Spiritual Healing
Zero or Nothing
Vedanta or Upanishada explains the nature of Brahman as universal consciousness. It says, Neti, Neti --- 'neither this nor that' such is Brahman.
The Above definition may look enigmatic, but within this mysterious concept lies the profound philosophy of existence, which can be understood in terms of mathematics. The equivalent to zero is neti neti. It is zero because zero is neither this nor that, it's neither positive nor negative. So the Vedas proclaim : Aum kham Brahman meaning - Brahman is shunya or zero.
If we see literally, zero seems to be nothingness but actually it is not. Otherwise 10s and 1000s would have never been quantified. The figure would have remained simply 1.
Panini calls zero-- an equity that does exist but is invisible. So zero represents a mysterious element that has an unseen and unfathomable existence.
In chandogya upanishad----- sage Udalaka asks his son Shwetketu, to cut the seed of the banyan tree into two halves----- could you see anything inside ---- no I can see nothing in it. The sage remarks---- what you call nothing is, actually the source of everything. From this shunya nothingness springs a huge Banyan tree from shunya or absolute zero springs the entire universe, zero or unmanifest Brahman.
In another perspective--- the value of a zero remains unmanifest. It gets manifested or quantified only when it combines itself with other numerals. Similarly, Brahman alone remains Avyakta or unmanifest. It is only in unison with matter that it manifests itself. Only then nirguna, the unmanifest becomes saguna, the manifest, quantifiable or qualitative----- Brahman reveals its presence in the guise of matter. Just as zero reveals its presence in the presence of other integers.
Zero is Neutral. It simply quantifies the integer combined with it, be it a negative or positive one. If it is combined with--1, it quantifies 1 with '+0 or -0'. With +1, it makes it 10. Similar is the nature of the Brahman. Iit is nirguna, neutral. But at the same time, it is universal energy, the consciousness that drives or quantifies all our actions. If we employ it with a positive mindset, it leads to goodness or construction, with a negative mindset, it leads to wrong actions or destruction.
We need to realize that knowledge of any spiritual integration cannot reap fruits unless spirituality is realised and experienced in person. Who is Brahman? What is consciousness? What is the shunya state? Neither theory nor language alone can answer these questions. They are the subject of experience through meditation.