Revisiting the Harmony of Dualities inherent in the Upaniṣadic notion of Brahman in light of Sri Aurobindo’s Philosophy

Abstract

Sri Aurobindo believes that it is the destiny of mankind to achieve the divine life because nature is evolving and there is no limit to its development. As far as Indian tradition is concerned, the developed state that Sri Aurobindo refers in his commentary on Iṣa Upaniṣad is the state of harmony between opposing elements or dualities. Our mind sees things in a divided manner, so there appears to be a contradiction in things. We are dependent on Brahman and we also have an identity relationship with Him. These two things appear to  each other.  at the superconscious level, they are not contradictory. In fact, dependence is the door to the realization of identity. Similarly, the Ātman and Maya, Purusha and Prakriti and Ishwar and Shakti may appear to  each other, but there is no contradiction  them. If we look at these conflicts or dualities, it  clear that the aim of Indian thought has been to establish Harmony in the opposing elements. This paper tries to establish the harmony in the different contradictory genre involved in the Upaniṣadic notion of Brahman in the view of Sri Aurobindo.