Explanation of the Paradox of "Sublimeness and Denial of Sublimity" of Brahman in the Upanishads

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Department of Philosophy and Islamic Wisdom, Faculty of Theology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran Research Department of Studies of India

10.22061/orj.2023.1856

Abstract

Different interpretations have been given about the transcendence or dissolution of the "Brahman" of the Upanishads. There are some who believe that: Upanishads are a kind of return from the world to the inner person and it is a transition from polytheistic views to unificationist views in India. On the other hand, a group speaks of all divinity and dissolution of Brahman in the Upanishads. Also, according to the Upanishads, "Brahman" is sometimes described as the phenomena of this world, and sometimes it is introduced as superior to any name, description, or cognition. The writer's question is: How can the paradox of exaltation and denial of Brahman be explained? The results of this research are: 1. In the Upanishads, we are not faced with the mere supremacy of Brahman, and the supremacy of Brahman is constantly proved and denied. This apparently contradictory phenomenon in the Upanishads can be resolved by separating the two positions of essence and verb, or separating the inner and outer realms of Brahman; Second. Brahman in the position of essence has all kinds of transcendence except existential transcendence, and in this same Brahman, in the position of action, all kinds of transcendence are negated, and what is proved is presence, not solution; Third. Common names and characteristics that are common among us cannot be applied to Brahman because Brahman is infinite and common names and characteristics are determinative and limiting, and as a rule, Brahman should be abandoned and The Supreme Being of these matters is binding.

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References

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Journal of Ontological Researches
Volume 11, Issue 22
February 2023
Pages 561-539

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