|
Page14
What is the Name of God?
There is only One Divine Reality or
Supreme Being, which is both beyond all names and forms and has an
unlimited number of names and forms. One can call it Shiva, Vishnu,
Divine Mother, the Creator, Buddha, Allah or whatever one likes. All
the names and forms of the Divine which human beings have developed
through time have their validity. But we must transcend names and
form, even the name of God, to find That Reality which is beyond all
material and mental limitation.
We don't think that the English word for
grapes is the only legitimate word for grapes and those who call
grapes by any other name know nothing about this particular fruit.
Yet in religion some groups may insist that the name for God
belonging to their particular community is the only true name and
should other people call upon that spiritual reality by another
name, they must be calling upon something else or even worshipping
something undivine.
The name is not the thing. Even a person
cannot be reduced to a single name. How much less so the Infinite
Being? God has all names and transcends all names. What is important
is to know that Reality not to try to impose one name or one idea
about it on all humanity. A name for God enables us to establish a
relationship with that transcendent Reality. Generally the name
reflects various Divine qualities - like love, peace, or truth -
which allow us a means of access to that higher Truth.
Repetition of Divine names is perhaps the
easiest method of directing the mind to Truth. But when we limit
that transcendent Reality to a mere name, which is a collection of
letters, then the name itself becomes the factor of illusion and
separation. We must use the name as a messenger to contact the
Being, not merely worship the name itself. Ultimately we are that
Being and his name is our name, which our every breath and heartbeat
proclaims.
|
