Guest guest Posted November 11, 1999 Report Share Posted November 11, 1999 Dear List, I've seen many times people presenting Advaita in a "Question and Answer" format, so I've decided to try this. I recommend that nobody ever take what is said here as authority, as I am no authority. What I offer here is only for consideration, for the opportunity to personally examine my answers to any questions and see if they make sense. I invite anyone on the list with questions related to Advaita to Email me at core1. Please Email even if you already know the answer. I would like to try to answer these questions. In the process, I may learn much, and you may learn much as well, because only through questioning can we arrive at truth. Only through constant questioning is ignorance cleared up. So, the first question I will invent myself, and perhaps others as well, but I would like to try answering anyone's questions. ---------------- Q: One teacher (Ram Tzu) says that people are attracted to Advaita as a moth to a candle flame. Is this true? A: Initially, it is true. People want to know the truth, because they are already the truth, they are self-existent Truth. However, once people discover that Advaita involves gaining nothing at all, and losing everything, they will tend to back away like they are facing a cobra. So at that juncture, it's necessary to either have a Guru or some other person to nudge them back in the right direction, saying "Please try this, it can do no harm to try" or they must be extremely fearless and willing to approach the cobra of truth. In any case, there is often an initial attraction followed by a great deal of fear. Nobody wants to lose the "me" at first. First they must sense how heavy the burden of the "me" is before they will be willing to let it go. Vivekananda says "We are always looking for the truth but never want to get it." This is a wise saying. Something or someone must intercede and give a person a great dedication and bravery, or they will back away from Advaita and possibly not return. This can be a Guru, or God's Grace, but it is never the ego that will respond, as the ego only fears its own demise. ---------------- ----- Visit "The Core" Website at http://coresite.cjb.net - Music, Poetry, Writings on Nondual Spiritual Topics. Tim's other pages are at http://core.vdirect.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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