Page 40 - Journey to Infinity
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The Vedas
The Sanskrit root Vid from which the word Veda is derived, means only knowledge —to know. Knowledge means knowing. This word knowing has a wide sense, wide form and wide connotation. It has in¬numerable forms, innumerable states and innumerable conditions. But only three forms should be fixed before our view: Tam, Raj and Sat.Tam is the base; Raj is the middle state and Sat is the top. The base and the top are the farthest ends. The middle state alone is such that something can be thought about it and considered. Therefore that which is generally termed as knowledge is only the middle state; and through this alone can one try to know and explain all the three states.
The Veda is said to be the subject matter of three attributes — Trigunathmaka vishaya. But it lays more stress on the Raj aspect, i.e., the middle discriminating power. Tam, Raj and Sat are the three attributes. Tam is said to be the base, the root (origin) and the foundation. This word has many meanings in Sanskrit, but generallyTam is regarded as ignorance, laziness, idleness, grossness, confusion and so on. All these convey the sense of the base or the support. Raj is said to be the middle or the central state. Its nature is struggle, fickleness, thinking and so on. It always denotes the middle plane. Sat means joy, agreeableness, Pasandeedagi, height, subtleness, sanctity and greatness. This is the top. It is this connotation that is always) accepted.
It is due to the combination of these three attributes that the creation is known as consisting of three worlds and three divisions. The principle that lies hidden in these and that surrounds these forming the real substratum is called Veda. The Veda from point of view, is of three divisions, of three attributes. No place, no creation, no time nor any matter is outside of it. Space, time and matter (substance) all the three are made up of these three attributes. All these have the three states viz., the beginning, the middle and the end. Every tree has root, trunk and branches. The trunk is the middle portion. Generally it is the middle portion that catches our eye. And all the struggle of our life finds its expression in this middle state only. In every being there is this triple combination. But that which is kept inside it remains in the middle only. Thus it is the middle portion that becomes the centre of attention and thought. The beginning and the end of all activity are generally lost sight of. It is always the field and period of action that attracts our attention.
Every being has head, body and legs. It is the body of the individual which is the middle portion, and forms the medium of attraction. But in what way are






























































































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