“Give me the Definition for God!”
Thus, my Hindu teacher challenged me.
Many articles of my website point out the difference between the Absolute (the Unchangeable) and the changeable or transient. It is easier to describe the transient, because this we know and find in the everyday life.
When I stand on the Gornergrad above Zermatt and do not know how the Matterhorn looks, then I will not recognize it. And the whole trip up to 3'100 m.a.s.l. was for nothing.
Everything what is not variable is the Truth, the Absolute, or in religious words: God. But what is the Absolute? To give a direct definition for the Absolute, for God, seems to be an headache.
All Holy Scriptures of this world deal with God and raise the claim to come directly from God. If they come truly directly from God, at least two questions rise up:
1. Is the talk of different Gods of each religion,
or is it one and the same God?
2. Does God reveal himself as God,
and does God identify himself as God?
1. God or Gods?
Every religion of this world proclaims there is only one God. Ask yourself :
Does God have a religion?
There is no Hindu-God and no Christian-God.
When Buddha was asked by a student whether there is God or not, Buddha remained silent. – Only in the silence, outwardly and inwardly, God can be experienced. Therefore, Buddha gave a profound answer.
You cannot observe chamois and ibexes from the helicopter. Sit down, become quiet, and they will come to you; whether you are Christian or Hindu.
A scribe wanted to check Jesus because he believed, Jesus would speak of another God (Mark 12:27-30).
“Which is the first Commandment of all?” he challenged Jesus.
Jesus replied (according to 5. Moses, 6:4):
«Shema Yisrael, Yahweh eloheinu Yahweh echad»
“Listen Israel, Jaweh is our God, Jaweh is One.”
“Echad” cannot be translated with one single word. The Hebrew language is enormously rich and comprehensive. Each of the following words is right and appropriate! – We must extend our perception and way of thinking :
Echad (אחד) the one, the first, the same, the only one, the sole, the indivisible, the unique.
Yisrael (ישראל) Isra-El, people of God (not only the people in the political state Israel!)
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד
«Shema Yisrael, Yahweh eloheinu Yahweh echad»
(To be read from right to left!)
The mesusa
belongs on the door post of the Jews's house. It contains a small scroll with the Shema Yisrael.
(5. Moses, 6:4-9 and 11:13-21)
2. God reveals Himself
Every religion of this world has Holy Scriptures. In these scriptures God proves his own evidence. In the Bible we find in the Exodus an “identity proof” of God, in the dialogue with Moses.
The big event for the folk of Israel was the exodus from Egypt. Moses took over the leader ship. He got the order directly from God, it was the voice from the burning brier (Exodus 3).
How should Moses know to whom the voice from the burning thornbush belongs? Therefore, Moses asked what he should say the people if they asked for the name of the God of their forefathers. (Exodus 3:14)
The answer out of the burning brier was :
«ehyeh asher ehyeh»
“Say, «Ehyeh» has sent me to you.”
How did Moses recognize «ehyeh asher ehyeh» in fact is God?
«Ehyeh asher ehyeh» is so to say the identity card of God. Every passport has signs sure about forgery.
The statement “I am your God” or “I am your guru” is not sure about forgery.
Show Your passport and your identity is proved unquestionably. The officer will put no questions to your person.
What means «ehyeh asher ehyeh»?
אהיה אשר אהיה (Exodus 3:14; to be read from right to left!)
«ehyeh» (אהיה) – The verb “to be”
(אהיה), first person singular “I” (א), Hebrew imperfect tense.
«asher» (אשר) – a conjunction, holds together the first and the second part.
«ehyeh» (אהיה) – once again “to
be”, first person singular “I” Hebrew imperfect tense.
Hebrew knows only two tenses: Perfect and imperfect tense. Actions in the perfect tense are concluded, actions in the imperfect tense are ongoing or they will happen in future.
«ehyeh» – “I am” and “I will be”. In English present tense and future; hence two statements in one.
«asher» – “that”, “who”, “what”, “which”, “because”
«ehyeh» – once again “I am”, and/or “I will be”.
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The consequences are 2 x 2 = 4 statements! |
Hebrew needs only few words, nevertheless, the meaning is multi-layered. For a right understanding of God we must take up all four statements with each other and at the same time ! As well the words “who”, “because”...! |
And the question,
whether God is male or female,
does not rise at all!
If you know the different security signs of the bank notes, nobody can give you counterfeit money.
God does not reveal Himself as a being with a name but as an experience “I am”.
«Unconditional existence»
Interesting is the statement no. 1 with the conjunction “because”.
“I am, because I am”.
Therefore an unconditional existence; independent and undisturbed from external things or by influences.
God is not involved in our everyday life and God stands above this variable world. Neither can we flatter God nor offend.
«Absolute existence»
The statements no. 2 and no. 4 express the principle of the absolute:
“Now I am that I also will be in future.”
“Also in future I will be that what I am now already.”
God is invariable, God is absolute existence.
«Omnipresent existence»
God said His name is «Ehyeh» – “I am there”.
Even before you search for God, for the Truth, God (already) has been there. Wherever you go, God is (already) there.
You are and you were never separated from God. God is always and everywhere present.
God says from himself : «ehyeh asher ehyeh» – “I am that I am”. This is the identity card of God and at the same time also the “definition" for God. His name “I am there” reveals omnipresence.
“I am” can be experienced by everybody.
“I am, what I am” may be said by one who has left behind his idea of being an individual and his identification as a personality, as well has given up his peculiarities and his characteristics
(with other words, all what is relative).
Then, only the non-separating, pure, absolute existence remains – the “I am”.
„Give me the definition for God !“
I am, because I am; «ehyeh asher ehyeh».
However, my teacher Swami Yogeshwarananda had been aimed at the definition according to the Hindu's scriptures:
Sat, Chit, Ananda
- Sat : absolute existence (eternal life)
- Chit : absolute knowledge (omniscient)
- Ananda : absolute bliss
* In the picture from Chagall we find the writing יהוה. In Exodus 3:15 God gives in addition the well-known name «Jahweh» (יהוה). Moses shall say, God “«Jahweh» of your forefathers has sent me to you.” «Jahweh» (יהוה) contains the verb “to be” as well, but in the third person singular “is”; however, in the older form hawa (הוה) instead of haya (היה).