Ishwara
Understanding God: A Journey from Belief to Knowledge
In a world where belief often precedes understanding, we find ourselves at a crossroads of faith and knowledge. How many of us, when asked, would raise our hands to affirm our belief in God? But what does this belief truly mean, and how does it shape our perception of the world around us?
The Illusion of Belief
Belief, in its simplest form, is the acceptance of something as true without verification. It’s a societal default that we inherit and follow, often without questioning. But this unexamined belief can become a barrier to deeper understanding, halting our intellectual exploration and stunting our spiritual growth.
Consider the tale of a Sufi saint who visited a village. When asked to share wisdom about God, he first inquired how many in the congregation believed in God. As hands rose, the saint declined to speak further, explaining that their belief had already stopped them from thinking and questioning. This story illuminates a profound truth: unexamined belief can be a hindrance to true knowledge.
From Belief to Knowing: The Vedantic Approach
In contrast to blind belief, the Indian tradition, particularly Vedanta philosophy, emphasizes knowing over believing. This approach encourages seekers to verify and experience the divine for themselves, rather than accepting dogma without evidence.
But what does it mean to “know” rather than “believe”? Consider this: do you believe you are human, or do you know it? The difference is profound. Knowing involves direct experience and verification, while belief is acceptance without evidence.
Redefining God: The All-Pervading Intelligence
Within the Vedantic framework, God (Ishwara) is not a figure sitting somewhere distant but the all-pervading intelligence that sustains the universe. This intelligence is reflected in the intricate order of the cosmos, from the dance of galaxies to the rhythm of our own heartbeats.
The world, or Jagat, is like a harmonious symphony where every detail is deliberately arranged. Our senses, mind, and reasoning abilities are gifts that help us navigate this complex web of existence. Understanding this deeper truth can be both humbling and enlightening.
The Illusion of Separation
One of the key insights of Vedanta is that the universe is not separate from God. Everything we see, feel, and experience is an expression of the divine. When we look at the world, we are seeing manifestations of God, yet because of our conditioned beliefs, we often fail to recognize this divine presence.
In Indian culture, this understanding is deeply rooted. Ask a villager about the whereabouts of Bhagavan (God), and you might get a bemused look. To them, Bhagavan is everywhere. Their reverence for nature—the air, stars, trees, birds, fire, and water—reflects their recognition of the divine presence in everything.
Ishwara: The Maker and the Made
The essence of Ishwara is not limited to the role of a mere creator but extends to being the very substance of creation itself. In other words, Ishwara embodies both the maker and the material cause of the universe. This duality, or more precisely, this unity, is fundamental in appreciating the true nature of Ishwara. Any conceptualization of a God that exists separately from the material world falls short of this comprehensive understanding.
When we delve deeper into the nature of existence, even from a scientific perspective, every visible form can ultimately be reduced to formless particles. This resonates with the idea that Ishwara is both formless and all-encompassing in form. No form exists independently of the formless Ishwara. The interconnectedness suggests that nothing is separate from Ishwara, making the entire universe a sacred manifestation of this divine entity.
Space, time, and everything within the universe are manifestations of Bhagavan. Hence, when the villager says everything is Bhagavan, it encapsulates a great truth recognized in India’s spiritual wisdom. Every element — from the earth beneath our feet to the expansive sky — is a form of Bhagavan.
The Dream Analogy
To further illustrate the relationship between Ishwara and creation, consider the analogy of a dream. In dreams, we create worlds instantaneously with our thoughts. This creation requires both knowledge and immense power, as everything dreamt is a projection of our mind. The dream includes sun, space, time, earth, and all objects, which are manifestations of our knowledge and memories. Just as in our dreams, where we are both the creator and the material, Ishwara’s knowledge manifests the universe we inhabit. Thus, the entire creation is an extension of Ishwara’s knowledge.
Living with Ishwara: A Divine Life
Understanding that God is existence itself transforms our daily life. There’s no longer a distinction between the material and the spiritual—every aspect of life becomes divine. Our actions, from the mundane to the sacred, become acts of worship, honoring the divine order (Dharma) that sustains the universe.
The great saints and seers were not special because of extraordinary experiences but because of their profound understanding. Their ability to see God in every moment stemmed from their clear, unwavering awareness that everything is God.
Transforming Worship and Life
In Indian culture, every aspect of creation is viewed as divine. We worship rivers, plants, and even stones like the Saligrama, recognizing them as manifestations of the divine. This reverence isn’t symbolic but a profound acknowledgment of the unity of all existence. When we touch a stone, we are touching the divine because that stone is a part of the total reality that is God.
The Orders of Manifestation
To grasp this concept fully, we must explore the different ‘orders’ or realms in which this divine manifestation occurs:
- Physical Order: Studied in various branches of physics, it deals with the fundamental laws governing the universe.
- Biological Order: Explored in biology, it involves the study of life and living organisms.
- Physiological Order: Covered in physiology and medicine, it examines the functions and mechanisms in a living system.
- Psychological Order: Crucial for human understanding, this delves into the workings of the human mind and behavior.
- Order of Dharma: Unique to human beings due to their endowed choice, it involves ethical and moral principles guiding human actions.
The Role of Choice and Effort
While the grand scheme provides many possibilities, living beings, including humans, have the unique ability to create specific outcomes through their efforts. We are responsible for our actions (karma), but not for the results (karma-phala). This understanding liberates us from the illusion of control while empowering us to act in alignment with the divine order.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
As we journey from belief to knowledge, we begin to see the world through new eyes. We recognize that God is not something to be brought into our lives as a separate entity; rather, Ishwara is our life. By aligning our understanding with this truth, we can live a divine life, where every experience is a direct interaction with the divine.
Let us strive to correct our understanding, moving from the conditioned beliefs of society to the clear vision offered by Vedanta. In doing so, we fulfill the highest teachings of this ancient wisdom, making our life a manifestation of divine harmony and order.
As we embrace this profound understanding, we find that the question is no longer “Where is God?” but “What is God?” And in answering this, we discover that we are not separate from the divine but an integral part of its grand, cosmic dance.