Theism is in
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 belief in many gods.
Some organized religions follow monotheism where God is the
supreme and none except him. These god centric faiths follow a particular code
of conducts 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 the 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 all belief system.
History
speaks that 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.
Mundaka Upanishad/3/1/8: Eye cannot see him, nor words reveal him; by the senses,
austerity, or works he is not known. When the mind is cleansed by the grace of
wisdom, he is seen by contemplation–the One without parts.
Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad/ 3/8/9: It is in truth that Imperishable, O Gargi, who is not seen but
is the seer, who is not heard but is the hearer, who is not thought but is the
thinker, who is not known but is the knower. There is no other seer but him, no
other hearer but him, no other thinker but him, no other knower but him. And it
is that Imperishable which is the warp and the woof of space.
”
Thus, the Vedic scriptures recognize the unity
of REALITY without any human intervention or intercession.
Religion and mysticism is a species of mesmerism affecting
weaker or impressionable minds. Thus the panoply of a guru’s religious robes or
presence of god men creates unconscious suggestion in weaker minds of a
superior power or magical knowledge. Similarly, mass visitors to ashrams are
suggested into thinking they experience great peace and their wishes will be
fulfilled if they unconditionally surrender to guru or god men. Since they are unconsciously hypnotized into
believing that will happen. However, when a strong mind which is aware of the
truth meets a guru or god men are entirely unaffected. Whatever happening within the waking
experience is part of the duality, thus it cannot be part of the reality.
Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad (/3/7/3 – 22):-
3. “He who dwells
in the earth, yet is other than the earth, whom the earth does not know, whose
body is the earth, who controls the earth from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within
you, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
4.”He who dwells
in the waters, yet is other than the waters, whom the waters do not know, whose
body is the waters, who controls the waters from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the Inner Controller, the
immortal.
5.”He who dwells
in the fire, yet is other than the fire, whom the fire does not know, whose
body is the fire, who controls the fire from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the Inner Controller, the
immortal.
6″He who dwells in
space, yet is other than space, whom space does not know, whose body is space,
who controls space from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the Inner Controller, the
immortal.
7.”He who dwells
in the wind, yet is other than the wind, whom the wind does not know, whose
body is the wind, who controls the wind from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the Inner Controller, the
immortal.
8.”He who dwells
in the sky, yet is other than the sky, whom the sky does not know, whose body
is the sky, who controls the sky from within– he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the Inner Controller, the
immortal.
9. “He who dwells
in the sun, yet is other than the sun, whom the sun does not know, whose body
is the sun, who controls the sun from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the
Inner Controller, the immortal.
10. “He who dwells
in the regions of space, yet is other than the regions of space, whom the
regions of space do not know, whose body is the regions of space, who controls
the regions of space from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the Inner Controller, the
immortal.
11. “He who dwells
in the moon and the stars, yet is other than the moon and the stars, whom the
moon and the stars do not know, whose body is the moon and stars, who controls
the moon and the stars from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the Inner Controller, the
immortal.
12. “He who dwells
in the atmosphere, yet is other than the atmosphere, whom the atmosphere does
not know, whose body is the atmosphere, who controls the atmosphere from
within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
13. “He who dwells
in the darkness, yet is other than the darkness, whom the darkness does not
know, whose body is the darkness, who controls the darkness from within–he is
the ‘Atman’ within you, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
14. “He who dwells
in the light, yet is other than the light, whom the light does not know, whose
body is the light, who controls the light from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the Inner Controller, the
immortal.
“So far with reference to the divinities. Now with reference to beings.
15. “He who dwells
in all beings, yet is other than all beings, whom all beings do not know, whose
body is all beings, who controls all beings from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the Inner Controller, the
immortal.
“So far with reference to beings. Now with reference to the body.
16. “He who dwells
in the life breath, yet is other than the life breath, whom the life breath
does not know, whose body is the life breath, who controls the life breath from
within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the
Inner Controller, the immortal.
18. “He who dwells
in the eye, yet is other than the eye, whom the eye does not know, whose body
is the eye, who controls the eye from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the
Inner Controller, the immortal.
19. “He who dwells
in the ear, yet is other than the ear, whom the ear does not know, whose body
is the ear, who controls the ear from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the
Inner Controller, the immortal.
20. “He who dwells
in the mind, yet is other than the mind, whom the mind does not know, whose
body is the mind, who controls the mind from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within
you, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
21. “He who dwells
in the skin, yet is other than the skin, whom the skin does not know, whose
body is the skin, who controls the skin from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within
you, the Inner Controller, the immortal.
22. “He who dwells
in the understanding, yet is other than the understanding, whom the
understanding does not know, whose body is the understanding, who controls the
understanding from within–he is the ‘Atman’ within you, the Inner Controller,
the immortal.
The above verses show that the creator is the life force of living
beings and the dynamism of the cosmos. This also shows the dual aspect of
REALITY being manifested, yet, unmanifested, known, yet unknown and being
inside yet being outside.
These are merely addressing some of the most common criticisms
heaped against Hinduism to show how misplaced and abrahamic their understanding
of Hinduism is and in fact, going by their own play book, specifically on
monotheism, the Vedic discourse itself completely refutes them, for, Vedic
metaphysics is not dependent on the need for believing in a human messenger to
attain salvation.
