MDDM: Chs 46-7 This And Tat: A Hindoo Perspective

[jbor]

So, all that iron in the region is the material cause, the "Waggons-ful of
Iron Products" along Octarara Road have been made by the "instrumental
cause", capitalist entrepreneurialism (i.e Lord Lepton's foundry), to become
the world as they will soon know it - "Bar and Rod Stock, Nails, Hatchets
and Knives" - Cities and Warfare.

"Aye, as if the Prussian Army's about someplace," Mason none too pleas'd
with any of it. (453.23)

Nice.

best


on 14/4/02 10:02 AM, s~Z at keithmar at msn.com wrote:

>>>> The pronoun reference goes back to "the Night Sky" I think -
> its "pitiless
> Clarity" (463.27) - but I agree that the word "*That*" is
> italicised in the
> text to load it with greater significance.<<<
> 
> Chandogya Upanishad  (VI.14)
> 
> 1. 'Suppose, good lad, that someone were to lead a man blindfold
> from Gandhara and then release him in a deserted place; and
> suppose that he were to be blown to east, north, south, or west,
> crying, "I have been led blindfold and released blindfold!"
> 
> 2. 'And suppose that someone were to undo the blindfold and tell
> him, "Gandhara is in this direction. Walk in this direction." And
> he, being wise and intelligent, by asking from village to village
> would reach Gandhara. In the same way a person who has a teacher
> knows, "It is only so long until I am released. Then I will reach
> my goal."
> 
> 3. 'This subtle part is what all this has as self. It is truth: it
> is the self.
> You are THAT (Tat tvam asi), Svetaketu.'
> 'Blessed one, explain it to me further.'
> 'I will, good lad,' he said.
> 
> "Tat" (THAT) denotes the Brahman that is held as the absolute
> cause of the universe. It is ascertained in this Sat Vidya that
> Brahman is the material cause of the universe and the instrumental
> cause of the universe. Material cause is the one that undergoes
> change to become the effect. For example, mud is the material
> cause for the pot. The instrumental cause is the one that brings
> out the effect by his wish and action. For example, the potter is
> the instrumental cause in making the pot. Here in this Vedanta,
> the Brahman is held as both material cause and as the instrumental
> cause and the universe is the effect. The comparison of mud, gold,
> iron etc denotes that the Brahman is the material cause. Brahman's
> wish to become many and hence his creation denotes that Brahman is
> the instrumental cause also. Further it is stated that knowing
> Brahman, everything becomes known. This ascertains the Brahman as
> material cause for the universe. Therefore the term "Tat" denotes
> Brahman who is qualified by characteristics like being the cause
> of the universe, greatest in terms of reality, form attributes and
> unparalleled - unsurpassed supreme lordship, having the entire
> universe as its body/mode, having infinite divine qualities,
> untouched by all impurities etc.
> 
> For the significance of the word 'Field' see:
> http://www.asitis.com/13/index.html
> 
>