Guest guest Posted August 2, 1999 Report Share Posted August 2, 1999 Hello all, I am a fifty year old computer programmer in Chicago, who has some background in both philosophy and science, and who has been fascinated over many years with the ideas of Advaita Vedanta. I come to this list as a refugee from the Advaita-L list, where my questions were considered too heterodox to be tolerated. My offense was to question the statements by several members that the Vedas and Upanishads are "unauthored," infallible, and constitute the sum of all possible wisdom. This was not my chosen topic at all, but it came up in response to some questions I had asked about the nature of consciousness, which I will probably eventually ask here also. But the situation forced me to make clear that I could never accept "Because our infallible scripture says so" as an answer to why a given line of reasoning is invalid. Similarly, I can't approach Advaita solely with the attitude of, "This is the truth, how can I best understand it?" But I can assure everyone that my inquiries are very sincere, and are never initiated merely to provoke, or for the sake of mental gymnastics. At my age, it's time to stop dallying around in the marketplace of ideas, and start to 'get real,' as we say. So I'm pushing hard to reach the best approximation of truth that I can manage, and I am hopeful that this list will be an excellent tool for doing so. It's very difficult to avoid the dual pitfalls of credulousness and dry, rigid skepticism, so I need all the guidance I can get. I look forward to a long and fruitful association. Robert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 1999 Report Share Posted August 2, 1999 namaste. I welcome Robert to the advaitin list. As one who was there on advaita-l with Robert questioning the *tone* of some of the dogmatic messages posted, and who has also quit advaita-l not being able to stomach the harsh messages, I would say welcome to Robert to this advaitin-list, where certainly the debate is more courteous and with mutual respect. Also, there are many former advaita-l members here. As I said above, I certainly objected to the tone and harshness of the messages on advaita-l, while on the topic of unauthoredness of the vedAs, my views are closer to saying they are the Truth experiences of the sages of ancient times. They are unauthored in the sense that the sages have no interest in claimng the authorship. We can discuss the authoredness of the vedAs at a latter time after some of the main doubts of Robert are discussed. As Robert says, that, in any case is not the main point of his interest. Secondly, Robert says that he is fifty and shows a hurriedness to know the truth (before this human life is completed (?)). Yes, it is indeed important to know the Truth here and now, but in my view, age 50 is not a deterrent. One can spend many millions and millions of lives (of human and other forms) without knowing the truth, or get it in one second, without any effort. Thus, I wouldn't worry or show urgency about age 50. Regards Gummuluru Murthy ------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 1999 Report Share Posted August 2, 1999 Robert, Welcome!!! I think the list will benefit by the clarity and energy of your participation. This is one of the best-managed lists on the net, and Ram Chandran (our founder and moderator) I believe is also a former member of ADVAITA-L. There are many others as well. May I ask, what is Parisi & Watson, a company name? Sincerely, Greg At 11:01 AM 8/2/99 , Parisi & Watson wrote: >"Parisi & Watson" <niche > >Hello all, > >I am a fifty year old computer programmer in Chicago, who has some >background in both philosophy and science, and who has been fascinated over >many years with the ideas of Advaita Vedanta. I come to this list as a >refugee from the Advaita-L list, where my questions were considered too >heterodox to be tolerated. My offense was to question the statements by >several members that the Vedas and Upanishads are "unauthored," infallible, >and constitute the sum of all possible wisdom. This was not my chosen topic >at all, but it came up in response to some questions I had asked about the >nature of consciousness, which I will probably eventually ask here also. But >the situation forced me to make clear that I could never accept "Because our >infallible scripture says so" as an answer to why a given line of reasoning >is invalid. Similarly, I can't approach Advaita solely with the attitude of, >"This is the truth, how can I best understand it?" But I can assure everyone >that my inquiries are very sincere, and are never initiated merely to >provoke, or for the sake of mental gymnastics. At my age, it's time to stop >dallying around in the marketplace of ideas, and start to 'get real,' as we >say. So I'm pushing hard to reach the best approximation of truth that I can >manage, and I am hopeful that this list will be an excellent tool for doing >so. It's very difficult to avoid the dual pitfalls of credulousness and dry, >rigid skepticism, so I need all the guidance I can get. I look forward to a >long and fruitful association. > >Robert. > > >--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > >ONElist now has T-SHIRTS! >For details and to order, go to: >/store/tshirts.html > >------ >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 August 2, 1999 Report Share Posted August 2, 1999 Greg Goode <goode advaitin <advaitin >; Advaitin posts <advaitin > Monday, August 02, 1999 10:55 AM Re: New Member Introduction >May I ask, what is Parisi & Watson, a company name? In a loose sense it is. I'm at our home computer since I'm taking a vacation day today. My wife owns a yarn shop, and we got our Internet connection mainly for her purposes of ordering and e-mail. Because she kept her maiden name, Parisi, we set up the account in this way so that she could get some small deduction from her business income tax for Internet expenses. My name is Watson. I know it sounds like some sort of unusual law firm, but it's just a family business. I've been surprised at the number of familiar names I've seen here just in one day, including not only yours, but also Frank Maiello, whose Egodust web page I have enjoyed reading a few times over. The list should be an interesting experience. Robert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 1999 Report Share Posted August 2, 1999 Gummuluru Murthy [gmurthy] Monday, August 02, 1999 12:24 PM Advaitin posts Re: New Member Introduction Gummuluru Murthy <gmurthy namaste. I welcome Robert to the advaitin list. As one who was there on advaita-l with Robert questioning the *tone* of some of the dogmatic messages posted, and who has also quit advaita-l not being able to stomach the harsh messages, I would say welcome to Robert to this advaitin-list, where certainly the debate is more courteous and with mutual respect. Also, there are many former advaita-l members here. I join Murthyji in welcoming Robert. This list has the warmth of understanding. Sri Ramji moderates it with a gentle touch and posts are typically insightful, scholarly, and point to the deeper experiential understanding of the Self. I feel fortunate to have made the acquaintance of wise people such as Ramji, Sadaji, Frankji, Nandaji, Murthyji, Greg, Lilia, Warren, a c, Madhvaji, Jan, Linda, Krishnamurthyji, just to mention a few people who have posted recently. Thanks to all. Harsha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 1999 Report Share Posted August 2, 1999 Howdy, Robert! >I come to this list as a >refugee from the Advaita-L list, where my questions were considered too >heterodox to be tolerated. Shouldn't be much of a problem here, if you've caught any of the recent discussions between me, "a c", Frank, and other "heretics".... ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 1999 Report Share Posted August 4, 1999 > "Parisi & Watson" <niche > > Hello all, > > So I'm pushing hard to reach the best approximation of truth that I can > manage, and I am hopeful that this list will be an excellent tool for > doing > so. It's very difficult to avoid the dual pitfalls of credulousness and > dry, > rigid skepticism, so I need all the guidance I can get. I look forward to > a > long and fruitful association. > > Robert. [Madhava Replies:] Dear Robert: WELCOME TO THE LIST! Truth is infallible. You are always there. Then why question about infallibility of anything in this universe. After all we are unaware of many things including our real self in this universe, why getting bothered about something which doesn't suite your intellect! Here is what I feel as a humble approach for any good discussion: "Ask sincerely. Ask because you do not know. Ask though if you know because you may be wrong. Ask till you completely feel that you are answered. Don't ask if you feel that you know the answer. Don't ask to prove that you are right, because since you believe that you are right, there is no question of asking whether you are right are wrong." All the best. Regards, Madhava Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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