A Constructive Survey of Upanishadic Philosophy c7.s5.1.3

c7.s5.1.3

"Some people regard the universe as the greatness of God, others as his creation, others as a dream, others as an illusion, others regard it as merely the will of God,......still others the object of His enjoyment, some people call it the play-thing of God, and yet others regard it as God's nature" (I. 7-9). As contrasted with these views, he states his position that he is at one with those who maintain the doctrine that the universe was not created at all (IV. 4-5). But it must be remembered that for the purposes of spiritual perfection and ethical conduct, Gauḍapāda has to take account of the world as a verity. "That is the state of the highest Samādhi, in which all talk is at an end, all anxiety is at an end, which is full of the highest tranquillity and eternal illumination" (III. 37); and, again, "creation has been recommended by the sages for the benefit of those who cannot but find the world to be real (Upālambhāt) and who must needs be led on the path of good conduct (Samāchārāt)" (IV. 42). We thus see how even the sage Gauḍapāda has to take some cognisance at least of the world as real, though it may be for the perfection of mystical endeavour or ethical conduct, even though, philosophically, he may regard it as not having been created at all. Śaṅkara profits by all the conceptions that have preceded him, and weaves his full-fledged doctrine out of the strands left at his disposal by the Upanishads and Gauḍapāda.