Guest guest Posted February 14, 1999 Report Share Posted February 14, 1999 What do I really own? Harsha in a recent post has stated that Ram is the owner of the Advaitin List. For several hours, I pondered over this statement to understand what does ownership really mean and I have summarized my thoughts below. I want to thank Harsha for raising this interesting question. First, every member of this spiritual forum is a share holder and we have our rights and liabilities. No monetary benefits (and hopefully no liabilities) accrue from the ownership these shares and consequently, our minds enjoy more peace! Though, we have freedom to discuss what we desire our discussions are subject to the restriction imposed by the list policies. Inescapably, We have limitations similar to the goat tied to the post with the rope. The list policies are self-imposed and we developed those policies to focus our discussions to the list objectives. Each owner defines the role and chooses (free-will!) a role to play and the role defines the responsibility. Implicitly, we just own the role and we are obligated with new responsibilities. Our roles vary from time to time. We switch our roles quite often from discussion leaders to participants to silent listeners. Sometime we even become judges! The greatest wealth of this list is the collective wisdom of those members who contribute to the discussions by keeping them highly focused and dedicate a significant amount of their time. I believe those dedicated unselfish contributors are the real owners of this list. This spiritual forum is a great vehicle to learn and practice Karma Yoga. The author of any article has to accept the outcome whether the article receives congratulatory remarks or criticisms. If the author posts with the Karma Yagna attitude, he or she can free the mind from unnecessary agitation! The authors should be thankful when someone else takes the time to read and point out an obvious mistake. When we learn our mistakes, it is painful but such a pain is inevitable. However, any resulting suffering through mind agitation is an avoidable option! In conclusion, I believe that all members of the list collectively own this list and own the underlined responsibilities. I own the responsibility of List moderation. The one-list administration has outlined a list of duties of the list moderator. In addition, the members of Advaitin List have added more responsibilities. When we came to this universe, we started our life with more and greater responsibilities. We chose to own various roles at different periods of our life. However, after sometime, we got fed up with the ownership and we want to surrender the ownership to realize full freedom. Philosophically, one could ask the question - what do I really own? On first thought, I thought that I got the answer. On second thought, I have to admit that I have no answer! Do you have the answer? Ram Chandran List Moderator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 1999 Report Share Posted February 14, 1999 Thought provoking article! Reminds me the sloka: "yOnastadvEda tadvEda.... nOna vEdEti vEdaca" --kEnOpanishad praNAMs, Madhava > > Ram Chandran [sMTP:chandran] > Sunday, February 14, 1999 12:28 PM > Advaitin List > What do I really own? > > Ram Chandran <chandran > > What do I really own? > Philosophically, one could ask the question - what do I really own? > On > first thought, I thought that I got the answer. On second thought, I > have to admit that I have no answer! Do you have the answer? > > Ram Chandran > List Moderator > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 1999 Report Share Posted February 14, 1999 > Ram Chandran <chandran [...] > Philosophically, one could ask the question - what do I really own? On > first thought, I thought that I got the answer. On second thought, I > have to admit that I have no answer! Do you have the answer? > > Ram Chandran > List Moderator It is a tricky question indeed: Even the answer, Self is all that is, so one owns nothing, is incorrect. In the meaning: nothing = no thing, it denotes the Self and Self doesn't own Self. In the meaning: nothing = vacuum, it implicates a quantum fluctuation possibly followed by the birth of a universe - the Self doesn't own a (potential) universe. What remains is that ownership is a notion, disappearing (appears never to have existed) upon realizing Self. Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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