Guest guest Posted September 19, 2001 Report Share Posted September 19, 2001 Namaste Ram, I am not qualified to answer your questions from tradition and make the following comment while giving the greatest respect to those who have greater knowledge than I. In relation to your first question on when does the doctrine of ahimsa become sublated. I am sure that careful study of Chapters 1 and 2 of the Bhagavad Gita will answer this but may I also offer some words from my experience. I am a retired teacher and many years ago was discussing the nature of Law with a class of nine year old boys. One put up his hand and said: "Sir, I think that I understand because truth is like a feather." I asked him to explain more. "When I am telling lies the words are heavy and I have to think what I am saying, but when I speak the truth the words come easily, they have no weight, they are like a feather." In this the boy had observed how to discriminate real action. When the action flows though us, as it were, then it is effortless and therefore sinless. When the action is laborious, heavy and like pushing a ton of bricks to make anything happen then the action is being done with attachment. To be able to discriminate our actions in this way will enable action to be completed. We do not need to give attention to our inner debate upon what is right or wrong. I appreciate that some will find that difficult to accept but it is just my personal observation. Also you may like to get a copy of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's commentary on the first six chapters of the Gita. Although he gives too much time, possibly, to promoting the case for transcendental meditation, he is very interesting upon Chapter One. He talks of the opposing forces in any situation increasing to a point at which the tension can no longer be sustained and IMMEDIATELY there is a transformation. (This word IMMEDIATELY is interesting to study in its use in all the various scriptures) In the world today we can see this happening: there is a move to greater unity in the nations...internet has potential here.....but at the same time there is a breaking up of blocks of power; these are opposing structures. Both movements would appear to have both 'good' and 'bad' element in them. There is a much more free questioning and spiritual insight and yet our children are plagued with moronic, violent and pornographic TV, film, music and written words. We will find other examples in our own lives. This polarity cannot be sustained for ever. There will be a moment of transformation and in that moment we renounce all dharmas because I am sure that, like Arjuna, we will not have any idea what to do and if we keep asking what is right or wrong we will remain transfixed with the Gandiva on the floor. It is better that we strive to say with Arjuna, in the moment, "My delusion is destroyed. I have regained my memory through Your grace O Achyuta. I am firm; I am free from doubt. I shall act according to Thy word." Gita 18v73 Om sri ram jai jai Ram Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help? Donate cash, emergency relief information http://dailynews./fc/US/Emergency_Information/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2001 Report Share Posted September 20, 2001 Namaste Ken Thanks for sharing the similie about truth being like a feather. It struck home. Thanks. Ram > > ken knight [sMTP:hilken_98] > Wednesday, September 19, 2001 6:09 PM > advaitin > Re: Questions on Dharma > > > Namaste Ram, > I am not qualified to answer your questions from > tradition and make the following comment while giving > the greatest respect to those who have greater > knowledge than I. > In relation to your first question on when does the > doctrine of ahimsa become sublated. I am sure that > careful study of Chapters 1 and 2 of the Bhagavad Gita > will answer this but may I also offer some words from > my experience. > I am a retired teacher and many years ago was > discussing the nature of Law with a class of nine year > old boys. One put up his hand and said: "Sir, I think > that I understand because truth is like a feather." I > asked him to explain more. > "When I am telling lies the words are heavy and I have > to think what I am saying, but when I speak the truth > the words come easily, they have no weight, they are > like a feather." > In this the boy had observed how to discriminate real > action. When the action flows though us, as it were, > then it is effortless and therefore sinless. When the > action is laborious, heavy and like pushing a ton of > bricks to make anything happen then the action is > being done with attachment. To be able to > discriminate our actions in this way will enable > action to be completed. We do not need to give > attention to our inner debate upon what is right or > wrong. I appreciate that some will find that difficult > to accept but it is just my personal observation. > Also you may like to get a copy of Maharishi Mahesh > Yogi's commentary on the first six chapters of the > Gita. Although he gives too much time, possibly, to > promoting the case for transcendental meditation, he > is very interesting upon Chapter One. He talks of the > opposing forces in any situation increasing to a point > at which the tension can no longer be sustained and > IMMEDIATELY there is a transformation. (This word > IMMEDIATELY is interesting to study in its use in all > the various scriptures) > In the world today we can see this happening: there > is a move to greater unity in the nations...internet > has potential here.....but at the same time there is a > breaking up of blocks of power; these are opposing > structures. Both movements would appear to have both > 'good' and 'bad' element in them. There is a much more > free questioning and spiritual insight and yet our > children are plagued with moronic, violent and > pornographic TV, film, music and written words. We > will find other examples in our own lives. This > polarity cannot be sustained for ever. There will be a > moment of transformation and in that moment we > renounce all dharmas because I am sure that, like > Arjuna, we will not have any idea what to do and if we > keep asking what is right or wrong we will remain > transfixed with the Gandiva on the floor. It is better > that we strive to say with Arjuna, in the moment, > "My delusion is destroyed. I have regained my memory > through Your grace O Achyuta. I am firm; I am free > from doubt. I shall act according to Thy word." > Gita 18v73 > Om sri ram jai jai Ram > > > Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help? > Donate cash, emergency relief information > http://dailynews./fc/US/Emergency_Information/ > > Discussion of Shankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy of nonseparablity of > Atman and Brahman. > Advaitin List Archives available at: > http://www.eScribe.com/culture/advaitin/ > To Post a message send an email to : advaitin > Messages Archived at: advaitin/messages > > > > Your use of is subject to > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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