Ultimate reality is dependent on a human beings's perspective. Ultimate reality, or the concept of God are compiled of different beliefs and conceptual models. Questions are raised with transcendent reality in nature and existence. Chad Meister, addresses some of these questions. Humans desire to escape the suffering of this world with the faith and belief that another more perfect existence is obtainable where the flaws of this world does not exist (89). Wainwright states that from human beings needs and experiences came the concept of ultimate reality. Advaita Vedanta takes the Hinduism traditions of Upanishadic to interptet the concept of ultimate reality. Upanishadic traditions, such as the teaching of Brahman, could be traslated as ultimate reality. The world is simutaniously external and unchanging whole, and a individuated plurality that is constantly morphing or changing. Vedanta had taken up this particular insight and gives empahasis on the fundamentals of unity or the concept of oneself of reality. Atman, or the principle of individualization, otherwise known as 'true self', is also a tradition of Upasnishdic concepts. The ultimate goal is liberation from the cycle of transagratory existence. Ultimate knowledge comprised of Atman and Brahman produces Moksha, or liberation. The four steps of "being in the truth" are self cultivatin, eduaction in Upanishdic and the key texts of traditions, reflective engagement of the texts, and the mediative contemplation of Atman and Brahman. Advaita states that no one being could embody ultimate reality but instead it is a "transcendent place or state"(94).
Udayana states that there are seven ways to prove that God is in existence; effects, atomic combination, suspension, human skills, authoritative knowledge, Revelation, and atoms. He also calls Him the "all-knowing, imperishable God." He is imperishable God because he is the only one who could create atoms because humans are not able to. Also, humans can not break atoms or destroy them and he is stating that the only person that can do that is God because he created atoms. He mentions the difference between the cause and effect to validate if there is a God. He brings up the argument that "Things like the earth must have a cause, because they are produced by a body (101)." Some deity had to have made the earth for their pleasure. He also relies on objections to prove that God is real. Udayana does bring up good ideas to prove that God is real. The best argument to me is that he created atoms. Humans are unable to destroy atoms or to create them; so they had to be...
By mentioning the Upasnishdic concepts really helped me grasp the idea what concepts like Brahman to reach a high state than oneself. I liked the portions of the excerpt that Avaita was included in, because like you said, she mentions transcendence which helps me also conceptualize the possiblity of a perfect reality
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