Brahman the Universal energy source

Vedas, particularly, the Upanishads speak of a Supreme Being which they simply call as Brahman, which simply means something very big. It is something which remains conceptual. The Puranas gave a similar name, however, to the Creative Energy that brought forth the Universe, Brahma. This too means big, but this is Someone Big, namely the very Supreme Being, Whom out of Unconditional Being, brings forth the Universe out of Himself to be home to the myriad of souls under His Care. If there is a name that is appropriate for Him, it is Narayana, the One Who Supports us all.

Everything in our universe and beyond that is in existence, from tiniest particles to greatest heavenly bodies are same in their primeval pure state which we know to be ‘Brahman', the first cause of material existence as well as the last refuge upon destruction. In short, Our universe along with everything in it emanates from Brahman upon creation and dissolves back in it upon destruction. So one can say the universe is Brahman (in its pure state). Now let's see in terms of spirit or self or Atman or soul. Consciousness in living creature is essence of soul. Soul is living entity that exist in the same state as Brahman. In other words, the soul/self is Brahman.

The self is there in everything even in dull matter(stones, sun, moon,etc). Now one may question, why dull matter even exist? Why isn't it conscious like us? -Reason is consciousness requires condition that is favorable in embodied beings. For instance, virus is unaware unless it enters a suitable host. But in this case it is reverse of that. Living entity or soul enters into a suitable body and makes the body conscious and since the self itself is in primeval pure state, we cannot realize it with our sense. In short, the self is within us all and yet it transcends us all.

I don't claim to be authentic person to explain the self or Brahman. The explanations itself is very basic that may even work for those to whom brahman is new concept. All things that appear are created and will eventually disappear, they do not have an independent existence. All these created things have a creator - Ishvara (God). All these created things borrow their existence from that which is really existent - that absolute existence is brahman. Ishvara is none other than brahman seen from the perspective of the created.

It is changeless and ever exists in all the 3 phases of time. Past, present and future. Only one & one observer i.e. Brahman. Rest all die with time and becomes history. The Gods too go with time. In a movie theater, the white screen is the substratum. The moment, light with different colors thrown on this screen, actor, actress, people, objects, event's come into picture. We presume the event to be real whereas different colors are displayed on the screen. A two dimension Universe.

In fact before a movie starts we are very much aware that we are going to watch a movie but once the movie starts we unforgettably starts to enter and identify with actor actress events of the character and presume that this is really as if happening to us. In Sanskrit its called 'Tadatmyam'. A three dimension man forgets his true identity. As the fire created by those lights or pictures cannot burn the screen. Screen may show ocean but it does not wet. Because of this screen, movies after movies are played and we are able to enjoy it. Similarly in our Universe, Brahman is the substratum and the play of Maya goes on and on. Even Gods are not exempt from this Maya.

Brahman is the idea of ultimate reality that goes over an above everything else from God (or Gods), Devas, Asuras, humans, living, inanimate, thoughts, deeds, space, time, matter and any other force that exists or doesn’t exist. Brahman is everything. Oddly though, Brahman is impersonal. So you can’t pray to Brahman or build temples or listen to it’s advice. Brahman is the ultimate reality that we need to realise. The Vedas say that Oneness with Brahman is what the many sages, religions and practices try to help us attain through different methods. "Ekam sat virpa bahuda vadanti". The ultimate reality is one. The wise approach it in different ways.

Brahman is all that is. Since you exist, you are Brahman. Ishvara is the term used for ‘God’.Though ‘created’ also needs to be looked at. For there to be creation, one thing must be created from another. Which means there is a difference. From the perspective of Brahman, there is only Brahman. However…From the perspective of Ishvara, there only is Ishvara. This is because the world was created from Ishvara. Since the world was created from Ishvara, the world must be Ishvara. Since Both Ishvara and the world are the same, there is no need for the term ‘created’, so we drop that. We are now looking at the non-origination of creation…This doesn’t mean the world does not exist, it means that regarding the world, there was no ‘creation’.

The reason this is important is that this is a major tool for the mind appreciating advaita. If vichara (inquiry) is sufficient, then even though the senses will regard what seems to be individual objects, it will be known it only appears so. This means that dvaita is merely an appearance. So it can carry on regardless. Like looking at waves, foam, ocean, and knowing it is only water. The utility of this is freedom from limitation, moksha. That is, whilst being alive, freedom to experience all life as to offer. The problems are taken out of problems, the drama out of drama. No limitation of sorrow, death, etc. Everything is beautiful…Om Namah Shivay