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Work #1876

Dialogues in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Anonymous (attributed to Yajnavalkya)
c. 8th–7th century BCE · Vedic Sanskrit
Philosophical dialogues within a prose Upanishad · Vedic / proto-Vedanta

Neti neti — the dialogues that established the identity of Self and Absolute in Indian philosophy

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Dialogues in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Emergent
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Deterministic
Time · Traversability Cyclical
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Non-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Emergent
Space · Curvature Undefined
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Non-local
Matter · Extent Finite
Matter · Ontological Status Emergent
Matter · Conservation Non-conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Non-local
Observer · Time Instance Multiple
Observer · Space Instance Multiple
Observer · Knowledge Extent Total
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Disembodied
Observer · Agency Passive
Observer · Number Singular
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Cosmic-ordering
Observer · Moral Authority Scripture
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Emergent
Energy · Conservation Variable
Energy · Dispersibility Reversible
Information · Ontological Status Emergent
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Dialogues in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Time is emergent from Brahman and cyclical; the Self is beyond time.

Space

Dialogues in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Space is emergent; the Self is "without inside and without outside" — non-local.

Matter

Dialogues in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Matter is emergent and derivative: material forms are modifications of Brahman.

Observer

Dialogues in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

The ultimate observer is the atman — singular, disembodied, the non-acting witness.

Energy

Dialogues in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Prana is an emergent manifestation of Brahman; energy cycles and is reabsorbed.

Information

Dialogues in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Knowledge of atman-Brahman identity is the supreme liberating information.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Dialogues in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Absolute monism vs. the practical dualism of teacher-student dialogue. If all is Brahman, why teach?