question was sent to our list - maybe you can help

[Guest guest]

Is a vanprashthi allowed to guide someone along the path of

sanyassi?

 

I hope you will have the time to answer me asap.

 

regards,

shankar

[Guest guest]

I guess if one does that then one will be giving a limited advise to

someone. vanprashthi himself hasn't understood all otherwise i guess

he wouldn't have been a vanprasthi.

 

Guru or Brahma are beyond definitions.

 

Tat's wat i think.

 

On Fri, 4 Feb 2000, Vivekananda Centre wrote:

> "Vivekananda Centre" <vivekananda

>

> Is a vanprashthi allowed to guide someone along the path of

> sanyassi?

>

> I hope you will have the time to answer me asap.

>

> regards,

> shankar

>

[Guest guest]

namaste,

 

Although in theory this is possible, there is a distinction between

the two ashramas.

 

A vanaprasthi may or may not have a guru. A sanyasi has been

initiated by a guru. Therefore, the sanyasi has an obligation to take the

guru's permission to seek another guide. Even if the guru is not in physical

body, the guidance will come if the seeker asks for it.

 

I seriously doubt if a vanaprasthi will volunteer to initiate a

sanyasi again.

 

Regards,

 

S.

 

>Ram Chandran <chandran

>advaitin

>Advaitin List <advaitin >

>Re: question was sent to our list - maybe you can help

>Sat, 05 Feb 2000 10:26:56 -0500

>

>Greetings Jay, Shankar:

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Shankar wrote:

> Is a vanprashthi allowed to guide someone along the path of

> sanyassi?

 

Greetings Shankar and Jay,

 

Of course, a vAnprashti can guide a sanyassi, if s/he is evolved

sufficiently.

 

The word is karma yoga.

 

We know about King Janaka who was karma yogin and a grihaprasthin

(householder) who could teach Yajnavalkya, who was supposed to be

a conceited sage-scholar.

 

We heard about a dutiful wife and a butcher-householder Dharmavyada

(both karmayogins) who could guide sage Kausika in the knowledge of

svadharma since Kausika neglected his parents to be a sage.

 

 

 

--

Warmest regards,

Ruben

ruben

_____________

"God does not appreciate external pomps and exhibitionistic

behaviour. God does not take revenge if you do not recognize

Him or revere Him." -Sathya Sai Baba.

[Guest guest]

Greetings Jay, Shankar:

 

In Tamil Culture, five stages of human life were pursued: Aram, Porul, Inmbam,

Kadu and Veedu.

 

Aram: Pursuit of knowledge - Equivalent to Brahmacharyam or Gurukul

learning

Porul: Pursuit of wealth and prosperity - Equivalent to Grihaprasthin

Inmbam: Pursuit of happiness propelled by Desires (Kamam)

Kadu: Renunciation of materialism to pursue spiritualism - Vanaprashtam

Veedu: Liberation - Bliss - Total Happiness - Peace and Tranquility.

 

The stages of life describe human evolution from childhood to sage-hood.

Vanaprashtam represents the elevated state of human mind. The human mind has

undergone the process of purification by which it discarded desires

detrimental to its freedom and has determined to seek its true identity. The

true identity of human mind is "SELF" which is the guiding force behind all

human actions. Kadu in Tamil literally means forest and it is quite

symbolic. Divinity is abundant and is ever visible through plants and animals

in the forest. The animals and plants lead the life with spontaneous actions

and we the human have more to learn from them. Vanaprashtham represents the

determination of human beings to reestablish divinity in their heart.

 

The path sanyasa is also renunciation of material life in the pursuit of

truth. The goal of vanprashthi and the sanyasi are the same and I do not see

any reason why a vanprashthi should not be allowed to guide a sanyasi.

 

regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

 

On Fri, 4 Feb 2000, Vivekananda Centre wrote:

> Is a vanprashthi allowed to guide someone along the path of

> sanyassi?

>

> I hope you will have the time to answer me asap.

>

> regards,

> shankar

[Guest guest]

namaste,

 

Adi Shankara, in the maniishhaa-pa~nchakam.h, states the

qualifications of the Guru. The refrain of the 5 verses is:

 

" chaaNDaalo.astu sa tu dvijo.astu gururityeshhaa maniishhaa mama .."

 

he to whom there is such firm knowledge is the preceptor, be he a chandala

or brahmana.This is my conclusive view. [ The story behind this composition

is also most edifying.]

 

Regards,

 

S.

 

 

>"Madhava K. Turumella" <madhava

>advaitin

>advaitin

>RE: question was sent to our list - maybe you can help

>Sun, 6 Feb 2000 13:06:13 +0300

>

>"Madhava K. Turumella" <madhava

>

> >

> > anurag

> >

> >

> > I think it would be rare that a enlightened one will give a advice of

> > taking up sanyaas to someone.

>

>Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa gave such as advice to his disciples. If I

>remember it correct-- Paramahamsa advised Murali, who wanted to distribute

>some clothes to Sanyasis, to give the clothes to his disciples. He told

>Murali that he can't find greater sanyasis than his disciples. Swamy

>Vivekananda, Swamy Saradananda and others , who received sanyasi clothes at

>that time, were not formally sanyasis. They took sanyasa, in a formal way

>while performing virajahoma, after paramahamsa passed away.

>

>Regards,

>Madhava

>

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[Guest guest]

anurag wrote:

<anurag

 

 

I guess if one does that then one will be giving a limited advise to

someone. vanprashthi himself hasn't understood all otherwise i guess

he wouldn't have been a vanprasthi.

 

Guru or Brahma are beyond definitions.

 

Tat's wat i think.

 

On Fri, 4 Feb 2000, Vivekananda Centre wrote:

> "Vivekananda Centre" <vivekananda

>

> Is a vanprashthi allowed to guide someone along the path of

> sanyassi?

>

> I hope you will have the time to answer me asap.

>

> regards,

> shankar

>

 

 

 

 

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Discussion of the True Meaning of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy focusing

on non-duality between mind and matter. Searchable List Archives are available

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advaitins

 

 

Re:the question whether a vanaprstha can guide a sanyasin is to be viewed from

the level of wisom of the vanaprastha and sannyasin. As per the Dharma Sastra,

vanaprastha and Sanyasa are two Ashrams to be taken by an individual as per the

stage of his life. When the children have grown and ar leading their own lives,

the aged parents take Vanaprastha deeksha and take semi-retirement for their

spiritual and religious pursuits. While the same individual takes Sanyasa

deeksha and wander around as a parivrajaka when his son has himself takes to

Vanaprastha Ashram. These do not necessarily indicate that one is more wise than

the other. But when a person has realised the Supreme Self, whatever the

Ashrama, age or caste, he can be the Guru of others who need guidance and help.

 

Saradapriyananda

 

 

 

 

 

 

Talk to your friends online with Messenger.

 

 

[Guest guest]

>

> anurag

>

>

> I think it would be rare that a enlightened one will give a advice of

> taking up sanyaas to someone.

 

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa gave such as advice to his disciples. If I

remember it correct-- Paramahamsa advised Murali, who wanted to distribute

some clothes to Sanyasis, to give the clothes to his disciples. He told

Murali that he can't find greater sanyasis than his disciples. Swamy

Vivekananda, Swamy Saradananda and others , who received sanyasi clothes at

that time, were not formally sanyasis. They took sanyasa, in a formal way

while performing virajahoma, after paramahamsa passed away.

 

Regards,

Madhava

[Guest guest]

On Sat, 5 Feb 2000, Sarada Priyananda wrote:

> Sarada Priyananda <saradaji

>

>

> Re:the question whether a vanaprstha can guide a sanyasin is to be viewed

from the level of wisom of the vanaprastha and sannyasin. As per the Dharma

Sastra, vanaprastha and Sanyasa are two Ashrams to be taken by an individual

as per the stage of his life. When the children have grown and ar leading

their own lives, the aged parents take Vanaprastha deeksha and take

semi-retirement for their spiritual and religious pursuits. While the same

individual takes Sanyasa deeksha and wander around as a parivrajaka when his

son has himself takes to Vanaprastha Ashram. These do not necessarily indicate

that one is more wise than the other. But when a person has realised the

Supreme Self, whatever the Ashrama, age or caste, he can be the Guru of others

who need guidance and help.

>

Saradapriyananda

>

 

 

I was thinking if a person has become self realised then wat's the need

for one to wander in jugles. One can rather be in society n enlighten

others n i guess most of them do that. Though it can be that he one is

still there to help others in forest or for some kind of research in

different branches of knowledge.

 

 

With these views in mind i said that it's rare that a vanaprasthi

is a enlightened one. If one has become enlightened i guess then no one

will refer him as vanaprasthi.

 

 

I think it would be rare that a enlightened one will give a advice of

taking up sanyaas to someone.

[Guest guest]

On Sun, 6 Feb 2000, Madhava K. Turumella wrote:

> "Madhava K. Turumella" <madhava

>

> >

> > anurag

> >

> >

> > I think it would be rare that a enlightened one will give a advice of

> > taking up sanyaas to someone.

>

> Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa gave such as advice to his disciples. If I

> remember it correct-- Paramahamsa advised Murali, who wanted to distribute

> some clothes to Sanyasis, to give the clothes to his disciples. He told

> Murali that he can't find greater sanyasis than his disciples. Swamy

> Vivekananda, Swamy Saradananda and others , who received sanyasi clothes at

> that time, were not formally sanyasis. They took sanyasa, in a formal way

> while performing virajahoma, after paramahamsa passed away.

>

> Regards,

> Madhava

>

 

 

U r very right. As i was discussing with one of my freiends and he pointed

out that sanyaas for Swami Vivekananda fitted for he has some work to be

done and his marrying would have delayed them.

 

So the circumstances and the aim that one has to achieve should also

be of much consideraton in deciding abt issues such as sanyaas.

[Guest guest]

namaste,

 

 

Gita 5:5

 

yatsaa~NkhyaiH praapyate sthaana.n tadyogairapi gamyate .

eka.n saa.nkhya.n cha yoga.n cha yaH pashyati sa pashyati ..

 

That state which is reached by Sankhyas (devoted to knowledge and renounced

the world), is reached by Yogins also. He sees who sees Sankhya and Yoga as

one.

 

Regards,

 

S.

 

>"Ruben" <rubenn

>advaitin

>advaitin

> Re: question was sent to our list - maybe you can help

>Mon, 7 Feb 2000 19:45:35 +0800

>

>From the stories in the Mahabharata and other sources including BG, if

>one were to consider sanyasa, then karma yoga is an even better path.

>

>

>--

>Warmest regards,

>Ruben

>rubenn

>_____________

 

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[Guest guest]

Anurag commented:

> With these views in mind i said that it's rare that a vanaprasthi

> is a enlightened one. If one has become enlightened i guess then no one

> will refer him as vanaprasthi.

 

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's quote:

 

"Head in the forest, hands in society"

>From the stories in the Mahabharata and other sources including BG, if

one were to consider sanyasa, then karma yoga is an even better path.

 

 

--

Warmest regards,

Ruben

rubenn

_____________