BRAHMAN – THE ETERNAL REALITY BEYOND CREATION
Have you ever wondered what lies beyond the stars, beyond time, and beyond the very fabric of existence? Sanatan Dharma teaches that there is an eternal, infinite reality called Brahman—the source of all creation, the essence of all life, and the ultimate truth that transcends human understanding. This chapter is an invitation to explore the mysteries of Brahman, not with the mind alone, but with the heart and soul.
What is Brahman?
Brahman is not a god, not a person, not an object—it is the eternal, infinite, and unchanging reality that underlies all existence.
Brahman is:
- The silence beneath the noise,
- The light within the darkness, and
- The love that connects us all.
Key Characteristics of Brahman:
- Infinite: Limitless, beyond time, space, and causation.
- Eternal: Has no beginning or end; it is timeless.
- Impersonal: Not a being but the essence of all beings.
- Beyond Duality: Transcends opposites like good and evil, light and dark, or birth and death.
Analogy: “Think of Brahman as the ocean, and everything in the universe—people, animals, plants, stars—as waves on its surface. The waves may appear separate, but they are all part of the same ocean. Similarly, everything in existence is a manifestation of Brahman.”
The Upanishads declare: “Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma” – “All this is Brahman.” This means that everything in the universe, including you and me, is ultimately Brahman.
“Neti, Neti” – The Unknowable Reality
The Upanishads describe Brahman using the phrase ‘Neti, Neti,’ meaning ‘Not this, not this.’ This is because Brahman cannot be defined or limited by words, forms, or concepts. It is beyond human understanding and imagination.
Example: Imagine trying to describe the color blue to someone who has never seen it. No matter how many words you use, the experience of blue cannot be fully conveyed. Similarly, Brahman is beyond description and comprehension.
The sage Yajnavalkya uses ‘Neti, Neti’ to describe Brahman:
“The Self (Atman) is not this, not this (Neti, Neti). It is incomprehensible, for it cannot be comprehended; it is indestructible, for it cannot be destroyed; it is unattached, for it does not attach itself; it is unfettered, it does not suffer, it is not injured.”
The Paradox of Creation – How Does Brahman Create?
Brahman is not something that is created; it is the very essence of existence itself. It is the source of all creation but exists beyond it.
- Brahman is not a creator like a potter making a pot. Instead, the universe emerges from Brahman, exists within Brahman, and merges back into Brahman.
- This process is described in the Upanishads as Srishti (creation), Sthiti (preservation), and Pralaya (dissolution).
The Role of Maya (Illusion):
- Maya is not an independent entity but the power (Shakti) of Brahman that creates the illusion of duality and separation.
- It makes the one, infinite Brahman appear as many finite forms.
- Under the influence of Maya, we perceive ourselves as separate individuals, bound by time, space, and causality.
- Even Swarg (heaven) and Nark (hell) are concepts within the realm of Maya, part of the relative reality created by the mind and senses.
- The ultimate goal is to transcend both Swarg and Nark and realize Moksha (liberation).
- Maya is the divine energy that makes Brahman appear as the many forms of the universe.
- Because of Maya, we ask questions like ‘Who created Brahman?’ but these arise from our limited perspective, not the ultimate reality.
What is ‘Before’ Brahman?
“The question ‘What is before Brahman?’ arises from our limited understanding of time. In Sanatan Dharma, time itself is a creation of Brahman. Just as a dreamer creates a dream world, Brahman ‘creates’ time, space, and the universe. Since Brahman exists beyond time, there is no ‘before’ or ‘after’ for Brahman. It simply is.”
Analogy: “Imagine you’re watching a movie. The characters in the movie experience time—yesterday, today, and tomorrow. But for you, the viewer, the entire movie exists at once. Similarly, Brahman exists beyond the timeline of creation.”
Beyond the Human Mind
The human mind is conditioned to think in terms of time, space, and causality. But Brahman exists beyond these categories.
Trying to understand Brahman with the mind is like:
- Trying to grasp the ocean with your hands—you can only hold a few drops.
- To truly know Brahman, you must go beyond the mind and experience it directly.
Brahman is Self-Existent & Beyond Creation
- Brahman is not something created; it is the very foundation of existence.
- Think of it like the screen on which a movie is projected. The movie (creation) comes and goes, but the screen (Brahman) remains unchanged.
(The analogy of the screen and the movie is meant to illustrate the relationship between Brahman (the eternal, unchanging reality) and creation (the ever-changing world). However, in the physical world, a screen is created by someone, and a movie is projected onto it. But Brahman is not like a physical screen—it is not created by anyone or anything.)
- Our minds are conditioned to think in terms of creation, but Brahman is beyond time, space, and causality.
What Happens After Death?
- If You Have Unresolved Karma:
- You may experience Swarg (heaven) or Nark (hell) based on your karma.
- After experiencing the fruits of your karma, you reincarnate in a new body to continue your spiritual journey.
- If You Have Attained Moksha:
- You do not reincarnate.
- You merge with Brahman, realizing your eternal, infinite nature.
- This state is beyond all dualities, including Swarg and Nark.
Focus on Self-Realization:
- The ultimate goal is not to aim for Swarg or fear Nark, but to realize your true nature as Brahman.
Conclusion
“The question ‘Who put Brahman?’ is a beautiful expression of our curiosity and desire to understand the nature of existence. The question ‘Who created Brahman?’ is a beautiful reminder of the limitations of the human mind. We are like children trying to grasp the vastness of the ocean with our tiny hands. But it’s like asking, ‘Who created the creator?’ or ‘What is outside the universe?’ These questions lead us to the edge of human understanding and remind us that some truths are beyond the reach of the mind Brahman is not something to be understood with the mind; it is something to be experienced with the heart. It is the silence beneath the noise, the light within the darkness, and the love that connects us all. When we stop trying to define Brahman and simply allow ourselves to feel its presence, we begin to understand its true nature.”
Glossary
- Atman: The individual soul, which is one with Brahman.
- Maya: The power of Brahman that creates the illusion of separation and diversity.
- Neti, Neti: ‘Not this, not this’—a phrase used to describe Brahman as beyond all definitions.
- Srishti, Sthiti, Pralaya: Creation, preservation, and dissolution—the cyclical process of the universe.
source: this content was created with the assistance of AI and has been adapted and curated by Jignesh Gandhi for this blog.