or effects are names only, exist through or originate
from speech only, while in reality there exists no
such thing as a modification. In so far as they
are names (individual effects distinguished by names)
they are untrue; in so far as they are clay they are
true.—This parallel instance is given with
reference to Brahman; applying the phrase ‘having
its origin in speech’ to the case illustrated
by the instance quoted we understand that the entire
body of effects has no existence apart from Brahman.—Later
on again the text, after having declared that fire,
water, and earth are the effects of Brahman, maintains
that the effects of these three elements have no existence
apart from them, ’Thus has vanished the specific
nature of burning fire, the modification being a mere
name which has its origin in speech, while only the
three colours are what is true’ (Ch. Up.
VI, 4, 1).—Other sacred texts also whose
purport it is to intimate the unity of the Self are
to be quoted here, in accordance with the ‘and
others’ of the Sutra. Such texts are, ’In
that all this has its Self; it is the True, it is
the Self, thou art that’ (Ch. Up. VI,
8, 7); ’This everything, all is that Self’
(Bri. Up. II, 4, 6); ’Brahman
alone is all this’ (Mu. Up. II, 2,
11); ‘The Self is all this’ (Ch. Up.
VII, 25, 2); ‘There is in it no diversity’
(Bri. Up. IV, 4, 25).—On any other
assumption it would not be possible to maintain that
by the knowledge of one thing everything becomes known
(as the text quoted above declares). We therefore
must adopt the following view. In the same way
as those parts of ethereal space which are limited
by jars and waterpots are not really different from
the universal ethereal space, and as the water of
a mirage is not really different from the surface of
the salty steppe—for the nature of that
water is that it is seen in one moment and has vanished
in the next, and moreover, it is not to be perceived
by its own nature (i.e. apart from the surface of
the desert[280])—; so this manifold world
with its objects of enjoyment, enjoyers and so on
has no existence apart from Brahman.—But—it
might be objected—Brahman has in itself
elements of manifoldness. As the tree has many
branches, so Brahman possesses many powers and energies
dependent on those powers. Unity and manifoldness
are therefore both true. Thus, a tree considered
in itself is one, but it is manifold if viewed as having
branches; so the sea in itself is one, but manifold
as having waves and foam; so the clay in itself is
one, but manifold if viewed with regard to the jars
and dishes made of it. On this assumption the
process of final release resulting from right knowledge
may be established in connexion with the element of
unity (in Brahman), while the two processes of common
worldly activity and of activity according to the
Veda—which depend on the karmaka/nd/a—may
be established in connexion with the element of manifoldness.
And with this view the parallel instances of clay &c.
agree very well.


