The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (438 page)

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Authors: John Bowker

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
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Brahman satyam, jagat mithya
(Skt.). A sentence which summarizes for Hindus the entire teaching of
Advaita
Ved
nta: Brahman is the real reality (cf.
SAT
), the world is deceptive (because its apparent reality is superimposed on Brahman.
Brahm
randhra
(Skt.). The place in the crown of the head through which, according to Hindus, the self escapes at death.
Brahma-sam
dhi
(Skt.). An absorption state (
sam
dhi
) of
brahman
-consciousness attained through the repetition of a
mantra
(
japa
).
Brahmas
tra
.
An ancient Indian work which systematizes the teachings of the
Upani
ds
concerning
Brahman
, Ultimate Reality, in 555 elliptic verses or
s
tras
. It is attributed to
B
dar
ya
a
, a sage of the 1st cent. BCE, but may have been compiled in its final form several centuries later. Other names for the
Brahmas
tra
are encountered in Indian literature: the
Ved
ntas
tra
or
Uttaram
m
s
s
tra

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