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the sake of one meditation, and so apply only there: "its head is joy, its right side delight," "uniting all that is pleasant," etc. |
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As we saw, Amalananda articulated the necessary distinctions which allowed for an articulation of a way of speakinga theological grammar of Brahman. Here, again, is the core of his comment: |
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[Objection:] If bliss, etc., should be introduced from all contexts on the grounds that Brahman is one, then why are "uniting all that is pleasant," etc. [which also refer to Brahman] not thus introduced? |
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[Response:] "Uniting all that is pleasant," etc., are enjoined [only] for the sake of acts of meditation. Because the precise demarcation of the result connected with an injunction is not known, then all the details connected with that result must be organized precisely according to the injunction [since there is no other standard by which to make sure that they contribute properly]. |
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By contrast, truth, consciousness, etc. serve to ascertain the essence of the object; wherever the essence of that object is pertinent, there they are to be introduced . . . |
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[Objection:] Regarding what is "without qualities" [Brahman] words other [than that single marker "without qualities"] are useless, and so they should not be introduced [from other meditation contexts.] |
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[Response:] [i] truth, [ii] consciousness, [iii] bliss, [iv] infinity and [v] self are terms which mutually qualify one another, [respectively] overturn the flaws of [i] falsity, [ii] nonconsciousness, [ii] sorrow, [iv] limitedness and [v] lack of self, and so define that single bliss, which is the common basis for truth, etc. It is just like the words "existent," "material thing" and "pot" [all define] a single pot. |
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The definition that Brahman is of this sort cannot occur due to one word alone, since if only one word is used, there will be no conflict [of meanings] and no indirect signification. Hence, other words must be used. Insofar as errors are possible, a whole string of words capable of ending those errors must be introduced; in order to end those errors [in |
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