https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B62t1_qT5hk
In this short video, we address the question: What is Brahman?
Following is the Transcript of this short Video:
Brahman is a profound and fundamental concept of Vedic Philosophy. It is the core and unique basis of Sanatana Dharma
What is Sanatana Dharma? – It is a culture, a way of life rooted in Vedas and the knowledge derived from Veda
In this short video we shall develop a framework for a practical knowledge or understanding of Brahman; Knowledge that can be useful in our daily life, to enhance our Spirituality in Practice.
Our goal is not to refute or debate any traditional views or classical interpretations of Brahman.
Let us start with the basic description of Brahman:
Brahman is described as “Satyam Jnanam Anantam Brahma”, which can be translated as
Sathyam – “The truth”, Jnanam = the “knowledge,” and Anantam – “that which never changes, eternal or present always and at all times!” put together is Brahman!
Each of these words – Sathyam, Jnanam and Anantam – are discussed in great details in various vedic scriptures.
The Sansjrit word Brahman is derived from the root “brh”, meaning “to grow or expand.” Brahman is understood to be both:
that which grows and that which causes other things to grow.
It is the omnipresent and eternal source of all that exists in the universe.
It is therefore present in everything; every person, every molecule and every atom. Everything in the Cosmos from the smallest particle to largest constellation is Brahman!
The following are verses from Kaivalya Upanishad:
8. sa brahmaa sa shivah sa Indrah, sah aksharah paramah svaraat;
sah eva vishnuh sa praanaha, sah kaala agnih sa chandramaah
Brahman is Brahma, Shiva, and Indra; Brahman is the Changeless, Supreme, Self-luminous; Brahman is Vishnu, and Prana, the life-giving force in all of us. Brahman is Time, and Fire and the Moon.
9. sah eva sarvam yad bhootam, yat cha bhavyam sanaatanam;
jnaatvaa tam mrityum atyeti, na anyah panthaah vimuktaye.
Brahman alone is all that was, and all that will be, the Eternal; Knowing that Brahman, one goes beyond the cycles of birth and death. There is no other way to reach complete freedom.
At this point, the Upanishad offers the practical way to realize Brahman,
10. “Experiencing the Self in all that exists and seeing all that exists in the Self, one attains the Highest – the Brahman – and not by any other means”.
In other words, can you see yourself as an undivided part of Nature – everything around you, inside, outside, everywhere, far and near? Then you realize that you are one with Brahman!
We have some more definitions of Brahman from Kenopanishad:
Brahman is defined as that which enables the fire to burn, wind to blow, water to wet, etc.
That which enables the speech, recognize that as Brahman.
That which enables “comprehension” by the mind; Cognitive skills, recognize that as Brahman.
That which enables the vision through the eye: recognize that as Brahman.
That which enables the hearing through the ears: recognize that as Brahman.
From a practical or scientific point of view we can say that water wets objects due to a property called “Surface Tension”. We have vision due to “optics”; we have hearing due to “acoustics”. We live because of several life-giving processes such as heartbeat, lungs breathing, blood circulation, neural communication, etc. All these phenomena of nature exist and enable us to live or exist!
All these phenomena cannot be defined. We can describe them, only through their effects. We don’t know their origin or how they came to be. We understand how they work through their rules or laws based only on what we have measured and observed and inferred.
I cannot hand over to you a bag of gravity, optics, acoustics, surface tension or any phenomena of nature. All that – phenomena of nature – which can only be described but can not be physically handled are called “Incognitive”, beyond the capacity of our mind to describe or create!
Beyond these few examples we can observe an infinite collection of phenomena of nature known and unknown to us. For example:
Imagine a lake or river with a boat with many people in the boat! All of them are floating in the water in the lake or the river! The ability for anything to float is enabled by “buoyancy”. Buoyancy can be described as we see the floating objects. Otherwise, Buoyancy is invisible to us. The invisible buoyancy is necessary for everything (all that is floating) to exist that way!
In a similar vein we can relate to gravity, electricity, magnetism, illumination, etc. All the laws and forces enable the seed to grow, for us to exist as living beings with ability for thinking and emotions, etc. One can go on forever!
There are infinite phenomena and their laws in nature that enable who we are and what we do and how everything exists as part of the Universe that is known to us as well as all that unknown to us! Vedic philosophy brilliantly defines all these phenomena of nature and beyond, known and unknown using a single common noun: BRAHMAN.
BRAHMAN includes the phenomena and forces that enable the planet and the universe to exist. BRAHMAN represents everything in the universe, and all that enable everything in the universe to exist.
Now, you can ask how is BRAHMAN connected with any of us – you and me?
The following is an excerpt from Aitareya Upanishad:
Each of us can describe ourselves as a person: I am so and so with a name, size, weight, looks, habits, family, etc. I can also describe myself as a person – with eyes, ears, nose, etc. Who is this “I” or the Self?
The one that has vision (like the eye) or the one that enables such vision? The ear that hears or that which enables the ear to hear? Nose or that by which one smells the fragrance? Mouth or that by which one utters the words? Tongue or that by which one knows what is tasteful and what is not? Of those two – the enabler and the enabled – which is the Self?
Now you could say eyes, nose, tongue, etc. are all parts of my body and I know that because I am “Conscious”! All of me or you – seen and unseen – are all enabled by Consciousness.
Aitareya Upanishad states:
That which is known as the heart, the mind, the perceptions, direction, perspective, wisdom or understanding, intelligence, knowledge, retentive power or capacity to remember, knowledge of scriptures, vision, insight, perseverance, thought, independent thinking, mental depression, memory, recollection, imagination, resoluteness, vitality, life processes, desire or attachment, ambition or love, and such others …. all these are indeed the various manifestations of Consciousness.
Aitareya Upanishad states that Consciousness is Brahman.
Consciousness is the substratum of everything. Brahma the creator, Indra the king of Gods, Prajapathi the creator, all these Gods, the five elements of nature – the Fire, earth, wind, water and space – all the smaller creatures, the capacity for creation – the capability of the egg, the womb, the seeds – everything that grows out of the earth, everything that inhabits the earth – the horses, the cattle, men, elephants – and anything movable and immovable, all are supported by and enabled by the Universal Consciousness or Brahman.
With all of the above we can conclude that Brahman can be understood as a collective noun representing all the phenomena of nature (known and known) and the laws governing all such phenomena (also known and unknown). It is suggested as a practical means to develop a shift in out thinking from our limited focus on our physical existence (through our body, mind and intellect) and focus our attention on the enabler or Consciousness – as stated in the Veda Maha Vakya or Grand Pronouncement: Pragjnanam Brahma – Consciousness is Brahman.
In other words, anyone of us at any time can be at peace with the thought:
I am conscious (alive).
My Consciousness (being alive) is part of Brahman – Pragjnanam Brahma
Since Brahman is infinite and Universal, I am an undivided and indivisible part of this Universe!
This self-awareness (that I am Brahman – Aham Brahma) brings within me an Inner Peace.
I am NEVER alone! I am liberated, but I am not isolated!
This thought that I and the Universe are inseparable – Tat Tvam Asi – brings within me a spiritual growth, a connectivity with the enabler, the Spirit or the driving force!
With the knowledge that “I”, you, everyone and everything is Brahman – Sarvam Brahma Mayam – all our thoughts and emotions that create divisions in our mind through family, gender, religion, race, nationality, etc. slowly disappear. We become liberated from all that constrains us; all that isolates and divides us. We become part of one large universe, gradually, part of one large family, in our thoughts, emotions and actions. Vedic Philosophy calls such universal outlook as the “Vasudeva Kudumbham”.
Welcome to the liberated state of living. Welcome to the Vasudeva Kudumbham, the Universal existence prescribed in our heritage, in our Vedic Philosophy.
Hari Om. Tat Sath Brahmarpanam Astu!
Spirituality In Practice 
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