avidyA is anAdI

[Guest guest]

namaste.

 

We have all seen this fundamental proposition in advaita that avidyA

is anAdI (without beginning). When I first realized the beauty of

advaita a few years ago, I came across this statement that avidyA is

anAdI. Yesterday, I saw for the first time the reasoning given by

Shri Shankara for this proposition. I think the List members may be

interested in this explanation. This also partly explains Lilia

Stepanova's recent question regarding the beginning of the soul's

journey.

 

AvidyA is anAdI (without beginning). If avidyA is not anAdI, the

following three situations would arise, which are all untenable.

 

1. the sudden appearance (haTAdAgamanam)of the jagat

2. akr^tyAbhyAgama doshham: a situation whereby jeeva has to endure

karmaphala for a karma not commited.

3. kr^tapranAsha dosham: situation whereby a jeeva's sukr^tAs and

dushkr^tAs go without yielding karmaphala

 

1. If samsAra is not anAdI, the jeeva enters (entertains or visualizes)

the jagat suddenly. That is not possible.

2. If situation described in (1) above occurs (if jagat suddenly appears),

the jeeva will be in a situationwhere he/she has to enjoy/suffer the

results for karma (action) not done by the jeeva. That is not possible.

3. Another type of situation arises if, after discarding the body, the

jeeva does not enter another embodiment. In that case, the good and

the bad actions done by the jeeva in this embodiment will not come

to fruition. That cannot be the case, because every karma done has

to have an effect.

 

For all these reasons, the proposition that samsAra, the jagat, avidyA

is anAdI has to be accepted.

 

My praNAms to Shri ShankarAcArya for explaining this so beautifully as

part of His ShriLalitAtrishatIbhAshhyA.

 

Regards

Gummuluru Murthy

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Yadaa sarve pramucyante kaamaa ye'sya hr^di shritaah

atha martyo'mr^to bhavatyatra brahma samashnute Katha Upanishhad II.3.14

 

When all the desires that dwell in the heart fall away, then the mortal

becomes immortal, and attains Brahman even here.

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