Celebrating Shravan with Shiva -17

Shiva Day Seventeen

The Concept of God in Hinduism by Swami Krishnanada

1.  The Taittiriya Upanishad regards Reality as the Atman, or the Self, beyond the physical, vital, mental, intellectual, and causal aspects(sheaths) of the personality. It also identifies this Atman with the Supreme Absolute or Brahman.

‘The Principal Upanishads’ by Subhamoy Das

The Taittiriya Upanishad is also part of the Yajur Veda. It is divided into three sections: The first deals with the science of phonetics and pronunciation, the second and the third deal with the knowledge of the Supreme Self ('Paramatmajnana'). Once again, here, Aum is emphasized as peace of the soul, and the prayers end with Aum and the chanting of peace ('Shanti') thrice, often preceded by the thought, "May we never hate." There is a debate regarding the relative importance of seeking the truth, going through austerity, and studying the Vedas. One teacher says truth is first, another austerity, and a third claims that the study and teaching of the Veda are first because it includes austerity and discipline. Finally, it says that the highest goal is to know the Brahman, for that is the truth.

 

Hindus believe in the existence of the soul, which is eternal, invisible, imperishable, unchanging, and exists beyond the grasp of the mind and the senses. Hindus call it Atma or Atman. According to Hinduism, a person is evolved or self-aware to the extent he is aware of the true nature of his Self. It is this awareness that distinguishes an ignorant person from the self-realized one.