• What you ought to know about Hindu Dharma
• What Every Hindu ought to know--I
• What Every Hindu ought to know--II
Apr 9, 2008
The “one God” of the theological simpletons vis-à-vis the “only God” of the Hindus
Date: Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 1:42 PM
Hindus do not believe that there is only one God. Hindus believe that God is One (the only God, or rather God only is), i.e. a unity inclusive of all things manifest and unmanifest. This is quite different from saying there is only one God (though Westernized sloppy thinkers may not agree). To say that there is only one God is to reduce God to a single unit, to the lowest common denominator. This is what monotheists do. For them God is a unit, not a Unity.
Hindus are not monotheists and Hindus are not polytheists. Hindus are panentheists, i.e. they believe that God is in all things and that all things are in God (God is everything, God is in everything, and everything is in God only). They believe the whole of creation is the body (actually, the manifestation) of God (Who is the One Infinite-Eternal-Existence) and cannot be separated from God.
Monotheists believe God exists “someplace” outside of his creation. (To them God is formless but has a location and that he is male! But to Hindus God is not only the efficient cause but also the material cause of the entire creation and He transcends everything, seen and unseen, and as such He is the Ishwara. The English word ‘God” can not convey all this. So it is better to use the word ‘Ishwara’ than ‘God’ which conveys an anthropomorphic view).
The great marvel of Hindu panentheism is that it allows the devotee to raise his or her favorite name and form of God or Goddess to an absolute position. Therefore, for the devotee of Ganesha, Ganesha is the Supreme Lord (the Godhead) of All, and for the devotee of Devi, Devi is the Supreme Lady (the Divine Mother) of All, and for the devotee of Krishna, Krishna is the Supreme Lord (the Godhead) of All, and for the devotee of Shiva, Shiva is the Supreme Lord (the Godhead) of All, and so on for the other Divine manifestations: Gods and Goddesses. (Thus God, for the Hindus, can be adored not only as the father and the mother, but the friend and the beloved as well).
All names and forms are of the One only, (i.e. the one without a second, advaita). By definition, the One must include the “one God” of the monotheists, though the One is much more than the “one God” of these theological simpletons who seem to think that his one and the only occupation was creation (sitting as he was, the judgmental and the silvery bearded one, far off, somewhere behind and beyond the clouds, not easily accessible to the poor mortals, and promoting heaven-going tourism for them after their one and the only earthly sojourn).
(God is in fact nirguna--attributeless, and nirvikara--immutable, in his static aspect as the Pure Consciousness which is the One Infinite-Eternal-Existence, or Sat-Chit-Ananda: Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute. And in his dynamic aspect He is the shakti, the infinite Power, inherent in all names and forms. And in His immanent aspect He alone has become everything, manifest or unmanifest, and He also transcends everything, while at the same time being the indwelling spirit or consciousness in all names and forms, and therefore each soul being potentially divine. And He reveals Himself to the one who chooses Him with a firm conviction, endowed with steadfastness, unflinching devotion and burning aspiration. And as such, no intermediary or an agent, like a prophet or saviour is necessary except the guru, the guide, who is also His manifestation, who helps just as a signpost does.)
As for the Chicago Police, most of whom are nominal monotheists with a linear thinking process, Hindu panentheism will probably be incomprehensible to them.
Posted by Swami Devananda Saraswati to *VivekaJyoti* at 1:26 PM
The idea of “one God” is ridiculous
Date: Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Swami Devananda Saraswati’s COMMENT on the post, The “one God” of the theological simpletons vis-à-vis the “only God” of the Hindus”:
Thank for your added commentary. A much needed discussion is now open. Hindus are often intimidated by Muslims and Christians who claim their “one God” concept is superior. It is not. In fact, it is very much an inferior concept. The Dalai Lama has said: The idea of “one God” is ridiculous.
Posted by Swami Devananda Saraswati to *VivekaJyoti* at 8:05 PM
- - - -
Please Note:
1. Addenda in bracket and coloured blue are from the Editor.
2. Further comments and clarifications are welcome.
Labels: Christianity, Christians, Hinduism, Hindus, Islam, Monotheism, Muslims, One God, Only God, Panentheism
In the third paragraph, the term "pantheist" is used instead of "panentheist". The correct term is "panentheist". Please correct.
Thank you respected Swamiji for your added commentary. A much needed discussion is now open. Hindus are often intimidated by Muslims and Christians who claim their "one God" concept is superior. It is not. In fact, it is very much an inferior concept.
The Dalai Lama has said: The idea of "one God" is ridiculous.
SDS
: 8:05 PM << Home
