ALMIGHTY GOD OR THE SUPREMECOSMIC POWER’S DIVINE PLAY OR LILA

Great thinkers of the world like Kant, Hegel, Aristotle etc accept that a certain supreme authority exists which has created this world. And yet they were unable to throw light fully in this realm of thought. All the religions of the world like Christianity, Hinduism, Islam etc accept that God exists. Each religion depicts God in its own manner and yet none of them have done full justice in defining God’s true nature. Of course all of them agree in one voice that God is all powerful and hence omnipotent.

One can say that it was the great thinker-scientist Charles Darwin who commenced the scientific enquiry with reference to research on God’s existence and nature. Darwin was a great biologist and had studied various species of animals, plants, birds etc while traveling all over the world. In 1859 and 1871 he published 2 books based on these research findings and laid down a scientific principle of evolution. This principle says that all creatures have evolved from a primeval creature. Darwin said that when you compare all the classes and sub classes of various species of creatures of the world you will find certain similarities and certain differences amongst them. The similarity revolved around the fact that all these creatures were created from one basic principle and yet their chemical components differed from one another. Hereditary qualities passed on from parents to children have a chemical basis. And yet the underlying principle that manifests it is very subtle.

Later Mendel, Hugo de Vries carried out more experiments to prove that a creature’s genetic progress is dependent on the chromosomes present in the cells of their parent’s body. Harvard University’s Dr. James Watson and Cambridge University’s Dr. Francis Crick conducted further research on the structure of the cell and discovered the existence of chromosomes. They showed that chromosomes are made up genes. It is said that if this chromosome which is a tightly packed cluster of genes is unwound its measure would be of the periphery of this entire world. After the discovery of genes modern science has taken up other directions of research. So far scientists have failed to unearth the omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent principle that is the substratum of the gene and which creates and demolishes this world. No doubt scientists have conclusively proved that 1.The entire world of animate and inanimate beings has evolved from one single principle and 2.Living beings evolve on the basis of various qualities imbibed by them.

Although this information is incomplete yet definitely man gets inspiration to search for true knowledge. The great author of the book “Contemporary Thoughts of Great Britain” A.N.Widgary writes: Although scientists have given us information of those principles that create life, yet this knowledge is not complete. Today the need of the hour is to find out that principle which is the substratum of human existence instead of laying stress on unraveling the substratum of material nature. It should not be searched for merely using scientific technology but by the focused human intellect too. Our material existence i.e. the anatomy of our body has no correlation to the existence of the culture of mankind. It cannot fulfill our emotional and sensitive needs. Hence we must endeavor to search for the very fount/source of human existence. Between the vast past and gigantic future lies a relatively minor present. Hence we should ask ourselves whether it is alright to search for information about the present only. The answer clearly is in the negative because we need to know about our past inner state and that what changes will take place in our consciousness in the future. Why do we take birth in this world? Is there an underlying substratum that which binds us to this world? All these questions must be looked into. These observations of the author concur with what we have said so far. Modern science may have yet not unfolded the mystery of consciousness which is the substratum of human existence and yet it has blessed world humanity by making them think deeply. Science encourages research, analysis etc in a very compact and methodical manner. The Brahma Sutras proclaim- “Athaato brahma jijnaasaa”. It means that only when our curiosity awakens can we set about finding the supreme reality or God.

We can confidently say that the meaning of divine wisdom existed in Vedanta Philosophy since time immemorial. Following are some more quotes:

“Eko brahma dwiteeyo naasti”

“Ek noor say sab jag upajiyaa”

“Sankalpyati yannaam prathamosau prajaapatihee”

“Tattadayvaashu bhavati tasyaydum kalpanam jagat” (YOGAVAASHISHTHA 6/2/186/6)

It means only Brahma (creator) existed before creation of this world. Brahma made many Sankalpas (mental resolves) and based on these this cosmos manifested.

“Ekamayvaadvayum brahma” (CHAANDOGYA UPANISHAD 6/2/1)

It means THAT exists non-dually as cosmic consciousness or God.

“Ekodevaha sarvabhootayshoo goodhaha sarvavyaapee sarvabhootaantaraatmaa. Karmaadhyakshaha sarvabhootaadhivaasaha saakshee chaytaa kayvalonirgunascha.” (SHWETASHWATAR UPANISHAD 6/11)

It means that one God pervades all animate and inanimate beings and exists in the form of their inner soul/conscience. It is the director of this human body which carries out various actions/Karmas. God is formless and yet possesses conscious energy. Previously it has been said that God is the witness of every action executed by all living beings. In each body God imbibes vital force or Prana and is thus called a Jeeva or living being.

There is great similarity in what sacred scriptures of the world say and the observations made by modern scientific research. Both of them in unison say: ALL THE OBJECTS OF THE WORLD HAVE BEEN CREATED FROM ONE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLE OF THE COSMOS. Vedanta Philosophy had been proclaimed thousands of years in the past. Hence if we test Vedanta injunctions in isolation no doubt should remain as far its compactness and scientific nature is concerned. When THAT was ONE it was omnipotent God. When THAT because of desires became a limited living being or Jeeva, non-duality (Advaita) got converted to duality (Dwaita). When a living being reflects on its relationship with the world and God, non-duality becomes Trait or 3-centric. Vishishtaadvaita is the state wherein a living being’s soul merges into God’s cosmic soul. Over here there is no room for illusion or difference of opinion. This observation has been made by Vedanta for the understanding of living beings with various mental states. Principally it exists on the basis of scientific facts. Kaivalya Upanishad has brought on one dais western scientific principles and its own ancient philosophy. While depicting their very similar nature it says:

“Yata param brahma sarvaatmaa vishvasyaayatanam mahat.

Sookshmaat sookshmataram nityam tatvameva tvameva tat (16).

Anoraneeyaanahameva tadvanmahaan

Vishwamidam vichitram.

Puraatanoha Purushohameeshaa

Hiranyamoham shivaroopamasmi (20).

MEANING: You are that Almighty Lord who is imperishable, who cannot be seen even by very subtle instruments, who is the substratum of all the cause/effects of the cosmos and who is the very soul of all beings. Indeed you are that. The Lord says: I am smaller than the smallest and bigger than the biggest. This wonderful world is my own form. I am Shiva and Brahma. I am God and Viraata Purusha.

There is no difference in what has been mentioned above and scientific data regarding cells, chromosomes etc. The nucleus of every cell is a manifestation of an imperishable principle. It does not get destroyed and in fact has the power to create more such cells. Thus the conscious energy of every cell can be called the unit of God. This unit being conscious in nature is spread out in every pore and atom of the cosmos. This state can be called a living being or Jeeva and all the cosmic powers of God are present in it albeit subtly. It is like all properties of the water of an ocean present in every drop of the vast ocean. Scientists say that there are billions of cells in the human body. Modern scientists have not fully elucidated the nature of this underlying conscious principle and yet Vedanta Philosophy looks upon it as our sense of “I-ness”. Vedanta further says that depending on the likes and dislikes of this ego or doer-ship of an individual it creates a human body that can fulfill these desires. This doer-ship is not destroyed at the time of death although the body made up of bones, blood etc does perish. The physical body does not have the capacity to manifest emotions, desires, experiences etc. These desires etc are part and parcel of the living being’s ego which is conscious in nature. God is not an object but is a subjective experience. God realization is attained via divine wisdom.