Who is Übermensch?

Übermensch is often incorrectly translated in English as Superman. The word Superman lacks the German connotation of mastery of a sphere beyond human knowledge and power. In addition, Mensch is closer to the English word “human” then “male”. Mensch is to be understood as a neutral form of a noun. Übermensch is someone with knowledge and power over and beyond normal human being. The fictional character Superman merely have more of certain powers we understand. For example you can emulate his heat rays with a high powered laser and so on.

Übermensch is a very interesting philosphical concept. It is a philosophical recognition of Godhead in humans. It is a recognition of the ability of human being to transcend to a sphere way beyond ordinary humans. And yet as the Theory of Relativity can be used to explain Newtons laws, so can these beings with wider and more (at times fully) encompassing knowledge and mastery of nature can affect things in our physical plane. To us, normal humans, it appears as miracles. Miracles are nothing but events which we cannot explain with our current knowledge. A modern jet will appear to be a miracle say in 15th century or earlier. In India such beings are widely recognized from time immemorial. At the lowest level of Übermensch are Siddhas or beings with one or more powers over nature. And then there are perfected humans or BrahmaGyani’s who are considered equivalent to The Supreme Being. They are considered manifestations of The God in human form. Some examples from Indian history are Sanat Kumar, Rama, Krishna, Adi Shankaracharya, Buddha; and Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda from recent times.