RE: Shri Dattatreya's Teachers - Teacher #13 : Elephant,

[Guest guest]

Namaste Harshaji:

 

I believe that the angle of our vision is mostly

determined by the scholarship and ability rather than

by our physical features. However, I want to be

sympathetic to your persuasive argument regarding the

quoted reference. It is quite possible and reasonable

for someone to come to the stated conclusion: "some of

them at least do appear to me to have a social

context and an implicit bias embedded within them

against women." The learned members of the list have

critically reviewed and have offered several excellent

clarifications.

 

As human beings, we exercise our right to entertain

doubts and such doubts help us to enhance our

understanding through contemplation and discussion.

Also some doubts keep remain permanently and we refuse

to take efforts to clear them. The questions raised

by Harshaji (and subsequently seconded by Frankji)

were quite helpful for all of us to clarify our

understanding of the scriptures with proper

perspective. I want to thank both Harshaji and

Frankji for forcefully initiating the discussion and

motivate the list members to engage in discussions.

The discussions were quite fruitful and beneficial to

everyone.

 

It appears that Harshaji doesn't appear to be fully

satisfied with the explanations offered by Sadaji,

Sundaramji and others. I fully respect his position

but I want to request him take a serious look at the

following quotation of Gandhiji on Gita Ideal: "I am

a devotee of the Gita and a firm believer in the

inexorable law of karma. Even the least little

tripping or stumbling is not without its cause and I

have wondered why one who has tried to follow the Gita

in thought, word and deed should have any ailment.

The doctors have assured me that this trouble of high

blood- pressure is entirely the result of mental

strain and worry. If that is true, it is likely that I

have been unnecessarily worrying myself, unnecessarily

fretting and secretly harboring passions like anger,

lust, etc. The fact that any event or incident should

disturb my serious efforts, means not that the Gita

Ideal is defective but that my devotion to its

defective. The Gita Ideal is true for all time, my

understanding of it and observance of it is full of

flaws." Harijan, 29 February 1936. ("What is

Hinduism?" Mahatma Gandhi, National Book Trust of

India, page, 95).

 

The point that Gandhiji making is quite profound: He

points out that the most essential remedy for our

doubts is ‘faith' or more precisely devotion and

conviction. When we say that ‘certain verses in the

scriptures are inappropriate to the modern context' we

show our implicit lack of devotion. The flaws that we

see in the scriptures are just the mirror reflections

of our own flaws!

 

regards,

 

Ram Chandran

[Guest guest]

 

Ram Chandran [ramvchandran]

Monday, February 12, 2001 11:15 AM

Advaitin List

RE: Shri Dattatreya's Teachers - Teacher #13 :

Elephant,

 

 

Namaste Harshaji:

 

I believe that the angle of our vision is mostly

determined by the scholarship and ability rather than

by our physical features. However, I want to be

sympathetic to your persuasive argument regarding the

quoted reference. It is quite possible and reasonable

for someone to come to the stated conclusion: "some of

them at least do appear to me to have a social

context and an implicit bias embedded within them

against women." The learned members of the list have

critically reviewed and have offered several excellent

clarifications.

 

As human beings, we exercise our right to entertain

doubts and such doubts help us to enhance our

understanding through contemplation and discussion.

Also some doubts keep remain permanently and we refuse

to take efforts to clear them. The questions raised

by Harshaji (and subsequently seconded by Frankji)

were quite helpful for all of us to clarify our

understanding of the scriptures with proper

perspective. I want to thank both Harshaji and

Frankji for forcefully initiating the discussion and

motivate the list members to engage in discussions.

The discussions were quite fruitful and beneficial to

everyone.

__

Ramji, you are most welcome. Frankji indeed has contributed immensely to

this forum in many ways.

__

 

 

It appears that Harshaji doesn't appear to be fully

satisfied with the explanations offered by Sadaji,

Sundaramji and others. I fully respect his position

but I want to request him take a serious look at the

following quotation of Gandhiji on Gita Ideal: "I am

a devotee of the Gita and a firm believer in the

inexorable law of karma. Even the least little

tripping or stumbling is not without its cause and I

have wondered why one who has tried to follow the Gita

in thought, word and deed should have any ailment.

The doctors have assured me that this trouble of high

blood- pressure is entirely the result of mental

strain and worry. If that is true, it is likely that I

have been unnecessarily worrying myself, unnecessarily

fretting and secretly harboring passions like anger,

lust, etc. The fact that any event or incident should

disturb my serious efforts, means not that the Gita

Ideal is defective but that my devotion to its

defective. The Gita Ideal is true for all time, my

understanding of it and observance of it is full of

flaws." Harijan, 29 February 1936. ("What is

Hinduism?" Mahatma Gandhi, National Book Trust of

India, page, 95).

 

The point that Gandhiji making is quite profound: He

points out that the most essential remedy for our

doubts is faith' or more precisely devotion and

conviction. When we say that certain verses in the

scriptures are inappropriate to the modern context' we

show our implicit lack of devotion. The flaws that we

see in the scriptures are just the mirror reflections

of our own flaws!

 

regards,

 

Ram Chandran

_______

Thank you Ramji for sharing the story of Gandhiji and his views and his

method of self-improvement.

 

Love to all

Harsha