Guest guest Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Sai Ram Dear Brothers and Sisters, (continued from posting no.2) The Atman is the substratum from which everything arises,in which everything exists and into which everything finally merges back. Let me quote an example to elaborate this point. The ocean is considered as as Adhishtanam or substratum of the waves. The waves arise from the ocean, exist in the ocean and merge back into the ocean. Similarly, the pluralistic pheneomena of the world are said to arise from, exist in and merge into the non-dual ATMAN which is the substratum of the world. Let us also take the example of bubbles in water. A bubble in water consists of a film of water and contains air within it. The wall of the bubble and the substratum upon which the bubble exists are both made up of water. Therefore, when a bubble is formed or when it bursts, the water remains unaffected and unchanged. In fact, even when the bubble exists , the water in it and the water below are in contact with each other and are never separated. Similarly, in the substratum of Atman, individuals are born and they die. An individual is nothing but Atman which alone exists. Like the bubbles in water, the worlds arise from, exist and dissolve into Atman,the Supreme Self which is material cause and support of everything. The Atman is the life principle which enables the body to perceive and act, the mind to feel and the intellect to think. Without Atman, these equipment can not function and none of their activities can take place. Atman is the support of the world. The world has no existence apart from Brahman or Atman. To repeat, the bubble arises in a sheet of water, plays for an instant on the surface and disappears.. From which did it come, what was it and where did it go? From water it came, having come it is water still and to water it returns at the end. The real Nature of that momentary existence viz., the bubble is water. Similarly, Brahman or Atman is the real Nature of the world. (to be continued) With Loving SAI RAMs, G.Balasubramanian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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