The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (79 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
12.84Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
‘I am Brahman’ (
B
had
ra
aya Upani
ad
1.4.10). Hindu formula through which the identity of the self (
tman
) with
Brahman
is proclaimed. It is one of the
mah
v
kyas
, great precepts.
Aha
k
ra
(Skt., ‘I maker’). In Indian (especially
S
khya
) philosophy, the principle of the ego. In general aha
k
ra is the ego or ego principle responsible for one's individuality, one's self-awareness. In S
khya, aha
k
ra is understood as the second evolution of unmanifest
prak
ti
and the immediate product of the
buddhi
(or
mahat
) principle. The products of aha
k
ra predominant in
tamas
(also called bhut
di)
are the five subtle elements (
tanm
tras
), the building blocks of the objective world.

Other books

Octopussy by Ian Fleming
Hearse and Gardens by Kathleen Bridge
Bound in Black by Juliette Cross
Crying for Help by Casey Watson
Imaginary Grace by Anne Holster