Jnâna Yoga, Part II: Seven LecturesVivekananda, Swami
Religion
Jnâna Yoga, Part II: Seven Lectures
Vivekananda, Swami
Vedanta; Yoga, Jñana
Death and birth are simply unthinkable in
connection with the Self, because it is Existence Absolute.
The second point where we will contend with Kapila is with regard to
his idea of God. Just as this series of limited manifestations of
Nature, beginning with the individual intellect and ending with the
individual body, requires the Self behind as the ruler and governor
on the throne, so in the Cosmos, we must enquire what the universal
Intelligence, the universal Mind, the universal fine and gross
materials have as their ruler and governor? How will that series
become complete without one universal Self behind it as its ruler and
governor? If we deny that there is a universal governor, we must deny
there is a soul behind the lesser series, because the whole universe is
a repetition of the same plan. When we know one lump of clay we know
the nature of all clay. If we can analyze one human being, we shall
have analyzed the whole universe, because it is all built on the same
plan. Therefore if it be true that behind this individual series there
stands one who is beyond all nature, who is not composed of materials,
the _purusha_, the very same logic will apply to this universe, and
this universe too will require such a Soul. The Universal Soul which is
behind the modifications of Nature is called by Vedânta _Isvara_, the
Supreme Ruler, God.
Now comes the more difficult point to fight. There can be but one
Soul. To begin with, we can give the _Sânkhyas_ a good blow by taking
up their theories and proving that each soul must be omnipresent,
because it is not composed of anything. Everything that is limited
must be limited by something else. Here is the existence of the table.
Its existence is circumscribed by many things, and we find that every
limitation presupposes some limiting thing. If we think of space,
we have to think of it as a little circle, but beyond that is more
space. We cannot imagine a limited space in any other way. It can only
be understood and perceived through the infinite. To perceive the
finite, in every case we must apprehend the infinite; both stand or
fall together. When you think of time, you have also to think of time
beyond any particular period of time. The latter is limited time and
the larger is unlimited time. Wherever you endeavor to perceive the
finite, you will find it impossible to separate it from the infinite.
If this be the case, we shall prove thereby that this Self must be
infinite, omnipresent. Then comes a fine question. Can the omnipresent,
the infinite be two? Suppose there are two infinites, one will limit
the other. Suppose there are two infinites,--A and B; the infinite
“A” limits the infinite “B,” because the infinite “B” you can say is
not the infinite “A,” and the infinite “A” it can be said is not the
infinite “B.” Therefore there can be but one infinite. Secondly, the
infinite cannot be divided. Infinity divided into any number of parts
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account