illusion (maya). The deity is said to be devoid of all attributes (nirguna), inactive, unconscious, impersonal,
incomprehensible, pervading all things. He is often spoken of as sack-chid-ananda (existence, thought, joy),
though such a title seems to contradict the teaching which has just been mentioned. When he assumes attributes he
manifests himself as Brahma, Vishnu or Siva. From another point of view, however, all things, good and bad alike, are
parts of him, and he is all things. Hence the unlearned, though admitting that all that exists is the deity, consider
themselves bound to worship innumerable gods, such as the sun, the moon, many of the lunar constellations, the cow, the
serpent, the monkey, and such plants as the tulasi and the pipal trees. They also adore even the instruments of their
daily toil.
Hindu philosophy teaches that the wise and devout man should abstain from all action of whatever sort, good or bad;
for actions are said to fetter the embodied soul, which is a portion of the deity. When it completely lays aside all
activity it attains true knowledge (prama), and this brings about absorption (sayujya) into the only really existent
being. Such loss of personality is considered to be the highest happiness that man can attain. It is not reached until
after a very large number of lives, some say 84,000, passed in this world or in some of the numerous heavens and hells
of which Hindu books make mention. Thus the Chhandogya |