re Gita Satsangh (avyatka)

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Hello Madathil, You wrote (pass.): .... to Sankara, pancheekarana so far has

sounded only as an attempt to explain creation. .............

 

 

 

The crane conceives by hearing the roar of clouds.

pg.352 B.S.B.

It is a known fact "in this world" that the gods, manes

rishis, and others, very powerful and sentient as

they are, create by themselves through mere will and

without any external help, many such things as bodies

palaces, chariots, etc., of various shapes, because they

are possessed of special powers. The spider also creates its threads by

itself; the crane conceives without mating by hearing merely the roar of

clouds; and the lotus stalk moves from one lake to another without waiting

for any vehicle. Similarly, Brahman conscious though It is, may well

create the universe by Itself without looking for external means (B.S.B.

II.i.25)

Even if this is countered by the Opponent,

Shankara holds that he is merely using these

illustrations to maintain that there is no invariable

rule "that the powers of everybody must conform to that

of somebody we are familiar with."

 

Moreover it is a matter of experience that though

milk and water, when mixed together, cannot be

separated by any one of the human race, still they

can be separated by ducks.(?)

 

Here I have given a few examples of pre-scientific thinking on the part of

Sankara himself where falsifiability applies. The utterances of sages is

more on the line of myth and poetry. Plato called myth a 'noble lie' and

used it as a way of expressing a reality which was not amenable to

demonstration or proof. Taken in that way they are a meditation on the

sublime. Like in the way we might say 'the eye of God' and not go further

to enquire if this eye has an eyebrow. Like panchkarana is an image of

order, of unfolding, of interpenetration, of connectedness. I remember a

man in Bangalore explaining to me about the cosas I think it was saying they

were 'space suits'. This was in '74 when E.V.A. was still a novelty and

shows how the mind uses the latest metaphor. Apt I thought. His story was

that he had died and gone to meet the Septa Rishi who said to him 'what are

you doing here, you're not expected yet. Go back and take this meditation

technique with you to teach'. He was offering it but you had to be commited

to hours per day. Samadhi was guaranteed in some years. I declined as I

was already in good hands. The prayer room in his house had an

extraordinary atmosphere.

 

Your point about relativity theory and panchekarena not being in conflict

with each other I am in entire agreement with. I would add that Hawking has

not written another veda. As for shaking people’s faith in a system I

believe that if someone has fetched up on such a list as this they will not

be of the simple faith type. This discussion may be of use to someone who

feels threatened by the bogeyman of science., that sinister figure in the

white coat.

 

ciao and blessings, Michael

 

 

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