The Trinity of the Godhead

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"The Trinity of the Godhead not only elucidates the basics of Vedic thought, but also offers a tempting dose of Vaishnava esoterica as well. Consequently, what we have here is a delectable introduction to the worship of Krishna, especially as found at the feet of the author's masters: Swami Bhavyananda, Walther Eidlitz (Vamandas), Swami Sadananda, Krishnadas Madrasibaba, Haripada Bengalibaba, and Krishnadas Sastri.

"As a result, the tripartite divinity suggested in the book's title unfolds in a unique and exciting way, bringing readers in stepwise fashion from the fundamentals of life's journey to the zenith of mystical spirituality. A must read."

Torbjörn Fjellström is also the author of Amorös anorexi (2018) and Addiktologi -läran om bindningar (2010).

This book addresses three basic Vedic concepts: Brahma, Paramatma, and Bhagavan, which I call the "trinity of the Godhead" and consider the most important and fundamental concept taught in Vedic texts. The trinity has corresponding, practical applications or modes, related to each of the three aspects it contains: (1) jñana (gnosis, or knowledge). (2) yoga (connection or union), and (3) bhakti (divine love). The trin- ity, along with these three applications, the "3+3", is the locus on which everything else in this book revolves, although I'm a cripple only limping through the subjects I propose to discuss.

In the first chapter I explain, according to my limited understanding, the three concepts of the Godhead, Brahma, Paramatma, and Bhagavan, as well as their correspondence with jñana, yoga, and bhakti, and how each relates to the others, how each overlaps or transfers, and how each mixes with another. I use the term "the Godhead" without specifying any particular concept or image of God or even some aspect of the trinity. Rather, I use the term in an inclusive and neutral way.

In chapter 2, I compare bhagavad-bhakti, paramatma-yoga and brahma-jñana. These are the three modes related to the three aspects of the Godhead. To describe yoga I venture on the first two angas or limbs of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, i.e. the twelve yamas and the twelve niyamas, both of which concern a practitioner's internal and external lifestyle. (The third limb of Patanjali's eight is asana, the fourth pra?ayama, the fifth dhyana, the sixth dharana, etc.).

Chapter 3 deals with the three spiritually scientific principles: sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana. Sambandha addresses the relationship between the Absolute (the trinity) and the relative (our world of maya's three gunas).

Book's Contents and Sample Pages