Who/What is Brahman?
In Hinduism, Brahman connotes the highest Universal Principle, the Ultimate Reality in the universe. Brahman is a Vedic Sanskrit word, and it is conceptualized in Hinduism, states Paul Deussen, as the “creative principle which lies realized in the whole world”. The concept Brahman is referred to in hundreds of hymns in the Vedas. There is no one single word in modern Western languages that can render the various shades of meaning of the word Brahman in the Vedic literature, according to Jan Gonda. Brahman is the “power immanent in the sound, words, verses and formulas of Vedas”. However, states Gonda, the verses suggest that this ancient meaning was never the only meaning, and the concept evolved and expanded in ancient India.
HANSA
(Hansa, हंस) The swan is the symbol for Brahman-Atman in Hindu iconography. Hansa is an aquatic bird of passage, a poetical bird with wisdom to share, and shown in stories as separating things that have been blended together like dirt and water, or water and milk.
This whole universe is Brahman. In tranquility, let one worship It, as Tajjalan (that from which he came forth, as that into which he will be dissolved, as that in which he breathes).
— Chandogya Upanishad 3.14.1
This is my Soul in the innermost heart, greater than the earth, greater than the aerial space, greater than these worlds. This Soul, this Self of mine is that Brahman.
— Chandogya Upanishad 3.14.3 – 3.14.4
In Hindu schools that equate Brahman with Atman, Brahman is the sole, ultimate reality.
Metaphysical Concept of the Hindu Brahman-Atman
In the metaphysics of the major schools of Hinduism, Maya is perceived reality, one that does not reveal the hidden principles, the true reality—the Brahman. Maya is unconscious, Brahman-Atman is conscious. Maya is the literal and the effect, Brahman is the figurative Upādāna—the principle and the cause. Maya is born, changes, evolves, dies with time, from circumstances, due to invisible principles of nature. Atman-Brahman is eternal, unchanging, invisible principle, unaffected absolute and resplendent consciousness. Maya concept, states Archibald Gough, is “the indifferent aggregate of all the possibilities of emanatory or derived existences, pre-existing with Brahman”, just like the possibility of a future tree pre-exists in the seed of the tree.
Buddhism and Carvaka school of Hinduism deny that there exists anything called “a soul, a self” (individual Atman or Brahman in the cosmic sense), while the orthodox schools of Hinduism, Jainism and Ajivikas hold that there exists “a soul, a self”.
One of the reasons to why the Brahman should be realized according to the Upanishads is because it removes suffering from a persons life. This is because the person has the ability and knowledge to discriminate between the unchanging (Atman and Brahman) and the ever-changing (Prakrit) and so the person is not attached to the transient. Hence, the person is only content with the self and not his body or anything other than the self.
Brahman is the incomprehensible, unapproachable radiant being whom the ordinary senses and ordinary intellect cannot fathom grasp or able to describe even with partial success. The Brahman of the Upanishads is not meant for the ordinary or the ignorant souls, who are accustomed to seek spiritual solace through ritualistic practices and rationalization of knowledge. Discipline, determination, guidance from a self-realized soul, purity of mind, mastery of the senses, self-control and desire-less actions are some of the pre-requisites needed to achieve even a semblance of success on this path.
Whatever it is, the fact is that Brahman of the Upanishads is more appealing to the seekers of Truth and Knowledge than seekers of material gains. The ancient seers described Brahman as the One eternal principle, the unity behind all, the connecting principle, the light shining through all. But at the same time they also referred to him variously as almost every thing. He is the creator, the life giver and also the reliever of the devoted and determined from Bondage. The manifest universe is his creation. He created it through Self-projection, out of Ananda, and pure Delight.
This is not a God who can be supplicated with rituals and sacrifices (like many other deities in Hinduism & Paganism). The Upanishadic seers (devout followers of Brahman-Atman) did not show much respect to the outer aspects of religious practice, like sacrifices and rituals. The rituals according to them constituted the lower knowledge. “Such rituals,” declares Mundaka Upanishad, “are unsafe rafts for crossing the sea of worldly life, of birth and death. Doomed to shipwreck are they who try to cross the sea of worldly life on these poor rafts.” Basically rituals, sacrifices & confessions asking forgiveness are an easy way out when you don’t want to do the true work on your spiritual self & your oneness with Brahman.
Brahman is the first principle, Ancient, no one truly knows Him for He is without a beginning and without an end. These concepts were being developed, expanded upon, and shared approximately 4,000 if not more years before the birth of the Christian Christ. Many descriptive words used to explain what Brahman is sounds very similar to the explanatory versus of God in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. There is however no unarguable proof about the transfer of information between ancient India and the ancient Roman province of Judea.
So essentially, to sum this up: The goal to end life cycles of suffering is to become connected to the true reality of the universe, spiritually one with the eternal and unchanging force of all living & non-living beings/things, seeking truth and knowledge and moving away from ignorance. Ignorance is the number one cause of suffering according to Hindu beliefs and the concept behind Brahman-Atman.
Christian Bible Descriptions of God:
(Deuteronomy 9:3 NIV) But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.
(Deuteronomy 10:17 NIV) For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
(Joshua 1:8-9 NIV) Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. {9} Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
(Revelation 1:17 NIV) When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last.”
(Hebrews 7:3 NIV) Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.
REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman http://www.hinduwebsite.com/brahman.asp
Wanderlust & Smoke 
Did not know half of the things you just shared with us. We always learn something new if we keep our hearts and minds open. Thank you, keep on sharing with all of us.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much for reading! Exploring old beliefs & philosophies is one of my most favorite things in the world. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am awestruck by your descriptions in such a lucid language. Brahman or BramhaJyoti as it is called is only the first aspect. The two aspects beyond the realms of Brahma/Brahman/BrahmaJyoti is Paramatman and Bhagawan. I am sure you would have come across Srimad Bhagavatam, considered as the cream of all the Vedas and a more direct explanation of the Vedanta Sutras. If you have any questions, it will answer all your questions…
P.S: Thank you very much for liking my latest post on Motivation. Please take your valuable free time and kindly check my other posts. I value your valuable review/feedback/questions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rajini 🙂 what wonderful information!
LikeLike