Neo-Vedant

February 27, 2003

Shanti Michael,

Thank you for sharing your view. It was to me a stimulus to reflect on

this issue.

I would like to offer the following thoughts.

I believe your concern has a ground in non-exclusivism. And that is

certainly a good concern and to be shared, in that we should all become living

symbols of the one Reality.

But are we? This is possibly the question.

The concern, so to speak, is not that of adherence but of non-adherence

to the Sruti.

As incarnation, Sankara codified the Advaita Vedanta.

In temporal terms, the Advaita Tradition becomes historically evident

with Gaudapda. He initiates what has been called the manavasampradaya,

the transmission of the teaching through human beings.

And the Advaita Vedanta has its formal philosophical and institutional

beginnings with Sankara.

Truth is one and the Principle is one. Time and space manifestations are

many, but not necessarily all in adherence with the dharma. This is the

concern with regards to 'movements'.

In a kaliyuga where identification with the small self is rampant

and ever prevalent, the custody of Truth in accordance with the Sruti is

the first and the highest concern.

Such custody has to be firmly in the hands of fully realized ones,

unwavering under the sway of individuality.

This is why, it is believed to be of the utmost importance to hone in on a

light such as Sankara. He is under no sway.

On a personal note.

It is already a concentrating act to keep to the direction with one

Teaching, with one point of view.

Your analogy was also very helpful to me - with a twist, though. The

way it came naturalis this: the Neo-platonists referred to Plato,

shouldn't we do the same?

I hope this is helpful.

Shanti,

Carlo

MEDITATION on

Gaudapada's MANDUKYAKARIKA at:

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