Avadhuta Gita chapter 1 Verse 57

[Guest guest]

>From Sue

(translator - Swami Chetanananda)

 

Avadhuta Gita Chapter 1 Verse 57

 

In the Atman there is neither knowledge nor ignorance nor the combination of

the two. He who always has this knowledge becomes knowledge Itself and

nothing else.

 

(comments)

 

Combination of the two - According to a Ritualistic school, knowledge and

ignorance can coexist as we see both light and darkness in a firefly. In

its

view, a person can perform ritualistic action even after illumination. The

school of Advaita Vedanta, however, does not agree with this. It says that

knowledge and ignorance, like day and night, cannot coexist.

 

This knowledge - That is, the knowledge of the Self. The Mundaka Upanishad

says, "The knower of Brahman becomes Brahman." (3.2.9)

 

Vivekananda Centre Site

http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda

[Guest guest]

>From Sue

>(translator - Swami Chetanananda)

>

>Avadhuta Gita Chapter 1 Verse 57

>

>In the Atman there is neither knowledge nor ignorance nor the >combination

>of the two. He who always has this knowledge becomes >knowledge Itself and

>nothing else.

>

>(comments)

>

>Combination of the two - According to a Ritualistic school, knowledge and

>ignorance can coexist as we see both light and darkness in a firefly. In

>its view, a person can perform ritualistic action even after illumination.

>The school of Advaita Vedanta, however, does not agree with this. It says

>that knowledge and ignorance, like day and night, cannot coexist.

 

 

Does Advaita Vedanta really say that knowledge and ignorance cannot

co-exist? I find that somewhat unfathomable. After all, Advaita is all about

non-duality. Knowledge and ignorance, like day and night, are a duality. One

pair of the opposition has no meaning without the other. Either part alone

cannot not exist independently. I would say, then, that knowledge and

ignorance, like day and night, can not exist without the other.

 

This is one reason why I have been having a hard time comprehending Shri

Jaishankar when he writes that only the self-knowledge engendered by the

Vedas can dissolve ignorance. From what I understand, you can't have one

without the other. To experience the non-dual Self, one has to get away from

notions of both knowledge and ignorance. In other words, transcend the

illusion of duality or two-ness.

 

But this duality or mode of thinking in terms of dualities is just a

fabrication of the mind/intellect. In reality, there is just the non-dual

Brahman.

 

However, I wouldn't attempt to pass off this understanding as Advaita

Vedanta per se. Certainly, there is the influence of Advaita in it.

 

So, I would be interested in knowing what others conceive of as the

relationship between knowledge and ignorance, and how various Advaitans have

imaged the resolution of such dualities.

 

with love and joy

 

Veronica (D. Hill)