RLG100Y1 Lecture : 14:01:13 LECTURE #13
Document Summary
Brahman (along with atman, is a hindu concept) Gives life, breath, wind, pure consciousness, bliss, eternity or as the infinite the subject by whom all subjects are known. This is a positive description of the brahman. Upanishads talk about the brahman in 2 ways: cosmically and acosmically: cosmically (saguna: with characteristics in sanskrit): finest essence of things in the world. This doesn"t mean anything material, it"s actually not a substance, it"s the hidden and sudden reality, which allows all things to exist in the first place. Cannot be heard nor touched, it has no form and it is imperishable, it is eternal without beginning or end . Self knowledge = defining element of the universe: acosmically (nirguna: without characteristics) Jainism along with buddhism is the two vedic religions that have a specific association with a single specific person. Elitist religion heart of jainism is most radical but non-violent to creatures both visible and invisible.
