Religion has evolved from simple expressions of awe for natural forces into complex systems aimed at discovering the nature of reality and freedom. Early religious expressions focused on appeasing gods associated with nature, reflecting humanity’s search for security in an unpredictable world. Over time, this expanded into polytheism, a system that saw these forces as expressions of distinct divine figures.
Polytheism: Manifesting the Ideal of Freedom
In early polytheistic societies, gods embodied qualities beyond human limitations. Ancient people attributed the qualities they could not master—strength, immortality, freedom from hunger and suffering—to gods of thunder, sun, or rain. These deities represented idealised forms of freedom from the confines of human existence. As these beliefs evolved, they became foundations for diverse religious expressions, each depicting freedom and transcendence in unique forms.
Monotheism and the Rise of the One Ultimate Reality
Religion then moved towards monotheism, embodying a vision of a singular divine source governing all of existence. In monotheistic traditions, this one God exists beyond time, space, and causation—an ultimate reality transcending all that is. This perspective brought a focus on unity, suggesting that all of creation is interconnected through a single divine origin. Yet, even this profound understanding remains distinct from non-dualism, as it separates God as an external creator from the world itself.
Qualified Non-Dualism: God Within and Beyond the World
Vedanta’s next step, represented by qualified non-dualism (Vishishtadvaita), integrates God more intimately with the world. Here, the divine reality is not only transcendent but also immanent, residing within every part of the universe and each individual. The concept suggests that the divine is not separate but forms the essential nature of all creation. This view is reflected in philosophies such as Spinoza's, where the universe itself is an expression of God, a view known as panentheism.
Advaita Vedanta: Beyond Maya to Pure Non-Dualism
Advaita Vedanta, the pinnacle of Vedantic thought, takes non-dualism a step further. Rather than viewing God as separate or even as part of the universe, Advaita posits that Brahman—the ultimate reality—is the only true existence, while the world of forms and changes is merely an illusion or maya. The realisation that “I am Brahman” (Aham Brahmasmi) signifies that the individual self is not separate but is the very essence of the universe. This understanding brings the deepest form of freedom, as one transcends limitations to realise their unity with the infinite.
The Inward Journey: Pravritti to Nivritti
According to Vivekananda, true spirituality is marked by a movement from pravritti (outward expansion/focussed) to nivritti (inward contraction). While the initial stages of life and religion involve seeking fulfilment externally; true peace/happiness/contentment, Advaita Vedanta teaches, is found in turning inward. The source of all reality and fulfilment lies within each individual as Brahman. Renunciation—of the belief that happiness exists in external objects—is seen as essential to uncovering this inner truth.
Agnosticism: A Limited Snapshot of Life
In contrast, agnosticism maintains a more practical stance, focusing only on this earthly existence. Vivekananda critiques this view, pointing out that it neglects humanity’s innate quest for transcendence. Agnosticism, by accepting the limitations of material life without the ideal, overlooks the heart's yearning for fulfilment beyond these constraints. This ideal, present in every culture and epoch, is what drives art, spirituality, and science alike, seeking a freedom beyond maya and a truth that surpasses everyday life.
Image Credit: Kaisa Kasekamp and Arthur Hamdani
Landscapes of Belief: How Geography Shapes Spirituality and Religion
In a world where landscapes are more than mere backdrops, even geography quietly shapes the spiritual beliefs of those who dwell within its boundaries. From the vast, arid deserts to lush, vibrant rainforests, different terrains foster distinct ways of relating to the divine. Our environments mold our gods and spirits, influencing whether we embrace a single deity or worship a pantheon, and how climate and ecology weave into the fabric of belief.
Diverse Deities in Abundant Landscapes: Rainforests are lush, filled with diverse life, inspiring beliefs in multiple gods or spirits, each connected to different aspects of nature. This polytheistic approach resonates with the Amazonian tribes, African rainforesters, and Southeast Asian cultures, where numerous deities represent the multiplicity of nature. Each god embodies a specific force, element, or species, reflecting an ecosystem where many elements coexist.
Monotheism in Barren, Singular Landscapes: Deserts, by contrast, are stark and severe, leading to a worldview focused on singular, all-powerful deities. This view resonates with desert cultures like the Bedouins and Berbers, where life depends on sparse resources. A monotheistic belief often aligns with desert survival—an omnipotent god embodies the unyielding harshness of the environment. Here, divine will is seen as powerful and capricious, affecting weather and health directly.
Warrior Culture and Hierarchical Divinities: In deserts, where societies spread over vast, harsh terrains, a centralised, hierarchical society often develops, fostering warrior classes and the concept of an all-powerful god alongside minor deities. In contrast, rainforests’ resource abundance supports more egalitarian social structures, with decentralised authority and spirits representing local forces rather than a single dominant entity.
Interventionist vs. Non-Interventionist Gods: In desert religions, gods are often interventionist, directly affecting life’s hardships. By comparison, rainforests foster beliefs in non-interventionist deities, where gods exist alongside humans but do not control day-to-day events. Here, gods and spirits mirror the intricacies of their surroundings, much like rainforest ecology itself, with no single force governing all.
This shows how environmental factors—abundance or scarcity, isolation or interconnectedness—shaped the spiritual frameworks and societal structures of various cultures.
The Quest for Freedom: Beyond Maya and Limitation
Throughout the development of religion, there has been an underlying search for freedom—a quest to go beyond the limitations imposed by maya. Each stage, from polytheism to Advaita Vedanta, represents a progressively refined understanding of this ideal. Advaita encapsulates the culmination of this journey, revealing that the ultimate truth is not something to be attained externally but lies within, as the very essence of one’s own self. The realisation of “Tat Tvam Asi” (That Thou Art) completes the journey, where one recognises their inherent unity with the divine.
In the Advaita Vedanta tradition, the goal of human life is liberation—freedom from Maya, or illusion, which binds us to the cycles of suffering and ignorance. The Upanishads urge seekers to go beyond superficial reality and see the unity behind all forms. However, this journey isn’t one of passive belief; it’s an active pursuit of understanding.
When we say, “I believe in something (Religion, God, Deity etc),” it often implies a lack of direct knowledge, as we’re accepting it based on trust or lack of alternatives. Belief alone can become a hindrance if it replaces true understanding. Imagine telling a teacher, “I don’t fully understand, but I believe you.” This stance, while well-meaning, misses the purpose of learning itself: to know, not merely to believe. Spiritual inquiry in Advaita encourages this deeper engagement.
Spirituality is what you want to do and Religion is what other people want you to do!
Belief, rooted in faith, can certainly be a starting point, but understanding must continually evolve as our experiences and insights deepen. In Advaita Vedanta, the teachings emphasise that it’s only through direct knowledge of the Self—Brahman—that one can transcend the cycle of birth, suffering, and death. This ultimate knowledge surpasses belief, leading to an experiential realisation of oneness beyond all dualities and limitations.
The ancient wisdom of the Upanishads extends a universal invitation - Shvetashvatara Upanishad
The Eternal Call to Immortality
Shrinvantu vishve amritasya putraha
"Listen, O children of immortal bliss,"
This line reminds us that every soul is innately divine. As “children of immortal bliss,” we are called to realise our true nature beyond transient identities, offering an awakening from the cycle of maya.
Aye dhamani divyani tastu
"Even those who dwell in higher realms,"
Not even celestial beings fully comprehend this truth. It suggests that the divine understanding of the Self goes beyond intellectual or spiritual status—an insight transcending even the knowledge held in heavenly realms.
The Realisation of Infinite Being
Vedaham purusham mahantam
"I have realised that infinite being,"
In these words, the seer speaks of an encounter with the boundless Self, describing it as a profound internal awakening.
Adityavarnam tamasah parastaat
"Blazing forth like the sun, beyond all darkness,"
Here, the “sun” symbolises pure consciousness, untouched by sorrow or limitation, revealing itself as the radiant core that transcends the shadows of worldly suffering.
The Path to Transcendence
Tameva viditva
"By knowing That alone,"
This line emphasises that liberation lies in realising this non-dual essence of Brahman. The verse suggests that when we recognise the true Self, we go beyond mortality and suffering.
Atimrityumeti
"One overcomes death and suffering,"
True immortality is not physical but spiritual; by realising our identity with the infinite, we transcend the cycles of birth, death, and sorrow, attaining lasting freedom.
Nanyavpantavidyatayanaya
"There is no other path; all other paths lead to maya."
Finally, this verse points to non-dual realisation as the ultimate path. It invites us to look beyond the myriad forms of existence and focus on the singular truth of Brahman, transcending maya to reach unity with the eternal.
This philosophical journey—from primitive polytheism to the recognition of a singular, non-dual reality—culminates in the ultimate realisation of oneness with Brahman. In Advaita, the quest for freedom ends in the realisation of our true nature as the immortal, boundless Self. May these timeless insights of Vedanta lead us all toward the light beyond maya, embracing our own divine essence.
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