Direct Cause of Self Knowledge

[Guest guest]

Jaishankar wrote:

>The direct cause of Self Knowledge can only be the study of Vedanta. This

>has to be clearly understood.

 

Respectfully, I would only suggest that studying Vedanta is a preliminary,

as well as meditation, associating with the wise and day-to-day life to

the direct experience of Self Knowledge. Knowledge of Sanskrit is a

wonderful thing but it too is a means.

 

- Arthur Gregory

 

 

lgregory

[Guest guest]

The Clan wrote:

>

> Respectfully, I would only suggest that studying Vedanta is a preliminary,

> as well as meditation, associating with the wise and day-to-day life to

> the direct experience of Self Knowledge. Knowledge of Sanskrit is a

> wonderful thing but it too is a means.

>

> - Arthur Gregory

>

 

concur.

 

so-called truth cannot be uttered or writ,

under *any* circumstances. simply because

language is inherently rooted in the relative

domain. even the mahavakyas are utterances

frought with limitation; because they too

immediately set-up polarities. any assertion

thus in wordform, begets an instant antagonism

on the ineffable, inscrutable Absolute.

 

therefore scriptures are at best a means to

awaken to Self. they should never be embraced

as direct emmisaries of the true nature of the

atman or brahman. for this reason in fact they

proclaim the jnana sthithi as anirvachaniya.

 

of course, the scriptures [vedas] have their

mission in one's sadhana. they are not an

end, however. nor can they, per se, deliver

one to moksha. this latter observation has

been made by the greatest advaitic proponents,

from Adi Sankara, Vyasa, Vasishta, and Valmiki

up to Ramakrishna, Ramana, and Sai Baba.

 

Sri Viswanath's comment and quotes Of Sri Ramana

were quite definitive in this regard.

 

namaste

[Guest guest]

Dear friends:

 

I have been thinking of this for days.

 

Actually, Scriptures are read by whom? By humans. Who are humans.

A human is somebody who is bound, according to advaita, to the "triguNas".

 

As I see it, a person who is bound to the triguNas act in this world

with the help of an individual ego. He has to realize that he is not (1) an

Individual Ego (2) Need not bind himself to the trigunas. This is an

education that one should get. This education is provided by scriptures.

Various methods and techniques are described in vedas in the name of

upasanas.

 

Scriptures are definitely helpful for somebody who thinks that he is

bound, who thinks that he wants to get liberated. Scriptures are saying

that "you are not bound".

 

How do I know that I am not bound unless I am told by somebody or

something? I would name that somebody as "Guru", and I would name that

something as "Scripture". In the absence of a Teacher, one should always

look at scriptures ("tasmAt SAstraM pramANaMtE" - Bh.G). Bhagawad Gita

itself is a scripture. It advises "traiguNya vishayA vEdAh, nistriguNyO

bhavArjuna", "vedas speak of triguNas, you should be devoid of triguNas."

 

Let me make it clear: Attainment (prApti) is of two types. (1)

prApta prApti (2) aprApta prApti

 

"aprApta prApti" means attaining some thing which has not yet been

attained. For example, I wanted to go to Switzerland. I never had been

there. If I traveled and reached Switzerland, then my attainment is called

"aprApta prApti", because I never had been there and now I am there!

 

"prApta prApti" means attaining something which has already been

attained. According to paramaguru Sri AdiSankara, "mukti" (Liberation) is

"prApta prApti".

 

aatmAtu satataM "prAptO" aprAptavadavidyayA

tannASE prAptavadbhAti svakaMThAbharaNaM yadhA || (Atma bOdha)

 

Though Atma is always attained, it appears as if not attained

because of "avidya". Once the "avidya" is removed, it appears to have

been attained, just like a necklace that you already have on you.

 

Those who read scriptures are thinking that liberation is "aprApta

prApti". They are thinking that they need to attain some thing... That is

why they read scriptures. Scriptures, in turn, reveal them that it is

"prApta prApti". Of course, scriptures are as important to mukti, as your

breath to you for life.

 

 

Let me stop here... HARI OM! HARI OM! HARI OM!

 

Your comments and corrections most welcome.

 

Regards,

Madhava