Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan- World Religions Excerpt (Non-Hindu Dualism)

"True Self"

is like an actor wearing a mask

The divine in man

•"Immanence" •Our spirit is a "fragment of God" •The Supreme Brahman= " the ocean of infinite knowledge and bliss" •Purpose of man: conscious union with the divine man

Individualism

•Consider ourselves as "citizens of the world" (Socrates) •Color, race, nationality is merely contingent •Once achieved, we "outgrow our individualism"

Humanism

•Shri Krishna (Bhagavadgita) •union with God through "self-Discovery," not based "trust," "authority" •vedas not infallible •not based in faith •vedas are a record of deep, inner experiences •gods are a projection of those experiences •incarnation of God (or Krishna) one-time event •occurs every time we "break through the obstacles (in us) which shut in the divine splendor" •"Service to others" more purifying than "rosaries, pilgrimages, meditation, or image worship"

Ecumenical

•all religions are valid, aim at the supreme •"fuel" and "milk" analogies

Universal Salvation

•the good (spirit) is even in violent criminals •like "buried treasure" to be brought out •distinction between Heaven/ Hell untenable •salvation is Universal

Tat Tvam Asi

The eternal is in one's self

The "Godhead"/ "Brahman"

1. Immensity 2. Infinity 3. Inexhaustibility 4. Mysteriousness •thus a negative theology

Deities "personify" aspects of God

CREATION: Brahma PRESERVATION: Visnu PERFECTION: Siva

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

First Vice President , Second President of India