The interconnectedness of everything...

[yajvan]

Hari Om
~~~~~

Namaste sadhu,

There is a notion that there is a tightly coupled relationship
between the microcosm (us humans) and the Marcocosm , the SELF, or Universal SELF. This knowledge helps lay the foundation for the real nature of this universe and our presence... see if you care to comment on this....

This relationship is brought up in the BRIHADARANYAKA UPANISHAD. There is a sub-section in the Upanishad called the Madhu-Vidha {Madhu is ~ sweet or honey-like and Vidya is knowledge). This Upanishad states Ayam eva sa yo'ayam atma: THAT is this; this is THAT then goes on to say Abahyam ayam atma Brahma or THIS is verily your own SELF.

What is different in this Upanishad, it discusses this interconnected-ness I mentioned. What I find most profound is that it outlines the following principles, really experiences of a jivanmukti ( ~ fully realized being )

• When you touch anything, you are touching everything.
• If I touch a table, I am touching the sun at once. Nobody can understand the mystery behind this thing.
• Everything is vitally connected, not merely artificially related, so that when I see anything, I am seeing everything. When I speak to anyone, I am speaking to everybody. When I touch anything, I touch all things, and when I know one thing, I know everything.

These points ares really a magnificent theme in the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad. So, how does this occur? This is done via the Universal SELF - the pundit that is doing the commentary calls HIM the Luminous Immortal Being or tejomayo'amrtamayah purusah.

You will note that HE is Purusha. Purusua , the purva ( ancient one or of previous times) and ush ( burned up) all evil ( evil here is not the typical evil, but can be a subject for future discussions).

Purusha may be split as pura + usha - the dawn-light (usha) of the city of the body (pura); or pu + rusha, one whose passions are refined. or even puru + sha, filled with wisdom and happiness.

So, that which connects the WHOLE to the part and the part the WHOLE is Purusha ( also called Purushottma or Supreme Purusha). That is, the individual (you, me) are not constitutionally separate form the WHOLE, and the WHOLE is correlated with every other thing in creation.... all connected ( Not casually)... Many call this Infinite Correlation.

This is the essence of this universe ( now uni-verse really applies) is also the SELF of all of us ( the Atman, jiva, soul). This is called Brahman idam brahma,idam sarvam - The "Brahm" is to fill everything, complete everything and is self-sufficient.
Sarvesam bhutanam raja or is the Emperor of all, and goes on to say:

• As the spokes are connected to the hub of a wheel, everything visible or invisible is connected to this SELF/Atman/Purushottma
• All beings, whatever can be conceived of, or not conceived of, all celestials, all the worlds that can be conceived of in any level of manifestation ,everything that is vital and real everything, all beings, whatever is, in any form, are located in this Atman/SELF/Purushottma, in the same way as every spoke is located in the hub of the wheel.

So, why all this diversity, individual things we experience?

These forms, these bodies, these visible individualities of things, are really intended for the recognition of HIS presence in all things - He has not created this world merely for nothing, as if He has no other work to do. It is intended to give an indication of His presence; an indication of the variety which HE can comprise within HIMSELF; an indication of the contradictions that can be reconciled in His Being; ALL is Brahman. All is connected, yet;
We unfortunately find it challanging to see the harmony as we are not in a position to harmonise ourselves (as yet) with the harmony that is His. But His intention is something different. His intention is to make it possible for us to visualise the harmony and the interconnectedness through every finite form.
Reaching enlightenment ( Moksha, Jivanmukti or enlightened while living) creates the ONEness to everything, literally. One lives in the the SELF and all is an extention of SELF as discussed in the Mahdu-Vidha part of this Upanishad.
It is innate in everyone to want this Moksha - For the desire of the Infinite, which is the Self, everything appears to be desirable.
For the sake of this Supreme Absolute, which is the Self of all things, we are unknowingly asking/accumulating things.
This is the nature of things... as we grow wise we direct our attention to Moksha.

This info above will then help bridge a conversation on God Consciousness or Bhagavat Chetana that will be posted in a day or so.

pranams,