An Indian Jesus From Advaita Vedanta KP. ALEAZ* The first section of this paper indicates our theological method which gives importance to a hermeneutical context in terms of Pluralistic Inclusivism for the relational convergence of religions. The second section is on the person of Jesus. The person of Jesus is interpreted as the extrinsic denominator, name and form, effect, reflection and delimitation of Brahman. The third and final section expounds the function of Jesus so as to reveal the all-pervasive, illuminative and unifying power of the Brahman-Atman as Witness and Self of all, as well as to proclaim the eternally present human liberation. 1. Our Aim and Method Our aim is to arrive at an answer te the question 'Who is Jesus?'. In the past twenty centuries numerous attempts have been made by people in every generation to answer this question. From the Indian side, the striving for indigenous Christologies was great in the last and present centuries; India has tried to understand Jesus from various different perspectives, the Christological formulations which have used the Advaita Vedanta 'strand' being one important type. We, in this paper are limiting ourselves to Sankara's Advaita Ved anta, that again to the concept of Jiva-Brahman relation in Sankara's Advaita Vedanta, from within which an understanding of Jesus or Jesuology is to be constructed.l We selected Sankara's Advaita Vedanta because of the conviction that it directly or indirectly represents the culmination of God's self-disclosure to Indians and hence an ongoing effort for the development of Christian theology in India should be made on the basis of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta. We focus on ·Dr. KP. Aleaz is Professor of Religions in Bishop's College, Calcutta, W. Bengal. 30 INDIAN JOURNAL OF THEOLOGY the Jtva-Brahman relation in Sankara's Advaita Vedanta as it p.0vides the best framework in the construction of an undtrstanding of Jesus. Our method is to give complete authority to the authentic writings of Sankara in order to explain 'who Jesus is'. We do not reinterpret Sankara's thought to explain Jesus. Nor do we reject any of Sankara's insights while understanding the person r and work of Jesus. We receive totally all the insights of the iva-Brahman relation arrived at through the analysis of the authentic writings of Sankara and we use them fully in framing a model to understand Jesus. This is because our endeavour is the outcome of a double experience - experience being understood as the ·realization by the total being of the experiencer- namely Jesus-experience and Advaita Vedantic experience. In our view both these experiences are equally authentic, true and ultimate and hence we ventured to expound the former using the framework of the latter. The following are the reasons for us to adopt such an approach: (a) Jesus is of the whole humanity and hence it is the whole humanity of all ages together who have to experience and express him. (b) Jesulogy or understanding Jesus is a continuous integrated process involving human persons and God simultaneously. Human person and God are not two separate realities. Every act, every experience, every existence is the act, experience and existence of God human. Reality is God-human. Theology is neither the once-for-all given unchanging dogma nor entirely a human construction. Revelation of God in Jesus and the human understanding of it are not two separate processes but rather one continuous integrated process. Reality is non-dual. (c) Knowledge of anything is an immediate existential knowledge formulated in the very knowing-process. In our knowing-process there exists nothing externally ready-made that can be adapted indigenised, incultured or contextualised.2 Our hermeneutical context decides the content of our knowledge.3 Epistemology of Advaita Vedanta enlightens us that in the supreme sense, there is no gap between the knower, the knowledge and the object known. In reality there is no gap between us, Jesulogy and Jesus. These three points make us aware of the truth AN INDIAN JESUS FROM ADVAITA VEDANTA 31 that world religions have a continuous authority in understanding Jesus, in formulating Jesulogies. And hence, (d) the basic question in the formulation of an Indian Christian theology is not 'what can we suitably adapt from Sankara's Advaita Vedanta so that our already formulated Christian theology will not be harmed?' but rather, 'when an Advaitin experiences Jesus how should he/she view both the already formulated Christian theology and Advaita Vedanta so that they may together be a basis for an Indian understanding of Jesus for him/her?' (e) The question 'why an Indian Christian theology' should be answered as 'to contribute to the very formulation of the human expression of the Revelation of God in Jesus'; until India's contribution is received, Christology has not become Christology fully, 'Revealed Truth' has not become 'The Revealed Truth' in its possible expressive fulness. <D Indian Christian Theological development may have to be in terms of the approach of Pluralistic Inclusivism in theology of religions. Pluralistic Inclusivism4 inspires each religious faith to be pluralistically inclusive, i.e. on the one hand each living faith is to become truly pluralistic by other faiths contributing to its conceptual content and, on the .other, Inclusivism is to transform its meaning to witness the fulfilment of the theological and spiritual contents of one's own faiths in and through the contributions of other living faiths. Christians for example, can receive Advaitic insights and thus make Christology pluralistic. Also Sankara's Advaita can fulfil traditional Christology and the meaning of Inclusivism can get transformed. Pluralistic Inclusivism thus provides authentic dialogical theologies for the relational convergence ofreligions.5 Our attempt to develop a Jesulogy from the thought of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta in this paper is a practical demonstration of this fact. Thus what we have struggled for is not to put in the language of Advaita Vedanta the already formulated human expression of the Revelation of God in Jesus but rather to formulate a fuller expression of that very Revelation with the help of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta so that humanity may be able to receive 'the Revealed Truth' in its possible expressive fulness as well as the Advaitin who is experiencing Jesus may attain 32 INDIAN JOURNAL OF THEOLOGY a viable theological category to express himself/herself the mystery that confronts him/her. We have to arrive at a correct understanding of the Jlva-Brahman relation as revealed from the authentic writings of Sank.ara, namely his bhasya on Brahma Sutra (B.S.B), bhasyas on nine upanisads, Brhadaranyaka (Br.U.B), Chandogya (C.U.B.), Taittiriya (Ta.U.B), Aitareya (Ai.U.B), Mundaka (Mu.U.B), Prasna (Pr.U.B.), Katha (Ka.U.B.), Kena (Ke.U.B) and 1sa (ls.U.B.), bhasya on Bhagavad Gita (B.G.B) and the independent treatise Upadesa-sahasri (U.S.). Then, we have to use this understanding in expounding who Jesus is. The important features of our Jesulogy can be divided broadly as those related to the person of Jesus and those related to the function of Jesus, though in reality, there is no dichotomy between the person and function in him. 2. The important features of our Jesulogy related to the person of Jesus Regarding the person of Jesus, the specific features of our Jesulogy emerge in the context of our presentation of him as the human representative, as the representative Jlva. a) The constitution of the person of Jesus The constitution of the person of Jesus, the human representative is the same as that of a human person. The Lord (lsvarah) created (samupadaya) the human form (purusakaram) of Jesus from the five elements (pamca bhutebhyah) namely, space (kham), air (vayuh), fire (jyotih), water (apah) and earth (prthivl)6 The manifestation of names • and forms are effected after the triplication (trivrtkaranah) or quintuplication (pamcikaranah) of each element and this was true in the formation of the person of Jesus as welF. And in this process the distinctiveness and preponderance (vaisesyar a) of one or other elements are maintained which again was true in the formation of the person of Jesus.8 Thus the human form of Jesus is the result of a distinctive combination of the five elements. AN INDIAN JESUS FROM ADVAITA VEDANTA 33 In the human person of Jesus all the five elements namely space, air, fire, water and earth J>iF-sess respectively the qualities of sound, touch, colour, taste and smell together with all the qualities that belong to the predecessors of each (sabdasparsa roparasagamdhottarottaraguniini purvapurva gunasahitiitJ9. The senses of Jesus have for their objects things of their own kind (sajatljprthamindriyam)1°. The five sense objects (buddhi bhedah) are sound, touch, colour, taste and smell and there are five sense-organs (buddhindriycmi) of Jesus namely ear, skin, eye, tongue and nose for their perception}1 The five activities are to speak, hold, walk, excrete and enjoy (vacaniida naviharanotsargcmamdah) and for these are the five motor-organs (karmendriycmi) of Jesus, located in the mouth, hands, feet, anus and the sex organ.12 The mind (manah) of Jesus characterised by volition, deliberation and doubt (samkalpavikalpasamsayalaksanam) controls his five sense-organs and five motor organs by residing inside themP These five sense-organs, five motor-organs and the mind together are called the eleven pranas of JesusY But the foremost (sresthah) or chief (mukhyah) Prana or vital force of Jesus through which the nourishment of his body and organs (sanrendriyapustim) is accomplished is different from these eleven.15 The intellect (buddhih) of Jesus which is also called heart (hrdayah)16 represents the faculty of determination (adhyavasayah), and its function as internal organ (amtahkaranam) is to discriminate between right and wrong and thus attain the human goal.17 The J1vatman of Jesus is the reflection of the Supreme Self in his body, senses, vital force, mind, intellect, and ego.18 The intellect of Jesus which is not conscious by itself, being transparent (svacchatvat) and ·next to the Self (anamtaryat) easily becomes (bhavati) the reflection (praticchaya) of the light of Consciousness of the Self (a tmacaitanyajyotih). 19 Next comes the mind (manah) of Jesus which catches the effulgence of the Consciousness (caitanycwabhasata) through his intellect (buddhisamparkctt), then the organs (imdriyah) of Jesus, through contact with his mind (manahsamyogat) and lastly the body (srfram) of Jesus through his organs (imdriyasam parkatJ20. The five sheaths (pamcako8ah) of the human person 34 INDIAN JOURNAL OF THEOLOGY Jesus are physical, vital, mental, intelligent and blissful and the Self is implanted (mayah) in each of them as well as innermost to all of them. 21 b) The person of Jesus interpreted as the extrinsic denominator (upadhi) of Brahman During his life with us in this>""world, Jesus' intellect, mind, senses and body functioned as extrinsic denominators (upadhih) to the Inner Self. The own form, in the supreme sense, of the embodied being Jesus is the Supreme Lord Himself/Herself (paramesvarameva hi §inrasya paramarthi kam svafiipam); his embodiedness being a creation of extrinsic denominators (upadhikrtam tu 8ariratvam) as per the texts like 'that thou art' (C.U.6.8.7), 'there is no other witness but this (Br.U.3.8.11).22 Jesus is neither unreal as a dream nor absolutely real (atyamtikam satyam) but the extrinsic denominator (upadhih) of Brahman, who is within the scope of relativity (vyavaharapannam). 23 The extrinsic denominator does not point to or explain itself, but always points to and explains that of which it is the extrinsic denominator; Jesus does not point to or explain himself but his person always points to and explains the Supreme Self of whom he is an extrinsic denominator. When one really understands the Reality as 'this is what is really and absolutely Real' (paramarthatah satyamiti) then he renounces all that is unreal in the shape of Jesus which is the product of mere words (anrtam vikarajatam vacarambhanam hitva) and comes to realise that, Being who pervades (avastham satah) over the whole of Jesus alone is Real (satyam).24 There are Upanishad texts which show the difference (bhedah) between Jesus, the representative Jiva and Brahman (Jivaprajfiayoh) (Mu.U.3.1.8; 3.2.8; Br.U.3.7.15 etc.) and there are others which show non-difference (abhedah) between them (C.U.6.8-16; Br.U.1.4.10; 3.4.10; 3.7.3-22, etc.).25 If that is so, the relation between Jesus and Brahman has to be understood in the following way alone: As light, space, the sun etc.,. appear· to be diversified in relation to the activity taking place in such extrinsic denominators as a finger, a pail, water etc., and yet AN INDIAN JESUS FROM ADVAITA VEDANTA 35 they do not give up their natural unity (svabhiivik£mavisesat matam) so also the difference in the Self as Jesus is a creation of the extrinsic denominators (upadhinimitta evayamatma bhedah), in His/Her own essence the Self is one Self alone (svatastvaikatmyameva)26 The interpretation that should be • accepted by all those who follow the Upanisads is that the ~difference between Jesus the individual self and the Supreme Self (vijfiiinatmaparamatmano bhedah) is a creation of the extrinsic denominators like body etc., constitution by name and form which are conjured up by ignorance (avidyapratyu pasthapitanamaruparacita dehadyupadhinimittah). The difference is not from the supreme standpoint (na param arthika). This view is supported by such texts as C.U.6.2.1.; 7.25.3.; Mu.U.2.2.11; Br.U.2.4.6; 3.7.23; 3.8; B.G. 7.9; 13.2, 27;, Br.U.1.4.10; 4.4.18; 4.4.25, etc.)P c) The Person of Jesus as the reflection (abhasa) and the delimitation (ghatiikaSa) of Brahman Brahman as related to the names and forms of the bodies which are its extrinsic denominators, are the Jlvas and it is this Jiva-Brahman relation that is explained by Sankara , through the comparison pot-space (ghatiikasah) and Cosmic Space (mahiikasah), and the reflections (abhiisah) of sun or moon or human person. The delimitation (paricchidyamanah) of the Supreme Self (para evatma) by the extrinsic denominators of body, senses, mind, intellect etc., (dehemdriyamanobudayupadhibhih) is spoken of by the ignorant as Jesus, the embodied Self (8ar£rah) and the case is similar to the appearance (avabhiisate) of space (nabhah) undivided though it is (aparicchinnamapi) as if divided (paricchinnavat) owing to such extrinsic denominators as a pot, a jar etc. (ghatakarakadyupadhivasat)28• We are able to speak about the difference as well as non-difference (bhed abhedau) between Brahman and Jesus, the representative of Jlvas simultaneously without contradiction on the basis of the analogy of cosmic space and pot-space. Until we receive instruction about the unity of the Self (atmaikatva) we can speak about the distinction between the Supreme Self and Jesus using the analogy of cosmic space and pot-space. 29 But 36 INDIAN JOURNAL OF THEOLOGY just as the space within pots etc., when perceived as free from the limitations of the pots etc., are but the cosmic space; similarly Jesus is not logically different from the Supreme Self.30 No change occurs in Brahman due to Its being the Cause of the creation including Jesus. The Creator Himself/ Herself without undergoing any change (avikrtasya), has become the experiencer in Jesus, only difference which occurs is that relating to the extrinsic denominator just as space becomes divided owing to the presence of conditioning factors like pot etc.31 . Jesus, the human representative is a reflection (abhiisah) of the Supreme Selflike the semblance of the sun in water (jalas uryakiidivat). 32 Jesus as reflection of the Supreme Self conforms to the characteristics (dharmcmuyayi) of the extrinsic denominators of Jesus, but according to the supreme sense the Self does not have these characteristics.33 There does not occur any change (parinamah) in the Self due to Jesus' reflection. 34 The Self is merely the witness of all the modes of the intellect (sarvabauddhapratyayasiiksitaya) of Jesus.35 And Jesus being the reflection of the Self has reality only as the Self. Jesus the human representative is possessed of an existence due to that of the changeless Self (sannati hyesa kutastheniitmanii tathii) though reflection as such has no being (vastutva)36 As reflection is neither the property of the object • nor of the reflection medium, something new has taken birth in Jesus; Jesus is the outcome of something entirely new effected through the ongoing interaction between Brahman and the world. 37 d) The person of Jesus as the name and form (niimar'Upa) of Brahman The multiplication effected in Brahman's becoming Jesus does not refer to becoming something extraneous to Its own essence (na hi arthiintaravisayam) as one does by begetting a son.38 Jesus is only the manifestation of name and form that are latest in Self (atmasthiinabhivyakta) into all the states by retaining their own nature as the Self (atmasvar'Upaparity agenaiva) and remaining indistinguishable from Brahman in AN INDIAN JESUS FROM ADVAITA VEDANTA 37 39 time and space (brahmanii apravibhaktade.Sakiile). The symbol 'Son' cannot express the depth of the relation between Jesus and Brahman; name and form (n(lmarupa) would be a better symbol; and India suggests this through Sankara's Advaita Vedanta. Jesus, the representative name and form pre-existed in Brahman as unmanifested name and form (avyakrtaniimaru 40 pah); as the potential seed (bijasaktih) . Being the representative of the whole humanity, Jesus is the representative name, form and action of the whole humanity. He symbolises sound in general (sabdasamanyam), form in general (rlipasamanyam) and action in general (kriyasaman yam)41. Jesus is common to all names, forms and actions which are his own particular forms (atmaviSesaih). It is in and through the manifestation of the body and organs of Jesus, the name and form of Brahman, that the Selfs form without extrinsic denominators (atmano nirupadhimkam rupam)_ which is Pure Consciousness (prajnanaghanakhyam) could be known (pratikhyayeta) .42 The unmanifested name and form (av.yakrtaniimarlipah) can become the reality-providing factors (upadanabhute sambhavatah) of Jesus and it is in this sense that the Omniscient Being (sansarvajnah) who is entirely different from name and form (namarupavilaksanam) is said to create (nirmimite). Jesus by virtue of His/Her oneness with the name and form which are the reality-providing factors that are identical with Himself/Herself (atmabhutaniimarupopadana bhutah)43. The existence (astitvam) of Jesus does not contradict the non-duality of the Self. When Jesus, the representative name and form is tested from the vision of highest meaning (paramarthadrstya) as to whether he is different from the Supreme Self or not in substance (tatvat), he ceases to be separate in substance (vastvamtare tatvato na stah), like the foam of water, or like the modifications of clay, such as a jar (salilaphenaghatiidivikiiravadeva)44• (e) The person of Jesus expounded as the effect (kiirya) of . Brahman In our Jesulogy, we have further expounded that if Brahman 38 INDIAN JOURNAL OF THEOLOGY is the Cause, Jesus is the effect. Jesus, the effect existed in Brahman, the internal reality-providing (upadlWnakaranam) as well as efficient cause (nimittakaranam) even before he took birth in this' world. The special potency for Jesus, the representative of all J1vas must be the very essence of Brahman, the Cause, and Jesus the effect must be related to the very core of that potency (karanasyatmabhuta saktih sakte8catmabhutam karyam)45 Self is the efficient Cause of • Jesus because there is no other ruling principle (adhistatr) and the Self is the internal reality-providing Cause because there is no other substance from which (yatah) Jesus could originate.46 Despite the non-otherness (ananyatva) between Brahman and Jesus, Brahman, the Cause, as Cause is ontologically superior and anterior to Jesus the effect as effect. Jesus is non-other than Brahman as his internal reality providing cause, whereas Jesus is not non other than Brahman as his efficient cause (nimittakaranavyatirekastu karyasya nasti)47 The relation between Jesus, the human representative • and Brahman is tadatmya relation, i.e. non-reciprocal relation: Jesus the name and form in all his states has his Self in Brahman alone (brahmanaivatmavati), but Brahman does not have Jesus as Its Self (na brahma tadatmakam)48 Jesus, the • effect is non-existent in isolation from (vyatirekenablWvah) the Supreme Brahman (param brahma), the Cause. The entire body of effects including Jesus has no ekistence apart from Brahman (brahmavyatirekena karyajatasyabhavah)49 • Moreover, the person of Jesus proclaims the gospel that all have their root in Being (sanmuliih). Brahman as Cause is the root of Jesus the effect. 5° It is the Supreme Brahman which is the support (dhrtih),51 respository (ayatanam)52 and impounder (one who holds in position) (vidharayita)53 of Jesus the representative of the whole universe. Again Brahman is the controller (adhyaksah)54 and director (prerayita)55 of Jesus who represents all the effects. Due to its independence (svatamtryat) Brahman cannot be impelled by any desire. Its desire for the creation of Jesus the representative of all is essentially Reality-Knowledge and pure in virtue of it being its own Self; Brahman's volitions regarding Jesus are not other than Its own Self.56 But Jesus, the human representative,