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Ishvara/en: Difference between revisions
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The ''Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion'' explains that “the God of Christianity and of Islam, as well as all the deities of Hindu mythology, are aspects of Ishvara. Our human reason can conceive of divinity only within some form; thus, we need the concept of Ishvara.... The most widely disseminated form of Ishvara in Hindu thought is the trimurti, the Trinity of [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]], and [[Shiva]].”<ref>''Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion'' (Boston: Shambhala, 1994), s.v. “Ishvara.”</ref> | The ''Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion'' explains that “the God of Christianity and of Islam, as well as all the deities of Hindu mythology, are aspects of Ishvara. Our human reason can conceive of divinity only within some form; thus, we need the concept of Ishvara.... The most widely disseminated form of Ishvara in Hindu thought is the trimurti, the Trinity of [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]], and [[Shiva]].”<ref>''Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion'' (Boston: Shambhala, 1994), s.v. “Ishvara.”</ref> | ||
Ishvara is usually personified as one aspect of this Trinity. Various Hindu sects identify Ishvara with the highest figure in their pantheon—whether it be Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva. As described by the Hindu sage Ramanuja, “Ishvara...has an infinite number of supreme and auspicious qualities.... He has a most perfect body, which is eternal and immutable. He is radiant, full of beauty, youth, and strength. He is omnipresent; he is... the inner ruler of all.”<ref>Klaus K. Klostermaier, ''A Survey of Hinduism'' (Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York Press, 1989), p. 377.</ref> You can think of Ishvara as being one with the great [[Atman]], the Presence of God that is part of and in your [[threefold flame]]. | Ishvara is usually personified as one aspect of this Trinity. Various Hindu sects identify Ishvara with the highest figure in their pantheon—whether it be Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva. As described by the Hindu sage Ramanuja, “Ishvara ... has an infinite number of supreme and auspicious qualities.... He has a most perfect body, which is eternal and immutable. He is radiant, full of beauty, youth, and strength. He is omnipresent; he is ... the inner ruler of all.”<ref>Klaus K. Klostermaier, ''A Survey of Hinduism'' (Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York Press, 1989), p. 377.</ref> You can think of Ishvara as being one with the great [[Atman]], the Presence of God that is part of and in your [[threefold flame]]. | ||
Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood write: | Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood write: | ||