Theism is in the traditional sense; it is the belief in at least one God. Monotheism is defined as the belief in only one god and polytheism is defined as the belief in many gods.
Some organized religions follow monotheism where God is supreme and none except him. These god-centric faiths follow particular rules and regulations that the ‘believer’ has to follow without questioning. He cannot question those rules, the life of the sage or the ultimate God. The individualized gods God is isolated from nature and everything is God’s. Thus an element of attachment to a name and gender, obstruction to free thinking and free will can be seen in any belief system.
In the past those who questioned the validity of this religious authority were exiled, killed or termed as irreligious and condemned.
Theism, in this specific sense, conceives of God as personal, present and active in the governance and organization of the world and the universe.
If mysticism appeals readily to the largest number it does so because it demands not deep inquiry or reasoning which is always so taxing even to the most intelligent people. Mental peace is sought by all, fools and philosophers alike.
What however makes mysticism especially attractive seems to be that any man can get all the satisfaction he needs as easily as possible and can boldly declare that what he has known is the Highest or the Absolute, by saying that it is 'indescribable.'
Mysticism brings inexpressible joy which is an unquestionable fact. This has made many believe that mystic experience also helps man to make contact with the Highest Being or the Absolute or God.
Without knowing what God supposed to be in actuality how can one accept the mystical experience as truth? The experience implies duality whereas God is nondual.
The vagueness due to ignorance which alludes can be found in plenty in mystic literature religious, theological, scholastic literature in the world.
Advaita presentation to the Western world has been in the hands of those who were proficient in religion or mysticism and expert in interpretations of its teachings not of the Gnanis.
No religion or mysticism can claim to teach or reveal the ultimate truth or Brahman because they all are based on a dualistic standpoint, holding their individual experience of birth, life, death, and the world as a reality.
Every religion founded on the foundation of the individual experience of birth, life, death, and the world as a reality whereas Sage Sankara says the universe is an illusion.
If the universe is an illusion then the individual experience of birth, life, death which happens within the universe is bound to be an illusion.
The illusory nature of the universe is ignored by every scholar and expert in interpretations of religion and mysticism because their views and judgment are based on religious and mystic points of view.
The worst wars violence, terrorism waged to assert the supremacy of one religion over another or to undermine another's religion and forceful conversion from one faith to another.
Theism, in this specific sense, conceives of God as personal, present and active in the governance and organization of the universe.
Polytheism based on Puranas belongs to Hinduism, not Vedic religion or Sanatana Dharma. 33 million Gods in Hinduism but from the scriptures, we find a plethora of quotes that completely debase this myth.
Rig Veda 1/164/46: They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni or the heavenly sunbird Garutmat. The seers call in many ways that which is One; they speak of Agni, Yama, Matarishvan.
Rig Veda 8/58/2: Only One is the Fire, enkindled in numerous ways; only One is the Sun, pervading this whole universe; only One is the Dawn, illuminating all things. In very truth, the One has become the whole world.
Mundaka Upanishad/3/1/8: Eye cannot see God, nor words reveal God; by the senses, austerity, or works he is not known. When the mind is cleansed by the grace of wisdom, God is seen by contemplation–the One without parts.
Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad/ 3/8/9: It is in the truth that Imperishable, O Gargi, which is not seen but is the seer, which is not heard but is the hearer, which is not thought but is the thinker, which is not known but is the knower. There is no other seer but God, no other hearer but God, no other thinker but God, no other knower but God. And it is that Imperishable which is the warp and the woof of space.”
Thus, the Vedic scriptures recognize the unity of REALITY which is hidden by the universe.
Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad (/3/7/3 – 22):-
3. “God dwells in the earth, yet is other than the earth, which the earth does not know, its body is the earth, which controls the earth from within–it is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
4.” God dwells in the waters, yet is other than the waters, which the waters do not know, which body is the waters, which controls the waters from within– it is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
5.” God dwells in the fire, yet is other than the fire, which the fire does not know, which body is the fire, which controls the fire from within– which is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
6 God dwells in space, yet is other than space, which space does not know, which body is space, which controls space from within–it is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
7.” God dwells in the wind, yet is other than the wind, which the wind does not know, which body is the wind, which controls the wind from within– it is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
8.”God dwells in the sky, yet is other than the sky, which the sky does not know, which body is the sky, which controls the sky from within– it is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
9. “God dwells in the sun, yet is other than the sun, which the sun does not know, which body is the sun, which controls the sun from within– it is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
10. “God dwells in the regions of space, yet is other than the regions of space, which the regions of space do not know, which body is the regions of space, which controls the regions of space from within– is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
11. God dwells in the moon and the stars, yet is other than the moon and the stars, which the moon and the stars do not know, which body is the moon and stars, which controls the moon and the stars from within– it is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
12. “ God dwells in the atmosphere, yet is other than the atmosphere, which the atmosphere does not know, which body is the atmosphere, which controls the atmosphere from within– it is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
13 God dwells in the darkness, yet is other than the darkness, whom the darkness does not know, which body is the darkness, which controls the darkness from within– it is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
14. God dwells in the light, yet is other than the light, which the light does not know, whose body is the light, which controls the light from within– it is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
So far with reference to the divinities. Now with reference to beings:~
15. God dwells in all beings, yet is other than all beings, whom all beings do not know, which body is all beings, which controls all beings from within– it is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
So far with reference to the beings. Now with reference to the body: ~
16. God dwells in the life breath, yet is other than the life breath, which the life breath does not know, which body is the life breath, which controls the life breath from within– it is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
18. God dwells in the eye, yet is other than the eye, which the eye does not know, whose body is the eye, which controls the eye from within–. It is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
19. God dwells in the ear, yet is other than the ear, which the ear does not know, which body is the ear, who controls the ear from within––. It is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
20. “God dwells in the mind, yet is other than the mind, which the mind does not know, which body is the mind, which controls the mind from within– It is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
21. God dwells in the skin, yet is other than the skin, which the skin does not know, whose body is the skin, which controls the skin from within–It is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
22. “He who dwells in the understanding, yet is other than the understanding, which the understanding does not know, whose body is the understanding, who controls the understanding from within–It is the ‘Atman’ within the ‘I’, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
The above verses show that the creator is the life force of living beings and the dynamism of the universe. This also shows the dual aspect of reality being manifested, yet, unmanifested, known, yet unknown, and being inside yet being outside.
Hinduism is the story of 33 million Gods in Hinduism. Vedas and Upanishads say God is one and that God is Athma, debase this myth of33 million Gods.
That is why Swami Vivekananda~ THE MASSES IN INDIA CRY TO SIXTY MILLION GODS, AND STILL DIE LIKE DOGS. WHERE ARE THESE GODS?
Knowing this, stand up and fight! Not one step back that is the idea. ... Fight it out, whatever comes. Let the stars move from the sphere! Let the whole world stand against us! Death means only a change of garment. What of it? Thus fight! You gain nothing by becoming cowards. ... Taking a step backward, you do not avoid any misfortune. You have cried to all the gods in the world. Has misery ceased? The masses in India cry to sixty million Gods and still die like dogs. Where are these gods? ... The gods come to help you when you have succeeded. So what is the use? Die game. ... This bending the knee to superstitions, this selling yourself to your own mind does not befit you, my soul. You are infinite, deathless, birthless. Because you are the infinite spirit, it does not befit you to be a slave. ... Arise! Awake! Stand up and fight! Die if you must. There is none to help you. You are the entire world. Who can help you? - Swami Vivekananda (Delivered In San Francisco, on May 28, 1900) The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Lectures And Discourses/The Gita II
People's understanding of Advaita is from a religious perspective. The Advaitic wisdom itself completely refutes the religious idea of God. Advaitic wisdom is not dependent on the religion and religious scriptures and yoga to realize the ‘Self ‘hidden by the ‘I’.:~Santthosh Kumaar
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