The purpose of this post is relate the use of naming God in Law of One, to the way this subject is treated in the Abrahamic and Dharmic traditions, in order to understand the underlying philosophy behind both.
In 24.6, Ra refers to an entity as "The one you may called Yahweh". Later in the quote is is said that Yahweh is "Now unnamed". These quotes tell us:
1. Yahweh has now abandoned the use of any name.
2. There is doubt, if in the first place, whether Yahweh was any sort of "True Name" to begin with.
This is consistent with Jewish tradition; Since ancient times, the name has "Yahweh" has no longer spoken, and all instance of it are replaced with "Adonai" meaning lord. In everyday the name of God is abstracted even further to "HaShem" meaning "The Name".
Ra uses both Adonai ("Lord") and "The Creator"
Both Judaism and Islam, additionally, have lists of the Names of God that are used for meditation. It is of critical importance to understand, however, that these are not truly names. They are Epithets/Titles. Think of, for example, The Roman Senate kept giving title after title to Caesar.
Otherwise, Judaism and Islam are Aniconic - not allowing any physical representations of God, or "Idols" as they call them. Some sects of Christianity, such as Catholicism/Orthodox use Idols of Jesus.
Dharmic traditions, of course, do use Idols.
In Dharmic tradition, god is called "Brahman". "Saguna Brahman" or with qualities, describes the use of personal representations of god. There are three ways to represent god.
1. Names, the highest
2. Yantras, such as Shri Yantra, identical to Mandalas in Buddhism. Islam also makes extremely extensive use of geometry.
3. Idols, such as Vishnu or Jesus.
However, god is in the absolute, said to be "Nirguna Brahman", without qualities.
So why was the name Yahweh Abandoned?. This is an extension of the prohibition on Idols, because, though higher, a name is also an Idol. Adonai, "Lord", isn't a name, but an epithet.
Also let me note the synchronicity of, after I finished my thoughts on this yesterday, going to the Gym and hearing the refrain for Lady Gaga song Alejandro
In 24.6, Ra refers to an entity as "The one you may called Yahweh". Later in the quote is is said that Yahweh is "Now unnamed". These quotes tell us:
1. Yahweh has now abandoned the use of any name.
2. There is doubt, if in the first place, whether Yahweh was any sort of "True Name" to begin with.
This is consistent with Jewish tradition; Since ancient times, the name has "Yahweh" has no longer spoken, and all instance of it are replaced with "Adonai" meaning lord. In everyday the name of God is abstracted even further to "HaShem" meaning "The Name".
Ra uses both Adonai ("Lord") and "The Creator"
Both Judaism and Islam, additionally, have lists of the Names of God that are used for meditation. It is of critical importance to understand, however, that these are not truly names. They are Epithets/Titles. Think of, for example, The Roman Senate kept giving title after title to Caesar.
Otherwise, Judaism and Islam are Aniconic - not allowing any physical representations of God, or "Idols" as they call them. Some sects of Christianity, such as Catholicism/Orthodox use Idols of Jesus.
Dharmic traditions, of course, do use Idols.
In Dharmic tradition, god is called "Brahman". "Saguna Brahman" or with qualities, describes the use of personal representations of god. There are three ways to represent god.
1. Names, the highest
2. Yantras, such as Shri Yantra, identical to Mandalas in Buddhism. Islam also makes extremely extensive use of geometry.
3. Idols, such as Vishnu or Jesus.
However, god is in the absolute, said to be "Nirguna Brahman", without qualities.
So why was the name Yahweh Abandoned?. This is an extension of the prohibition on Idols, because, though higher, a name is also an Idol. Adonai, "Lord", isn't a name, but an epithet.
Also let me note the synchronicity of, after I finished my thoughts on this yesterday, going to the Gym and hearing the refrain for Lady Gaga song Alejandro