Pranam to Parampoojya Parameshwar Sadguru Swami Anilji Maharaj
Paramamrut
(English Translation of the Audio series in Marathi by Brahmatmaikyadhnyani Sadguru Swami Anilji Maharaj)
Chapter 8
Shunya Khandan (5)
(Refutation of Nihilism)
Refutation of Nihilism is also mentioned in some of the Upanishad. Especially Mandukya Upanishad on which Mandukya karika was written. This karika was written by Bhagwan Shankaracharya’s Guru, Goud Padacharya. He has examined what is meant by Shunya and how that is refuted. During the period of Karika the belief started prevailing that the nature world is nothing, zero. Which was examined and refuted in the Karika.
Scene of visible world, does not exist in reality (the beginning, mid point, end is not known, how it started not known, nothing there is lasting, changing every moment, nothing definitely can be said about it). People at large take it as real and lead their life. However thinkers, who experience the principles, they Realised that the world, nature does not exist, it is an illusion. Ancient Rishis explained this in Upanishads. What is the reason for having this illusion is very clearly explained in Upanishads.
However there developed some thinking after quite some time, that whatever is said to be illusion is not illusion but it is zero, nothing.
Vedant doctrine states, “Sarvam khalu idam Brahm” (Whatever all these, biotic and abiotic, actions, scene, everything in the world is Brahm). This is Mahavakya (Supreme sentence) of Upanishads.
Contrary to this, opinion got developed that whole world is zero, nothing. This opinion was accepted in Bouddha philosophy. The visible scene was said to be zero. We think that some one is born, some one died, some incident has happened etc. but it is not so and all is null and void is told in Nihilism.
The scene of the world had been said to be completely zero. Some philosophers said so, and Bouddha followers were main among them. They had support from some of the Emperors. Due to this, the opinion received widespread acceptance. This opinion is contrary to the reality stated in Vedant doctrine.
The discussions and debate then, started among the wise ones.
Whether all of us are really zero. When whole world is said to be zero that means all animate and inanimate in the world are zero. The question that arose was who knew that the world is zero. Who is saying it is zero. If someone in the world itself is saying it is zero then the person who knew it is zero, can not be zero. So some one in the world is not zero who understood the world to be zero. Then it is not correct to say that world is zero. This was the refutation of Nihilism.
Mandukya karika explains this very beautifully and clearly. Those who wish to study this in details can go through Mandukya karika and comments of Bhagwan Shankaracharya on this karika.