Apologies

[Guest guest]

Dear members,

 

I started a series on Ramana Maharshi and also wanted to write on Tatvabodha

(long overdue). However I am tight pressed for time. I desired to learn

pANini and also the principal Upanishads in a very serious way. I have

found some sources wherefrom I have an oppurtunity to learn them. I don't

know if this is my experience only or I am just being dull -, but both

seem to require serious effort. It ain't happenin' in a snap. That too, I

am doing it with very little time to spare between my full-time employment

and part-time college studies and I am not a genius either - only

enthusiastic (with reverence).

 

I had taken to the spiritual path long ago, since my college days. But it

has for most part been informal devotion and superficial (I realize now).

I had taken to reading Upanishads in the past 1 year with the same attitude

as I did other general books. It is quite easy to read books that say

things like "just be natural" etc. One can read it with the same

concentration as is required to read a science fiction or watch start trek.

Rigorous Upanishadic thinking is a new experience for me and it takes time

to get things right. After one year of hits and misses, I seem to have

discovered a proper plan. I want to give myself fully to that purpose,

otherwise I will not be able to do justice to both my scriptural study and

my participation in other matters. I will be comfortable expressing my

opinions only when I feel that my understanding is getting steadier. I have

to work hard before I can get there - that was the biggest discovery I had

when I started reading Upanishads.

 

(It takes a lot of energy to recover after one has realized that one has

understood things wrong and has restart from scratch.)

 

I believe in the traditional value placed in memorizing the verses in

Upanishads. It helps to ruminate and recollect when one is travelling or

does not have the source available in the form of book or cassette. That

also takes time. Some may feel it is an empty exercise to memorize B.Gita

and Vedanta. But I think otherwise. I give Gita shlokas the status of

mantras as they are emanations from the Lord Himself.

 

I intended to highlight points that will be very useful from the perspective

of studying advaita-vedanta. Hence such writing requires some effort. I

did not want to copy the books on RM as it is. It is better to give an URL

or some publication address in such a case. I also wanted to write an essay

on pramANams discussing the different pramANams and some sections of Vedanta

paribhAsha that might help members to follow Sri Anandji's posting on

advaita-siddhi. I regret that I am compelled to disappoint anyone (even

one) who might have started reading my postings on RM.

 

Please accept my apologies. I had said a little while ago : "Arabdam uttama

janAh na parityajante" - noble men do not give up what they have undertaken.

I have fallen short of my own statement. I cannot but feel guilty and

ashamed at this point. If the readers are willing to forgive me, I can

absolve myself from the sin of going back on my word.

 

I seek the blessings of all elders and learned members of these august

lists, so that I can embark on my study of Sanskrit and Vedanta in a very

serious way.

 

Just a note for beginners: Without Sanskrit one can get only wet one's

feet in the shores of Vedanta. One needs Sanskrit to drown oneself into

Vedanta.

 

Regards.

S. V. Subrahmanian.

 

PS: However, I desire to continue to be a member of the lists. Whenever I

have something interesting to share from what I have shravaNam -ed, I will

be happy to share it with everyone.

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