or perceived, since It is without the source, features, eyes and ears, nor does It has hands, nor feet. [Mundaka Up.I.1.6). Realization of Brahman is matter of direct mystical experience. The Brahman cannot be seen by the eyes and cannot be heard by the ears. It cannot be smellt nor it can be felt by touch, nor can be tasted. How can we know, how can we define such a thing which cannot be perceived through any sense organs- internal or external? Defining or describing the Brahman means bringing Brahman within the net of space -time limitation, making It finite which is infinite. Considering the difficulty in describing Brahman, Upanishadic Seers described It in negative terms as 'not this, not this' and which is inaudible, intangible, invisible, indestructible, which cannot be tasted, nor smellt, eternal without beginning and end' (Bruhadaranyaka Up.III. ]? Again I Bruhadaranyaka Upanishad says 'He, the Atman or Brahman is inconceivable, for he cannot be conceived, unchangeable, for he is not changed, untouched, for nothing touches him, He cannot suffer by a stroke of the sword, he cannot suffer any injury'. [Bru. Up.].Mandukya Upanishad describes It as 'unseen, beyond empirical dealings, incomprehensible by sense organs and mind, uninferable, unthinkable, and indescribable, and without any characteristics' (adrustam ---------- 7].In some places, due to indescribability of Brahman, Upanishads describe It in paradoxical terms such as' neither gross nor fine, neither short nor long, neither glowing like fire, nor adhesive like water's Bru.Up. III.VIII.8).
This Brahman, the ultimate Reality, which is beyond space and time, and directions, is not non-existent, though it is indescribable and indefinable. To indicate its eternal existence, to convince others about Its true nature, It is described in positive terms also in the Upanishads, such as ' It is Absolute Existence, Absolute Consciousness , Infinite and Absolute Bliss' [ a)satyam, jnanam anantam brahma- Taittiriya Upanishad. B) anandam Brahma-Ibid]. The Brahman is also called 'bhuma-the Great, which is identified with permanent bliss' ( yo vai bhuma tat Sukham). It is mass of Consciousness
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