Reply to Anurag's question

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advaitin, "A Kumar" <ites30@h...> wrote:

> If the belief that Brahm and Jiv are the same, advaita, then why

are the poor Jivatmas sent to this world. What is the need for Brahm

to send part of himself

>

> I am a keen student of Shankara's philosophy, and would love to get

this question answered

>

>

> Anurag Lohia

 

Namaste Anurag,

 

This question must have been answered on this forum

many many times. If you look at the archives I am

sure you will find enormous amount of postings on this

topic.

 

Here is a brief answer to your question.

 

Jiva is what this person who writes this note, who calls

himself Shrinivas is.

 

The conciousness that animates this person, is I, the Self,

the witness, the Atman.

 

Jiva is thus the Atman limited by the particular mind. In

my case my mind limits the true I, that is my Self.

 

Brahma is the sum total of existence. Brahma is not a being

so to talk of Brahma as "What is the need for Brahm to

send part of himself" is not stricly correct.

 

Advaita philosophy says: Sages have realized through direct

experience "I am not a limited being.I the sun, the moon,

the stars, this earth, everthing that exists I am that"

"I am the sum total of existenceI am all". Based on the

testimony of these sages, Advaita equates Atman to Brahma.

 

To answer your doubt: Atman never goes anywhere.

 

If you ask why does mind exist? (for its really the mind

which is the cause of the limitations of the Jiva)

All that we can say is we know that it does exist.

Why ? No one knows, Shruti (Vedas) is mum on this issue.

 

I hope this posting was useful.

 

Warm regards

Shrinivas