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antaryAmitva, svarUpa-vyApti & SarIrAtma-bhAva

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Ramkumar T.G. • August 21, 2002 


asmad sarva-gurubhyo-nama:
SrImate rAmAnujAya nama:
SrImate bhagavate lakshmI-haya-vadana-para-brahmaNe nama:

Dear Members:

I poorly understand brahman's vyApti (metaphysical pervasiveness),
and antaryAmitva (especially in acit-tattva, ie 
the insentient matter) in relation to SarIrAtma-bhAva  
(ie the metaphysical inseparable body-soul relationship between 
 the Universe and the brahman).

I seek your input for a better understanding.

Please examine following verses in SrImad bhavagavad-gItA:

.  mayA tatam-idam sarvam jagat-avyakta-mUrtina |
   mat-sthAni sarva-bhUtAni na ca-aham teshu avasthita: || 9.4

  "This entire universe is pervaded by Me in an unmanifest form.
   All beings abide in Me, but I do not abide in them."


.  na ca mat-shtAni bhUtAni paSya me yogam-aiSvaram |
   bhUta-bhRnna ca bhUtastho mama-AtmA bhUta-bhAvana: || 9.5

   "And yet beings do not abide in Me. Behold My Divine Yoga.
    I am the upholder of all beings and yet I am not in them.
    My Will alone causes existence."


When commenting on 9.4 SrI rAmAnuja says, 

. "...jagata: dhAraNArtham niyamanArtham ca Seshitvena vyApyam..."
  ie brahman pervades the universe for the purpose of
  supporting, 'controlling' and accepting service 
  from the universe.
  
. "...cetana-acetana-vastu-jAtai: adRshTena antaryAmiNA 
      tatra tatra vyApti: .."
   ie but this pervasiveness of brahman is invisible to the universe.

. "... aham tu na tad-Ayatta-sthiti:  
       mat-sthitau tai: na kaScit upakAra:"
   The brahman supports Universe's existence but not vice versa.
   The brahman, for Its existence, derives no help from the Universe.
   

When commenting on 9.5 SrI rAmAnuja says,

. "... mama AtmA eva bhUta-bhAvana:
   mama mano-maya: sankalpa *eva*
   bhUtAnAm bhAvayitA dhArayitA niyantA ca.."

It seems like the brahman, merely through Its Will alone,
supports & controls the Universe without having to
meta-physically pervade the Universe.

SrI rAmAnuja describes this relation between the brahman & the 
Universe as "acintya-mahimA" ie inconceivable Glory of the brahman.

Questions:

a) If the brahman does everything merely through Its Will (sankalpa)
   what is then the purpose of the brahman's pervasiveness 
   mentioned in 9.4 ?
  [One could quickly posit that the brahman, through Its Will, 
   becomes antaryAmin and through that antaryAmitva,
   It then supports, controls and receives service. ]

b) What does "bhUta-bhAvana:" mean?
   What does "mama AtmA eva bhUta-bhAvana:" above mean?

c) What does "antaryAmin" mean ?
   Does this word split like "anta: + yAmi" (ie Inner Controller?)

d) How does "antaryAmitva" relate to "vyApti" (pervasiveness) ?

    
Looking forward to enlightening responses.

aDiyEn rAmAnuja-dAsan
//Ramkumar

 
PS:- Thanks to SrI Adi-devananda's excellent English transaltion of
     SrI rAmAnujAcArya's bhagavad-gItA-bhAshya.



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