Vivekananda

[Guest guest]

Sorry if my comments had hurt the sentiments of some people. I was not

discussing Swami Vivekananda in my mail, but only wanted to point out how a

wrong interpretation can cause damage. The reason I mentioned Swami

Vivekananda's name was because he has forcefully used these translations at

many places including the famous Chicago address (if I remember correctly).

So, the earliest source of this translation we find is his. Since we are

discussing vedanta shastra, I feel, we should be objective in our presenting

our views. Moreover, I didn't mean that Swami Vivekananda has done damage

to the society. (Personally, I owe a lot to Swami Vivekananda and am one

who has studied his complete works and am a student of Ramakrishna mission.

I have been inspired and sustained by his words since 18 years now.) I only

said that the wrong translation of 'ekam sat vipra bahuda vadanti' has done

damage. It need not have been Swami vivekananda's translation at all. In

any case, Swami Vivekananda's greatness is what it is, inspite of my

recognition or non-recognition of it. Beyond any doubt, the whole humanity

and especially most of the seekers owe tremendously to this great man.

When it comes to understanding vedanta, we have to be objective and open.

Even our emotional attachment to personalities make us subjective.

While in this context, I want to discuss another point, about status of guru

with respect to shastra. (Just wanted to point out that I am not discussing

any particular person but a general subject matter.)

It is a catch-22 situation, because both GURU and SHASTRA are considered

same by us (Shraddha is defined as 'GURU SHASTRA VAKYESHU VISWASHAHA' -

trusting words of GURU and SHASTRA) what do we take as final authority?

That is the reason why UPANISHAD itself says 'Shrothriyam Brahma Nishtam

Gurum Eva Abhigachcheth', meaning 'take refuge in one who is learned in

vedantha through sampradaya and is also one having nishta in Brahmna vastu'.

One has to notice that BOTH aspects are important, Sampradayavithvam and

Brahmanishta. One having both can alone be a teacher. An asampradayavith

jnaani, if it is a possibility, cannot be a teacher (Shankara says

'asampradayavith moorkavath upekshaneeyaha' - A person not belonging to

sampradaya is equivalent to an ignorant man). An ajnaani and a

sampradayavith is still not qualified to be a teacher. So, GURU VAKYA and

SHASTRA VAKYA will not be two different things if it comes from a Shrothriya

and Brahma nishta, and such guru has to be approached in order to gain this

knowledge.

Gurucharana pankaha

Kalyan