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Date Posted:15:29:53 10/01/06 Sun Author: Helion - 10 Sept 2006 Subject: Brahman beyond Time & Space In reply to:
Helion - 7 Sept 2006
's message, "Time & Space" on 12:54:27 10/01/06 Sun
Brahman is beyond time and space
Time is a part of the beginningless cycle of creation. Brahma is infinite not only is a is space and entity but time.. Besides, Upanishads say that Brahman is the real sub-stratum, the support of the mithya nama roopas of the universe. The nama roopas include space and time. The support of space and time has to be beyond space and time.. There can be no time beyond time or space beyond space. Brahman is beyond space and time. (Space is a product of Maya. Hence it is in time. Time is not a product of Maya. Time is supposed to be without a beginning (“anaadi”), like Maya. Technically, time is defined as the relationship (“sambandha”) between Brahman and Maya. Vide Vicara Sagara). Pramana for Brahman being beyond time is Brhadaranyaka 4.4.16 and Kathopanishad 1.2.14. Pramana for being beyond space is in Swetasvatara 3.14 (which, it seems, reproduces Taittiriya Aranyaka third prasna.) It reads, “.” This is a description of Brahman; “With thousand heads and thousand feet and having enclosed the universe, the Purusha (the Infinite) stands ten inches beyond.” This is to indicate that Brahman is beyond space. “Iswara pervading the universe” or “enclosing the universe” has to be understood properly. It is not as if there was already a universe and Brahman pervaded it or enclosed it. Brahman is the eternal Existence. And on that Existence names and forms are superimposed in an alternating cycle of manifest and unmanifest condition. It is like space which is already there and you insert perceptible objects in it..In his commentary on Taittiriya 2.1.1., Sankaracarya gives the logc for the infinitude of Brahman from the standpoint of space, time and objects. Space is unlocalised and hence not liited spatially. Brahman is the ultimate cause of that space. Therefore Brahman is spatially infinite. Only a created thing is circumscribed by time. Brahman is not created. So, Brahman is temporally infinite, As regards, objects, only a thing that is different from another is limited by that. There is nothing different from Brahman. (This non-difference is in the sense that Brahman is the sole Existence forming the sub-stratum of all nama roopas and in this way, It is non-different from eveertything.). Therefore Brahman is infinite from the point of view of substance as well. Brahman, verily, is the ultimate cause of all things, time, space, etc.
