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| ⚫ | See '']'' for the certain ] breed that originated in ] and was named so by people who brought it to the ]. | ||
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| In this article, '''Brahman''' refers to everything in the ] ] ]. Although in English language, '''Brahman''' is commonly used as an alternate spelling of ], which is the highest of the four ]s, this is not the primary meaning of the term. | In this article, '''Brahman''' refers to everything in the ] ] ]. Although in English language, '''Brahman''' is commonly used as an alternate spelling of ], which is the highest of the four ]s, this is not the primary meaning of the term. | ||
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| Brahman can also be seen as the all pervading consiousness which is believed to be basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. It is believed that the universe is not just consious, but that universe is consiousness, and this consiousness is Brahman. People of indic (Hinduism,Sikhism, Buddhism etc.) faiths believe that human consiousness has been separated from Brahman like a drop of water from a vast ocean, and the only path to merge back into that Brahman or supreme consiousness is through the paths of ] and/or ]. | Brahman can also be seen as the all pervading consiousness which is believed to be basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. It is believed that the universe is not just consious, but that universe is consiousness, and this consiousness is Brahman. People of indic (Hinduism,Sikhism, Buddhism etc.) faiths believe that human consiousness has been separated from Brahman like a drop of water from a vast ocean, and the only path to merge back into that Brahman or supreme consiousness is through the paths of ] and/or ]. | ||
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Revision as of 21:04, 28 May 2004
See Brahman for the certain cattle breed that originated in India and was named so by people who brought it to the USA.
In this article, Brahman refers to everything in the Vedanta Hindu religion. Although in English language, Brahman is commonly used as an alternate spelling of Brahmin, which is the highest of the four castes, this is not the primary meaning of the term.
The word Brahman is derived from the Sanskrit word for power, specifically the power of ritual and sacrifice to change the material world. Hence, the secondary meaning of the word which refers to the highest caste of Hinduism, the Brahmins, who have such powers.
In the Vedantic schools of Hinduism, as found in the sacred writings of the Upanishads, the word refers to the ultimate, unchanging reality that lies behind all the objects and activities of the external world. It is composed of pure being and consciousness and to some extent may be called the "world soul."
Brahman is regarded as the source of the universe. Viewed as divine intelligence, it pervades all beings, including the individual soul. Thus the many Hindu deities are manifestations of the one Brahman. In the earliest religious texts, the Vedas, all the gods are seen as issuing from Brahman:
Great indeed are the Gods who have sprung out of Brahman. Atharva Veda
Philosophers of the Upanishads identify Brahman, the world soul, with atman, the inner essence of the human being, or the human soul. In the Hindu pantheon, Brahman should not be confused with the first of the Hindu trinity of Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver) and Shiva (the Destroyer). Brahma is, like the other gods, Ishwar, or manifested Brahman, fundamentally ego-conscious, whereas Brahman is without ego, without existence and beyond form.
While Brahman lies behind the sum total of the objective universe, some human minds boggle at any attempt to explain it with only the tools provided by reason. Brahman is beyond the senses, beyond the mind, beyond intelligence, beyond imagination.
Brahman can also be seen as the all pervading consiousness which is believed to be basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. It is believed that the universe is not just consious, but that universe is consiousness, and this consiousness is Brahman. People of indic (Hinduism,Sikhism, Buddhism etc.) faiths believe that human consiousness has been separated from Brahman like a drop of water from a vast ocean, and the only path to merge back into that Brahman or supreme consiousness is through the paths of yoga and/or meditation.
