Reponse to Comments

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

 

Instead to replying to responses to my questions

individually I thought of posting a common reply. I

present a small dialogue between, an inquirer and a

Vedist. The Vedist here is supposed to represent my

Teacher(s).

 

Inquirer: I have often heard that sense objects are

impermanent and a wise stays away from them. You do

not seem to endorse this view.

 

Vedist: You see it is something like this. Say you

like "Kheer". I would say go and enjoy your "Kheer".

Actually, the pleasure that you derive from the taste

of the "Kheer" is in fact your "Self" experiencing

it's inherent Bliss. Realize this. Use this pleasure

as a tool to tap into the Bliss of your "Self".

 

Inquirer: You mean you are giving me the license for

sense objects enjoyment.

 

Vedist: Yes, provided you don't get attached to them.

Attachment is the mistaken notion, where you confuse

Pleasure with Bliss. Pleasure is a wonderful thing,

since it lets you tap into the Bliss. However pleasure

is not Bliss. Attachment to pleasure is an error and

"Prakriti" will help you overcome this attachment if

you develop one. It is likely that "Prakriti" will

inflict appropriate pain on you that will force you to

overcome your attachment.

 

Inquirer: Then is it better to keep away from pleasure

to prevent development of attachment.

 

Vedist: Well the goal is to be able to experience

Pleasure at the same time maintaining "Vairagya". By

depriving yourself of pleasure, you hamper the full

development of your personality. That also is not

correct. The desire to experience pleasure is the

"Self" wanting to express it self. If you deprive

yourself to much, even then "Prakriti" will help you

overcome this attachment (where you are attached to

depriving yourself of the bliss of "Self"). Again by

inflicting appropriate pain "Prakriti" will force you

to experience the sense objects. The ideal is to be

able to experience this world of name and form while

being established in the "Self". There are different

paths to reach this goal. Each person takes the path

most suited to his/her needs. When and where to

exercise control and when not to, varies from person

to person and there are no fixed rules. One either has

to seek guidance of an experienced teacher or develop

"Vivek Buddhi" and use as a guide.

 

Regards

Shrinivas

 

p.s. It is my opinion that an incorrect decision on

(a) when to keep away from objects of the six senses

(mind + other five) and (b) when not to, is the cause

of ALL problems. Since the "Self" alone is the best

judge in this matter, we seek the "Self".

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

My humble pranaams to all ,

 

we are interested in studying vedanta , and our tradition.

and keeping with that spirit, will it not be better to

use the term "vedantin" instead of "vedist".?

 

My humble request is only intended to keep up with our

tradition .Please do not mistake .

 

jai shankara,

 

 

 

-

Shrinivas Gadkari

advaitin

Tuesday, July 24, 2001 3:07 PM

Reponse to Comments

 

 

Hi All,

 

Instead to replying to responses to my questions

individually I thought of posting a common reply. I

present a small dialogue between, an inquirer and a

Vedist. The Vedist here is supposed to represent my

Teacher(s).

 

Inquirer: I have often heard that sense objects are

impermanent and a wise stays away from them. You do

not seem to endorse this view.

 

Vedist: You see it is something like this. Say you

like "Kheer". I would say go and enjoy your "Kheer".

Actually, the pleasure that you derive from the taste

of the "Kheer" is in fact your "Self" experiencing

it's inherent Bliss. Realize this. Use this pleasure

as a tool to tap into the Bliss of your "Self".

 

Inquirer: You mean you are giving me the license for

sense objects enjoyment.

 

Vedist: Yes, provided you don't get attached to them.

Attachment is the mistaken notion, where you confuse

Pleasure with Bliss. Pleasure is a wonderful thing,

since it lets you tap into the Bliss. However pleasure

is not Bliss. Attachment to pleasure is an error and

"Prakriti" will help you overcome this attachment if

you develop one. It is likely that "Prakriti" will

inflict appropriate pain on you that will force you to

overcome your attachment.

 

Inquirer: Then is it better to keep away from pleasure

to prevent development of attachment.

 

Vedist: Well the goal is to be able to experience

Pleasure at the same time maintaining "Vairagya". By

depriving yourself of pleasure, you hamper the full

development of your personality. That also is not

correct. The desire to experience pleasure is the

"Self" wanting to express it self. If you deprive

yourself to much, even then "Prakriti" will help you

overcome this attachment (where you are attached to

depriving yourself of the bliss of "Self"). Again by

inflicting appropriate pain "Prakriti" will force you

to experience the sense objects. The ideal is to be

able to experience this world of name and form while

being established in the "Self". There are different

paths to reach this goal. Each person takes the path

most suited to his/her needs. When and where to

exercise control and when not to, varies from person

to person and there are no fixed rules. One either has

to seek guidance of an experienced teacher or develop

"Vivek Buddhi" and use as a guide.

 

Regards

Shrinivas

 

p.s. It is my opinion that an incorrect decision on

(a) when to keep away from objects of the six senses

(mind + other five) and (b) when not to, is the cause

of ALL problems. Since the "Self" alone is the best

judge in this matter, we seek the "Self".

 

Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Messenger

http://phonecard./

 

 

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Discussion of Shankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy of nonseparablity of Atman

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[Guest guest]

 

Shrinivas Gadkari [sgadkari2001]

 

p.s. It is my opinion that an incorrect decision on

(a) when to keep away from objects of the six senses

(mind + other five) and (b) when not to, is the cause

of ALL problems. Since the "Self" alone is the best

judge in this matter, we seek the "Self".

 

*************************************

You make Self out to be a like a kind older uncle, which upon our finding

it, will dispense good advice on how to live life properly and help us make

correct decisions! :-).

 

Self is of the nature of Pure Consciousness. The methodology prescribed for

Self-Realization in scriptures belongs within the domain of the mind, in the

field of relativity.

 

The training of the intellect may be important for some. However, a powerful

intellect is not enough of a pre-requisite in moving towards

Self-Realization. We see many people who are extremely gifted and talented

in a variety of fields but their mind and intellect remains extroverted to a

great extent and is not attracted to spiritual things or understanding the

nature of consciousness.

 

When the mind becomes pure, the intellect operates at a subtle level and the

ability to discriminate between the Real and the Unreal fully manifests.

Sages say that the mind is made pure through partaking of sattvic food,

Satsang, and through meditation on the nature of the Self as indicated in

the scriptures.

 

Self is beyond judgment and is known directly through Grace that allows for

transcending or dropping intellectual gymnastics about what to do and what

not to do, and what is proper and what is not and what senses to satisfy and

what not to, etc.

 

Love to all

Harsha