Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists

""Myths of the Hindus & BuddhistsIt isexpress its nature, in a famous Vedantic phrase:not that, it is not that (neti, neti).To know this realityis to know all, just as to know clay is to know all that ismade of clay the apparent differences consist only inname and form (namarupa). This reality is within ourselves, and we in it. It is, in fact, our only true Self(atman), obscured in us by personality (ahamkard) andattributes (upadhis). The knowledge of this Reality isRelease (moksha, nirvana), just as when an earthen potis broken it is realized that the space within is one withthe space without. To attain this release is the highestend of life.The life of each individual soul (jlvatmari) follows a doublepath the primal Will to Experience (pravrittimargayd),and the later Will to Denial (nivritti margaya], or,briefly, the paths of Pursuit and Return, familiar to themystics of all ages and countries. The process of Embodiment and Release is always in progress but inasmuch;as the Released return no more, it is clear that thePursuers must always be in the majority.Yet it is an evilthing for any community if it be composed wholly of thosewho pursue, without a due leaven of those who return.Human SocietyOn this basis the ancient rishis laid down as the four aimsof human life, D karma, Art ha, Kama, Moksha, i.e.Morality, Wealth-winning, Fulfilment of Desires, andRelease. That individual souls are in different stages ofdevelopment, besides possessing special capacities ortendencies as well as special deserts according to thenature of past action, is reflected in the theory of caste(varna, lit.colour), each with its appropriate morality(sva-dharma) .398