BRAHMAN

In his introduction to Vedanta for Modern Man, writer Christopher Isherwood states, "Vedanta teaches that Brahman (the ultimate Reality behind the phenomenal universe) is 'one without a second.' [There is nothing that is not Brahman.]  Brahman is beyond all attributes.  Brahman is not conscious; Brahman IS consciousness.  Brahman does not exist; Brahman IS existence.  Brahman is the Atman (the Eternal Nature) of every living being, creature, and object.  Vedanta teaches us that Life has no other purpose than this:  that we shall learn to know ourselves for what we really are; that we shall reject the superficial ego-personality which claims that 'I am Mr. Smith; I am other than Mr. Brown,' and know, instead, that 'I am the Atman; Mr. Brown is the Atman; the Atman is Brahman; there is nothing anywhere but Brahman; all else is appearance, transience, and unreality.'"