Saturday, October 20, 2012

the senses and mind

chanel perfume
Swami Sivananda accepts that Brahmn is beyond the reach of
the senses and mind that is why its existence cannot be
proved by scientific experimentation. It is purely a question
of faith and refers to the intuitive side of man. However,
His existence can be inferred by certain empirical facts or
common experiences in daily life.

One can also prove the existence of Brahmn conceptually. One
cannot think of impurity, duality, disagreement, variety and
mortality without thinking of purity, oneness, agreement,
unity and immortality. The possibility of the relative
implies reality of the Absolute.

Finally, Swami Sivananda questions an atheist who wants
conclusive proof for the existence of Brahmn: ‘Can you give
proof for the non-existence of Brahmn?’ He asserts that no
one has succeeded in proving that Brahmn does not exist.

‘Whether the owl accepts the presence of light or not, there
is always light’. Likewise, whether you accept the existence
of Brahmn or not, He always exists. Even the one who claims
the non-existence of Brahmn is himself Brahmn. Likewise, the
one who claims that there is only shunya, void, forgets that
that the knower who knows the shunya is himself Brahmn.

The author teaches philosophy at Delhi University
Both Maya, the female form and Mayapati, the male form need
to be invoked with equal devotion Durga is the energy aspect
of God. With Krishna, she is Radha, with Vishnu, she is
Lakshmi, with Rama, she is Sita and with Shiva, she is Durga.
Reading verses from the Devi Mahatmya is the customary
practice during the Navaratri season. The usual understanding
is that it is all about Mother Durga slaying the demons so
that we can live peacefully, Lakshmi gives us lots of wealth
so we can be rich and Saraswati enriches our knowledge and
students propitiate her to clear their examinations.