(advaitin) Scientific Method in Religious Practice

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Hello All,

Sri Sadananda has I know firm views on the centrality of the Scriptures but

I think it is also the case that there are others within the Hindu tradition

who regard the Advaita of Sankara as a rational system. His commentaries

unpack the densely compacted wisdom of the Upanisads and demonstrates their

rationality in the face of the incoherence of other systems. He does this

in ways which are familar to any student of philosophy anywhere. With

different aspirants he focuses on either the scriptural route or the

rational road. This is very clearly displayed in the first two chapters of

Upadesasahasri. In 'A Method of Enlightening the Disciple' literally 100's

of texts are quoted and the discussion about the locus of pain is

perfunctory and relatively simple. Chapter Two 'The knowledge of the

changeless and non-dual Self' has a very complete discussion of the nature

of experience (knower, knowing and the known) and though it is closely

argued and by no means easy the argument is entirely rational.

 

It is an empirical fact that many systems of thought of cosmic generality

have emerged but what is common to them all is that they all began in

wonder. There was some flash of intuition of a grand unifying vision or an

experience that was there on the tip of your mind. First we are striken

dumb by a sense of mystery and the commonplace is transformed by awe. This

is the fifth Veda out of which we create a rational system. "How is

consciousness possible? asks Sankara in the beginning of the B.S.B. I

wonder what he would have to say about Darwinian evolution?

 

Ciao and Blessings, Michael

 

 

 

 

 

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