The world as Brahman's lila?

[StarryNightshade]

In my process of studying different forms of Hindu philosophy and ontology, the one that has struck out for me is the non-dual concept of lila (divine play). Essentially, all that happens in the world, since it is all Brahman, is for the lila of Brahman itself. This is both the good and the bad.

All the good in the world is easy to understand. But to imagine things like war, famine, death, and disease as all a part of Brahman's play is a bit unnerving.

How are we supposed to approach something like this? How can we accept that such things that cause humanity intense suffering happen for, basically, Brahman's amusement? How am I supposed to see things like the Syrian war, intense poverty, or general human misery in such a way?

Or am I way of base here and am only seeing this on the surface level?

 

[George-ananda]

Good question. You must remember that Brahman is the experiencer of that suffering too. Why? Well I look at his lila as a grand multi-dimensional artwork that reaches eons of time forward and backwards and at the end for all these temporary individual souls is a return to pure being, bliss, awareness (sat-cit-ananda). We look at things through our short linear lifetime and three-dimensions and can not grasp the bigger picture. The temporarily suffering souls will end in blissful Moksha in the end, It is a play/drama where he separates himself from himself and returns himself to himself. It is a play with a happy ending but as in all good plays there is drama in the unfolding of the play. All suffering is very temporary in this grand artwork.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

George basically said it - Because Brahma is experiencing everything and IS every experience, the basic thought is that in order to relish the the experience of joy, one must by experience know it's opposite - suffering. Otherwise the joy aspect can't be fully appreciated. Now, why Brahman does this is the mystery. Why this need for lila?

My husband's favorite example of this paradox is in the question: Can God create a boulder he is unable to lift? Clearly if God is all powerful, the answer is yes....but also no...how can there be anything that God can prevent herself from doing?

I think that's a paradox we have to live with.

 

[sayak83]

In my process of studying different forms of Hindu philosophy and ontology, the one that has struck out for me is the non-dual concept of lila (divine play). Essentially, all that happens in the world, since it is all Brahman, is for the lila of Brahman itself. This is both the good and the bad.

All the good in the world is easy to understand. But to imagine things like war, famine, death, and disease as all a part of Brahman's play is a bit unnerving.

How are we supposed to approach something like this? How can we accept that such things that cause humanity intense suffering happen for, basically, Brahman's amusement? How am I supposed to see things like the Syrian war, intense poverty, or general human misery in such a way?

Or am I way of base here and am only seeing this on the surface level?

I agree that this is a problem. Of course if Brahman is a transpersonal entity that just is what it is, then the point becomes moot.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Of course if Brahman is a transpersonal entity that just is what it is, then the point becomes moot.

^^^ All problems arise when we make Brahman into a God, a Supersoul. (Underline mine)

 

[Sw. Vandana Jyothi]

Isn't it more "technically" correct to say that Brahman is non-dual and that Ishvara is the Dramatist who enjoys the lila, the appearance and disappearance of duality? Both are one, yes, but it is Ishvara who writes the script, directs the Play of the Love Divine (lila), creates the stage, the props and the costumes and then acts all the parts.

 

[atanu]

...
All the good in the world is easy to understand. But to imagine things like war, famine, death, and disease as all a part of Brahman's play is a bit unnerving.

Unnerving to whom? War for whom? Famine for whom? I think it is more unnerving when we understand import of the following:

Rig 10.054.02 When you proceed, Indra, increasing in form, and proclaiming your prowess among mankind, false is that your (wandering), false the combats which you have narrated; you (find) now no enemy (to attack), did you formerly find one?
Rig 10.054.03 Who among the r.s.is before us have obtained the limit of your entire greatness, since from your own person you have generated at once both mother and father (or earth and heaven)?

 

[Aupmanyav]

Isn't it more "technically" correct to say that Brahman is non-dual and that Ishvara is the Dramatist who enjoys the lila, the appearance and disappearance of duality? Both are one, yes, but it is Ishvara who writes the script, directs the Play of the Love Divine (lila), creates the stage, the props and the costumes and then acts all the parts.

No problem at all if that is your take.

 

[Sw. Vandana Jyothi]

No problem at all if that is your take.