Why are so many Hindus unaware of the concept of Nirguna Brahma

DBF

Mad
Nirguna Brahman (the Impersonal) is too difficult a concept for most people. Murthi worship is the easiest. The famous Ramakrishna Order scholar and monk Swami Tapasyananda says the following on this issue:
'…Worship of a God who is not also the Absolute is idolatry, and a mere Absolute, who is characterless and is irresponsive, is not better than matter. The Vedanta accepts the Supreme as both Personal and Impersonal. When the votary in the course of his spiritual development becomes de-personalized on achieving the elimination of his ego-based body-mind, he will be able to understand the true Impersonal. Till then, that is, so long as he is a person, the Impersonal and the Absolute can only mean for him a Personal Being who is much more than what he, a person, has grasped or can grasp of Him. To illustrate, the Impersonal-Personal Divine of the Vedanta is the ocean and the God of adoration of the devotee is like a big field or backwater into which the water of that ocean has flowed. The many deities that form the object of worship of Vedantism are like these tanks and backwaters in the analogy. They are so many manifestations of the Personal-Impersonal Sat-chit-ananda in the thought structures of those who adore Him, or are forms adopted by Him for the achievement of cosmic purposes in his world-play. The worship of these forms with an understanding of the infinitude that informs their finitude ...... is the only form of true worship that the human mind is capable of, so long as man remains a limited person. The other ideas of the Divine which Semitic religions hold – their so called boasted monotheism – is only a form of disguised idolatry; for when it is said that Jehovah is a jealous God, or that there is no God but Allah, it is obvious that the Supreme Being is being identified as an exclusive individual and not as an expression of an Infinite Being in terms of the human mind. When the link with the Infinite is forgotten, a Deity, whether it is a monotheistic entity or a polytheistic being becomes a mere idol. Real worship of the Supreme Being is possible only when the principle of Vedantic theism is understood – that principle being the perception of the Infinite Personal-Impersonal Being through a limited manifestation of Him.

A Vedantic Deity is never aggressive, demanding the overthrow of other deities. But, a monotheistic Deity, always a jealous God, cannot tolerate another Deity.As Toynbee has pointed out, the monotheistic Deity of the Semitics is only an apotheosis of the group or tribal consciousness of certain people, a sentiment that held together societies before nationalism took its place. Just as the nationalistic patriotism is eager to absorb all other countries, that form of group consciousness masquerading as monotheism wants to supplant all other religions and establish its Deity in their sanctuaries. Proselytism, for which many religions stand but which has no place in the Vedantic scheme, is the consequence of the Infinite Being but a personalisation of the group consciousness of a people.

The principle enunciated above in regard to Deities is applicable also to worship of God in holy images, which critics, who are practicing real idolatry, have stigmatised as idolatry. The Vedantin’s God is not an individual as the Semite’s. He is the Universal Spirit who has manifested as All-Nature. He is one with all, and if a person with faith wants to see Him anywhere, He is present there. Like water running all through the ground, He is everywhere; and if the well of faith is dug, He becomes available for worship. A holy image is thus a point at which His real presence is available for imperfect man to apprehend and commune with. It is not a mere means for practising concentration as some apologists say. It is much more. It is a point of real communion with the Divine when the eye of faith reveals Him as accepting the worship and offering made by the devotee.It is in this spirit that all great sages and saviours of India, down to Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna, have seen and adored the Holy Images. Its practice is one of the most excellent and necessary aids for the vast majority of men to gradually rise in the spiritual scale. The Divine presence is made concrete, and prayers and adoration made meaningful to those men who cannot dive into the depths of consciousness by meditation and introspection and commune with the subtle Spirit as the Inner Pervader within. It is therefore a necessary step in practising religion as an experience instead of reducing it to an expression of conformity with a dogmatic creed or adherence to some formal code of conduct and rituals.'

[Adapted from Swami Tapasyananda’s introductory remarks in ‘A Primer of Hinduism’ by D.S.Sarma]

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The prime reason why Hindus, or infact most of the religions make an idol personifying the core aspects is Visibility and the Link factor.

Abstraction, as propounded by most schools, like Nirguna Brahman is difficult to connect with. To appreciate goodness or evil, the basic requirement would be to impersonate those virtues in a form.

Once the factor of "Guna" is appreciated as a higher state of Choice, people will be spiritually mature and capable to assimilate the concept of Formless-ness - Nirguna. The reason why we understand the whole idea through people who show up good and bad qualities as well, is because realism works better than idealism. Brahman is to be perceived, next to atman, which is then free form expectations and actions. The important point to note is Brahman solely doesn't mean God, it is equally a thought applicable to humans as well. For depths, refer "Aham Brahasmi" concepts as well.

We all can debate the nuances Hindusim offers, because many point out that it is self-contradictory when such issues are cited.

But, It is important to understand that Hindusim, is to be perceived as an Evolutionary school of Abstract thought, which will enable a person to appreciate all factors in life and also, to aspire for the greater realities, say Jeevanmukthi.

Hope it suffices. Bring upon more areas you wish, for elaboration.

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Every Hindu knows about Nirguna Brahman. But owing to the Nirguna Brahman being too vast and too subtle to be comprehensible entirely, most Hindus use a Saguna Brahman.

What is a Saguna Brahman? It is perceiving the Brahman with recognisable qualities. This makes meditating / interacting with the God more natural and less daunting. It makes a worshiper connect to God at a personal level.

Why idol worship? The Brahman is composed of all there is in the universe. Therefore It is present in all matter and all space. Therefore representing the same as an idol makes the God more real and less of an abstract idea. And worshipping It becomes the supreme act of adoration and recognition of divinity. How is that wrong, as long as all the worshippers know that the deity is but an emanation/ interpretation of the Nirguna Brahman? That worship makes them feel closer to God and helps them lead good lives, become good people, prevents them from doing wrong, gives them spiritual solace and hope for their future.

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Most Hindus are not steeped into Hindu philosophy. They are more concentrated on the outer exoteric aspects of Hinduism which are the Agama Shastras, Astrology and other various rituals like fasting etc. Worshipping an idol is not a wrong thing in Hinduism but it is wrong to worship a deity without recognizing the existence of Nirguna Brahman.

According to Isha Upanishad both Sambhuthi and Asambhuthi have to be equally worshipped.

andham tamah pravishanti ye asambhootim upaasate |
tato bhoya iva te tamo ya u sambhootyaam rataaha || 12 ||

anyadevaahuh sambhavaad anyadaahura sambhavaat |
iti shushruma dheeraaNaam ye nasta dvichachakshire || 13 ||

sambhootim cha vinaasham cha yastdvedobhayam saha |
vinaashena mrutyum teertvaa sambhootyaa amrutamashnute ||

If Hindus study the Vedas and the Upanishads I am quite sure this attitude can be changed and there will be no requirement for Idols or Temples. But not all of them have the same intellect to understand this and hence for them an Idol and a Temple is required. Both Nirguna and Saguna Upasana has to be done simultaneously. It is wrong to do only Nirguna Upasana or vice verse.

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No not at all, we Hindus are aware of the Nirguna Brahma, but we worship the various forms of the Brahma as Gods and Goddesses, whom we worship as idols , who had come into existence for some specific reasons to accomplish specific tasks and were born with those specific qualities.

But its also true that out of ignorance several people are more attached to idol worship since they easily loose faith in Nirguna Brahma. Also people worship specific God/ Goddesses to acquire specific powers and blessings.

Oh dear thinkers!

"Tamasa paramo dhatha shanku chakra gadha dhara:"

First of all, let us appreciate all veda vakyas. Let us not be one sided.

Veda says, Narayana is above the Thamasa unknown region with shanku chakram & gadha. He came down as Kannan.

Nirgunam = Not wordly gunas
Sagunam = All Kalyana gunas.

Worldly Gunas = Satvam, Rajasam Tamasam (Sarva dharmaan parithyajya)
Kalyana Gunas = Sarvantharyami, SarvaShakthan, SarvaThanthraSwathanthran, Sowlabhyam, Sowseelyam ... to top it all Dayaa towards us.

Got it?

Even great like Adi Shankara can realize Krishna. Looks like we thinkers are greater than Shankarar the Original Advaiti.???

We are so special because we think Veda itself is contradictory. :) WoW what a pure knowledge we possess. We are so intelligent to say Brahmam is next to nothing.

Why don't we learn before coming to conclusions?


 

Dhillon

Dhillon Sa'aB™
Staff member
On topic, people don't care for a shapeless/everywhere God.

matha tekan nu bhi kuch chahida.
 
Firstly, Many hindus are aware of the concept of Nirguna Brahma.

Secondly, God in Nirguna form is everywhere and in everything but this concept is not appealing to human intellect. I agree that ultimate goal of a human being is to be in consciousness with Nirguna form of God.

But the medium through which we can reach that goal is "the embodied form of God" that is 'Saguna'.
:)
 

Mahaj

YodhaFakeeR
They are unaware cause:
1) pandit paari baat
brahmin class doesnt want to lose its value and source of income
2) hindu anna turku kaana
Hindu is blind, they dont want to self diagnose
Ban on o my god movie is supreme example
3) maha moor kuch bhed na janat
Lack of intellect ie supreme stupidity,
4) conditioned to be fearful
Most hindu are freaking affraid of everything movable or immovable, lack of self confidence or lack of faith in oneself. Too much focus on bhagya and emotions
In west hinduism is a religion of joke, they need to refrain from shashtraas and puraanas
Same with sikhs
 

userid114437

Well-known member
Acha.
Eh concept i think kade laggu ni hoia hindu veera vich
Kabeer ji di bani padh k prove ho janda.
Kabeer ji toon pehla v nai laggu hoia hona coz fer kabeer ji nu ah gal na likhni pendi

Worshipping their idols, the Hindus die; the Muslims die bowing their heads.
 

Dhillon

Dhillon Sa'aB™
Staff member
Kabir te baki santa di baani parh ke eh ta pata lagda ke Hindus allowed criticism.

ajj koi sant kahe ke baba ji nu AC kyu laya ta kall nu dangeya ch 35 bande marr jane.

Ungli chakni saukhi, apne ch dosh labhna aukha :p
 

userid114437

Well-known member
^^
Jinni mitti mein patt da sikhi vich ho rahe pakand di, ene koi hindu apnea di ni krda hona

Kithe firda dhillon :huh
 

Dhillon

Dhillon Sa'aB™
Staff member
main dujje bhai di gall kar reha,
jo hindu anna , turk .... repeat da rehnda :p

Je namdev de time ajj de Sikh hunde ta Namdev unna baare ki kenda ?

kuch na kehnda, nahi kise nihang ne ja ke vasrha maar dena si :p
 

userid114437

Well-known member
Khende??? Dey said many things.
Eh na socho gurbani vich hindu use kita taan tusi sare bach gaye.
Wen u start matching ur life with gurbani. K tusi gurbani de according tusi apni soch rakhi k nai.
Take everything of gurbani as its saying to u. Jado eda vichaaru ge gurbani fer najara sikhi da

Nai taan idol mohre lame pe gaye te sggs mohre pe gaye. Iko gal.
 

Mahaj

YodhaFakeeR
main dujje bhai di gall kar reha,
jo hindu anna , turk .... repeat da rehnda :p

Je namdev de time ajj de Sikh hunde ta Namdev unna baare ki kenda ?

kuch na kehnda, nahi kise nihang ne ja ke vasrha maar dena si :p
Doosra bhai kaun aa ethe?
 
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