Guest guest Posted April 28, 1999 Report Share Posted April 28, 1999 May be someone in the list can help me with this paradox. I understand that one tenet of Advaita is the divine nature of everything in this world, both animate and inanimate objects. As such Gita is considered as one of the important authorities for Advaita philosophy. Although most chapters in Gita use this central idea, chapters 11 and 12 appear to depart from this. In chapter 10, Krishna says that he is the best in every category. For example verses 25, 26 say: Mahrshinaam Bhrguraham Giramasyakam aksharam Yagnanam Japayagnosmi Sthavaranam Himalayah Asvatthah sarva-vrkshanam devarsinam ca naradah gandhravanam citrarathah siddhanam kapilo munih If the object is to consider everything is divine why is He more in Bhrugu, Chitraratha, Narada, Kapila, Japayagna and Himalaya than in others? I don't have trouble considering that they are some of the great ones who may have achieved Brahmisthiti or Nirvana. Similarly chapter 11 describes the physical attributes of Viswharupa in great detail whereas all other chapters emphasize the nonembodied nature of Brahman. Is it possible that these chapters are not in the original Gita? I have trouble explaining these to the members in our Sahdana group that studies Gita. I appreciate any comments from the learned members of this List. With Pranams to the learned, Subbarao Bondada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 28, 1999 Report Share Posted April 28, 1999 Hari Om! Just sharing my views with you. The simple answer is that "It is the quality that made them great among peers. And Bhagawan is pointing out that he is the *quality*". The examples are given to make Arjuna understand. Remember it is Arjuna's question, which made Bhagawan to give all that list. Sri Bhagawan says "mattaH parataraM nAnyat kiMcidasti dhanaMjaya", since he is all pervading, he should be equally present in the entire universe. Even then, it is very difficult to comprehend the fact that God is in you, me and all. Same is the situation of Arjuna! Since Arjuna is not yet in a position to understand Bhagawan is all pervading, for Bhagawan himself accepts that "vAsudEvaH sarvamiti samahAtmA sudurlabaH", Bhawan found a way to make Arjuna understand his vibhuti. Hence he choose the best examples possible. Perhaps, if it would be in now a days, he would have said "I am the nuclear bomb among all bombs" :-) Himalaya, nArada, kapila all these are recognized as great and known to Arjuna. Hence, he can easily understand what that name means! No wonder, somebody said Krishna is the best teacher ever known to the mankind. Also only after 11th chapter, if you observe, that the way Arjuna questions totally changes! Chapter 10 -> as an answer to Arjuna's question, Bhagawan shows that he is the best among... Chapter 11 -> Arjuna wonders, "if Bhagawan is the sublime quality that made all those things great, what is the real nature of Bhagawan, what he really looks like". He requests. And Bhagawan bestows him with "divya cakshu" so that Arjuna could see him as he is! Arjuna gets scared! When you get scared you tend to surrender, the same Arjuna did, he praizes the viswarupa, accepts the greatness andsurrenders. He wanted to know how a surrendered person behaves! Chapter 12 -> As an answer to that question Krishna reveals the "traits of a bhakta" But the real question starts there: "I came to know this Bhagawan and surrendered, BUT WHO AM I", as a result "kshEtra kshEtrajna", dissects the "WHO AM I". It is a pure advaitic path, Bhagawan teaches it "STEP BY STEP". He not only explained what *IT* is, but also explained *HOW TO* reach it. -mAdhava > > subbarao bondada [sMTP:sbonda] > Wednesday, April 28, 1999 6:07 PM > advaitin > Advaita and Chapters 10 and 11 in Gita > > subbarao bondada <sbonda > > May be someone in the list can help me with this paradox. I understand > that > one tenet of Advaita is the divine nature of everything in this world, > both > animate and inanimate objects. As such Gita is considered as one of > the > important authorities for Advaita philosophy. Although most chapters > in > Gita use this central idea, chapters 11 and 12 appear to depart from > this. > In chapter 10, Krishna says that he is the best in every category. For > example verses 25, 26 say: > > Mahrshinaam Bhrguraham Giramasyakam aksharam > Yagnanam Japayagnosmi Sthavaranam Himalayah > > Asvatthah sarva-vrkshanam > devarsinam ca naradah > gandhravanam citrarathah > siddhanam kapilo munih > > If the object is to consider everything is divine why is He more in > Bhrugu, > Chitraratha, Narada, Kapila, Japayagna and Himalaya than in others? > > I don't have trouble considering that they are some of the great ones > who > may have achieved Brahmisthiti or Nirvana. > > Similarly chapter 11 describes the physical attributes of Viswharupa > in > great detail whereas all other chapters emphasize the nonembodied > nature of > Brahman. Is it possible that these chapters are not in the original > Gita? I > have trouble explaining these to the members in our Sahdana group that > studies Gita. > > I appreciate any comments from the learned members of this List. > > With Pranams to the learned, > > > Subbarao Bondada > > > > > ---- > -- > Looking for an easy, effective way to research an important topic? > > Joining a ONElist community is your answer. > ---- > -- > Discussion of the True Meaning of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy > focusing on non-duality between mind and matter. List Archives > available at: /viewarchive.cgi?listname=advaitin > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 1999 Report Share Posted April 29, 1999 Dear Madhava Thank you Sir, for your reply. It is so excellent, it refresh my mind. N Namaste. Raju In a message dated 4/28/99 10:22:21 AM Pacific Daylight Time, madhava writes: > Madhava Kumar Turumella <madhava > > Hari Om! > > Just sharing my views with you. The simple answer is that "It is the > quality that made them great among peers. And Bhagawan is pointing out > that he is the *quality*". The examples are given to make Arjuna > understand. > > Remember it is Arjuna's question, which made Bhagawan to give all that > list. Sri Bhagawan says "mattaH parataraM nAnyat kiMcidasti > dhanaMjaya", since he is all pervading, he should be equally present in > the entire universe. Even then, it is very difficult to comprehend the > fact that God is in you, me and all. Same is the situation of Arjuna! > > Since Arjuna is not yet in a position to understand Bhagawan is all > pervading, for Bhagawan himself accepts that "vAsudEvaH sarvamiti > samahAtmA sudurlabaH", Bhawan found a way to make Arjuna understand his > vibhuti. Hence he choose the best examples possible. Perhaps, if it > would be in now a days, he would have said "I am the nuclear bomb among > all bombs" :-) > > Himalaya, nArada, kapila all these are recognized as great and known to > Arjuna. Hence, he can easily understand what that name means! No > wonder, somebody said Krishna is the best teacher ever known to the > mankind. > > Also only after 11th chapter, if you observe, that the way Arjuna > questions totally changes! > > Chapter 10 -> as an answer to Arjuna's question, Bhagawan shows that he > is the best among... > > Chapter 11 -> Arjuna wonders, "if Bhagawan is the sublime quality that > made all those things great, what is the real nature of Bhagawan, what > he really looks like". He requests. And Bhagawan bestows him with "divya > cakshu" so that Arjuna could see him as he is! Arjuna gets scared! > When you get scared you tend to surrender, the same Arjuna did, he > praizes the viswarupa, accepts the greatness andsurrenders. He wanted to > know how a surrendered person behaves! > > Chapter 12 -> As an answer to that question Krishna reveals the "traits > of a bhakta" > > But the real question starts there: "I came to know this Bhagawan and > surrendered, BUT WHO AM I", as a result "kshEtra kshEtrajna", dissects > the "WHO AM I". > > It is a pure advaitic path, Bhagawan teaches it "STEP BY STEP". He not > only explained what *IT* is, but also explained *HOW TO* reach it. > > > -mAdhava Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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