Material wealth and spiritual pursuits

[Guest guest]

Dear members,

 

In the on-going discussion on "material wealth and spiritual health", do I

see near unanimity of view that in the modern day it is not possible to

adhere completely to the Vedic code and ideal of life?

 

Do I hear even present-day "AchAryA-s" being quoted in support of the

"practical" viewpoint that it is necessary to "earn adequate money" and then

follow it up with our best efforts to pursue the call of VedAntic destiny?

>From all such views expressed by members in the past few weeks, it seems to

me that one can tend to one's spiritual urges only if one can also bankroll

it.

 

If such views as expressed by members are true then, surely, there is an

extra strain on our souls. As though the mysteries of our spiritual Self are

not baffling enough, each of us now has to also resolve the extra riddle of

how much of "enough" is "enough" in material life….i.e. what amount of

"money and material comfort" is just right for us so that, at that precise

moment when it is attained, we can triumphantly say to ourselves, "Now I can

start my spiritual quest into the Vedas!"

 

Our poor souls must now deal with not only being confounded but also being

confused.

 

Alternatively, as some other members have opined, we can continue with our

secular pursuits and also "side-by-side" do some "part-timevEdAbhyAsam",

"mantra-dhyAnam" and "yagnyA-samskArA-s". By that, we may perhaps piously

hope that somehow by God's grace (or by chance?), spiritual assets acquired

("punya") and liabilities of the temporal world accrued ("pApa") will

eventually both tally in the great balance-sheet of life. And when the day

of reckoning finally arrives, when we must each answer for what we have done

with our respective lives, we can hope to present God with at least a

"proper" if not perfect statement of accounts.

 

******** ************* *************

 

When putting out such views, I feel (or, ""adiyEn" feels", if you will

permit me that much touted term of self-deprecation) we must ask ourselves

if we are being 100% honest with ourselves.

 

Are we saying these things out of genuine conviction or are we trying to

offer apologies for our ways of living? Are we offering a serious modern

alternative to the Vedic ideal of "living in material poverty and spiritual

opulence"? Or, are we offering convenient excuses to why we cannot abide by

the ideal? Are we speaking the language of robust conviction or the language

of effete compromise?

 

******** ************ *************

 

In the following post, dear members I am going to re-produce for your

benefit extensive extracts from the speeches of an "AchAryA" who lived

amongst us not long ago. Many decades ago he made some crystal-clear

pronouncements on this very same issue we are all discussing now. His views,

expressed in typically trenchant style, leave us in no doubt whatsoever as

to what is the correct position that we must espouse in this matter …as per

the ancient "sAstrA". The words of the "AchAryA" are extremely relevant… so

please do not mind the extensive quote.

 

No marks for guessing the identity of the "AchAryA"!

 

Over to the next post of mine.

Sudarshan

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear members,

 

Atlast adiyen feels an accurate view from Sri Vaishnavism

has been presented by Sriman Sudarshan's post containing

Acarya's instructions that can be called authoritative rather

than the individual speculations posted so far on this topic.

 

We should accept the truth as well as accept our inability

to follow the shastras then probably we may qualify for

prapatti as Sri Madhava Kannan had expressed.On the other

hand trying to tailor shastras to suit our requirements

and senses will only end with more sin accruing in our

account.

 

if shastras ara changed inbetween then the entire Guru

Parampara System gets invalidated.

 

So let us all be truthful in the very least.

 

 

dasan,

 

 

Sriram,Balaraman

 

 

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