Confirmation of Self-Knowing

[Guest guest]

I am going home now and would like to self-confirm that I am absolutely

funny (and relatively funny as well - but that is included in absolutely

funny).

..

Sri Gummuluru Murthy wrote, "In the English language, we use the word

"realization" to mean that we have not recognized something until some

moment, and then if we recognize it, we say we have realized something. If

this recognition is the SELF, then we say it is SELF-realization. That is,

for realization to take place, we have to be in an ignorant state to start

with."

 

Harsha: What Murthyji says makes sense logically and is based on common

sense. All the spiritual traditions emphasize the role of meditation and

reflection to remove the state of ignorance.

 

Again Sri Murthyji writes: We refer to our worldly life as the ocean of

saMsAra. The various Hindu philosophical thoughts (advaita, dvaita,

vishishhTAdvaita) refer to what is known as the crossing of the ocean of

saMsAra. The impression usually given (or what I took up till now) is: that

there are the two banks of the ocean and when we cross this ocean, we have

attained moksha. Even the advaita text (VivekachUDAmaNi) uses this analogy.

However, it seems to me while it may make sense to use that analogy in

dvaita and vishishhTAdvaita, in advaita, that terminology (analogy) may not

be really appropriate. My humble apologies if anyone thinks I am questioning

Shri Shankara here, but I am looking for clarification.

 

Harsha: Respectfully Murthyji, I wonder if any true clarification is

possible other than in the clarity of the Self. Advaita teachers have always

felt comfortable giving analogies that are seemingly predicated on the

reality of dvaita. Perhaps that is a fertile area of inquiry. Ramana

Maharshi said that the highest communication of the spiritual truth is in

silence and often gave the example of Dakshinamurti.