Wednesday, July 01, 2009

A brief thought on God -revised version

A brief thought on God
Azly Rahman



Fundamentally religion is a complex topic; understanding "what-where-how-why-and what next" of "God" is even more complex exercise in reasoning and feeling -- a daunting psychological undertaking that can be taxing on the amateur human mind not trained in philosophy. Hence instead of engaging in controversies surrounding this or that term that has evolved from time immemorial (from the time of the earliest civilizations of the Indus Valley and the Fertile crescent',) we ought to look at this idea from a phenomenological perspective. But what does this mean? What is a phenomena and how does one engage in a phenomenological analysis the most sacred of all topics?

How might the "Creator" be looked at from the historical, cultural, ideological, psychological, anthropological, or even scientific perspective before we engage in a "phenomenological" dialogue of this concept.

We continue to argue over this and that term; whether to ban the use of this or that word denoting and connoting spirituality. This can be a futile engagement. We will be trapped in the prison-house of language and truth is embedded in the particularity of language; in the "Babeli-ism" of the tower human beings are incarcerated in.

Language mirrors reality. Language imitates reality. Language defines reality. Language alters reality. Language imprisons reality. Language is reality.

These are the cages humanity build albeit language opens doors. This is the paradox of language; almost as if humanity is cursed for its ability to evolve as a language-producing specie.

Even more complex is the idea of the Creator and the multidimensional aspects of the subconcepts this has produced. We cannot know the Ultimate Truth until our veil is lifted so that we may see Ultimate Reality. But then again, again and again, as in any circular argument we engage in, "reality" is subjective -- as subjective as the reality of the extreme yogis or the sadhus on the streets of Calcutta or the victims of Bernie Madoffs on Wall Street. "Seeing" Ultimate Reality itself is a difficult concept for the human mind to grasp; again, almost paradoxical and absurd a notion -- how can the created define the Creator?

If Ultimate Reality is so bright, permanent, transparent, and boundless, how can the human self so dark, transitional, opaque, and bounded, conceive such a reality? It is like to story of the famous ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes who is famous for carrying a lantern in broad daylight searching for something missing right in front of him -- the ultimate paradox. Diogenes is also said to have counseled Alexander of Macedonia who was found sitting in a river bank, looking solemn. When asked by the philosopher what is happening, the world conqueror said "I do not know what to conquer anymore". Diogenes replied, "Conquer yourself". Recall too Socrates' famous maxim "Know Thyself".

I suppose the statements above are meaningless; as soon as we transform thoughts into language, we create realities that are confined to our own experience with the language we use to define, deconstruct, or even destroy our reality.

I suppose too that we ought to begin reading philosophy to truly appreciate the nature of dialogue on matters such as God, the Universe and everything, and that especially our Malaysian universities become oases of philosophical debates rather than institutions dominated by political forces who are interested in transforming human beings yet into another huge cog in the wheel of Capital. Flourish we must in this world of increasing skepticism.

8 comments:

Old Fart said...

"And God said let us make man out of our image." Out of His image did God make man!

I have often wondered if we have all been fooled into believing that God resides outside of us.

what do you see when you look into the mirror? Is that not the image of God that you see?

Maybe not. Then, maybe if you see that He has granted you "freedom" and "liberty" and you see yourself as separate from the image of God that is in you, then maybe what you are is no more than a custodian of the image of God that is in you!!

Concept is simple enough. But is no good when you need to subject man to your wishes if you see yourself as the ruler or the governor. God has from the begining a useful tool to get people to submit to your rule. Even despots refer to God as He has often been the cheapest and most available tool or weapon you can use to subjugate people you wish to remain in your control and rule.

Singam said...

First of all, on the question of how the created is to define the creator, we have to agree that whatever we can even begin to catch a glimmer of can only be a pale shadow of the immense reality. Having agreed that we are not really characterising anything like the totality of God, we have to ask, is there sufficient commonality between individuals that we might be able to agree on what we, as individuals, perceive to be God?

Assuming that we can do that, I have to ask, how can an Omnipresent God intervene into His creation? To intervene requires being external to the point of intervention. Given mankind's penchant for pleading with God to intercede, we have to agree that man has subconsciously reconciled God into more than the One - there is a non-Omnipresent component that can intervene. Is there any logical reason to limit this non-Omnipresent component to a singular timespace or can we logically allow multiple manifestations?

The other question I wish to address is the claim that the Arabic word solaa has been misrepresented as worship when it really means service. After all, why would a Benevolent and Omnipotent God require worship? Now, if we go back to the Omnipresent God, how would one serve such a God? Wouldn't serving any part of creation amount to serving God? Wouldn't this mesh beautifully with the command "Love thy neighbour as thou wouldst love Me!"?

I do believe the human intellect is capable of exploring and grasping some important aspects of the nature of God.

JONATHAN FOO said...

From the BibLe:

1. "Man is made in the Image and Likeness of God."
2. "Be still and know I Am God."

From SGGS ( Sri Guru Granth Sahib )

1. Page 921 "God pervades the entire Universe as a Vibration, and hy His benevolent Grace alone, He is realised within as a Vibrational feeling in deep meditation."

2. Page 1291 "He ( God ) operates everywhere as a Vibration within one's self, is His presence realised and discovered."

3. Page 293 "The most treasured nectar - NAAM is also resident inside of the human frame, but in a state of dormancy and quiesence."

From the Ken Upanishad, the Hindu Holy Book:

"God is Realised in the Ecstasy of the Awakening."

From Qur'an:

ISLAM means "with Love in your heart, surrender to Allah."

"O, ye who believe, completely efface yourselves in self-surrender when worshipping your Lord, and do good, that happily ye may prosper." Surah 23 (77).

From Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching:

"I do my utmost to attain emptiness and vacuity and in this I hold firmly to the state of stillness and perfect peace." Chapter XVI.

Indeed, God also dwells in the Mind of Man for God is Omnipresence. If one truly loves God then it follows that one should also love fellow humans regardless of race & religion.

Does it not make sense now when we are advised to "Love thy enemies." God is also dwelling not only in our enemies but also the beggars, thieves, the poor, the rich, etc.

Perhaps, developing one's Awareness with this approach may lead to better understanding and building a world that truly experience LOVE... for God is Love.

SRR said...

For as long man have pre-determined beliefs, he will be ignorant and closed to what is real, true and new.

ajoyly said...

Heaven(sky) and earth speak of the existence of God. Man failed to notice God because He is too busy playing God and missed seeing what nature is proclaiming. And he thought that power and wealth can solve all the problems of this world. The reality ultimately prove, power and wealth are not supernatural force but only physical. And physical is temporary. So far no man even the wealthiest and most
powerful has become a God - able to live forever on this planet earth.

Bangsa Cina Malaysia said...

DAP PLEASE GROW UP.

HAVE YOU GUYS FORGOTTEN JE VIRUS AT BKT PELANDOK.

WE THE CHINESE ARE THE DIRTIEST CREATURE AROUND.

TAKE A LOOK AT SEREMBAN MARKET AND OTHER PLACES OPERATED BY THE CHINESE. IT IS A REAL DISGUST. AMAT MEMALUKAN AND BEYOND CURE.

FOR ONCE I AGREED WITH PAS ON THIS ISSUE.

Tamerlane said...

I’m sure DAP is capable of manipulating a koranic verse or two to legitimize the filth. Theyre so good at it

Samuel Goh Kim Eng said...

AN UNDERSTANDING OF RELIGION

Religion is ultimately a matter of faith
When we are saved by God's divine grace
So let us allow all other matters to fade
Until we get to meet God one day face to face

(C)Samuel Goh Kim Eng - 030709
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Fri. 3rd July 2009.

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