Guest guest Posted August 24, 2003 Report Share Posted August 24, 2003 Namaskar I have a question regarding a spiritual aspirant going through his sadhana . while Brahman is said to be only Nirguna, the effect of all Sadhana's would only be to Maya, would it not ? At least, it appears to me so. so why should one even attempt at any sadhana ? Is it to cut through the maze of maya ? Is it to get the divine grace of Maya so that my true state will be visible to me ? Or is any kind of seeking itself wrong in the first place!! ? why should one chant the sahasranama ? Isn't just one Om enough ? even that seems futile in the attempt sometimes. maybe the futility is itself born out of wrong notions! or wrong understanding. I know that my questions would certainly have been answered by acharyas. I do not know why anybody has to go through his sadhana. But I realize that this seems to be the only way out. I appreciate the learned members comments. please note that I am not criticizing anything here. just asking to get my doubts cleared. Om Tat Sat Guruprasad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 2003 Report Share Posted August 24, 2003 Excellent questions! Love, Harsha advaitin, "v_vedanti" <v_vedanti> wrote: > Namaskar > I have a question regarding a spiritual aspirant going through his > sadhana . > while Brahman is said to be only Nirguna, the effect of all > Sadhana's would only be to Maya, would it not ? At least, it appears > to me so. so why should one even attempt at any sadhana ? Is it to > cut through the maze of maya ? Is it to get the divine grace of Maya > so that my true state will be visible to me ? Or is any kind of > seeking itself wrong in the first place!! ? > why should one chant the sahasranama ? Isn't just one Om enough ? > even that seems futile in the attempt sometimes. maybe the futility > is itself born out of wrong notions! or wrong understanding. > > I know that my questions would certainly have been answered by > acharyas. I do not know why anybody has to go through his sadhana. > But I realize that this seems to be the only way out. I appreciate > the learned members comments. > please note that I am not criticizing anything here. just asking to > get my doubts cleared. > > Om Tat Sat > Guruprasad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2003 Report Share Posted August 25, 2003 Namaskar. Yes. All sAdhana is in the transactional. All scriptures are in the transactional. All gurus are in the transactional. The idea of liberation too is in the transactional. As long as all these are seen as other than me, why not play the game as prescribed in order to realize at the end that no game was ever played, because the game including all its elements like the gurus, scriptures, efforts etc. was none other than me and, if the game was really me, I couldn't have 'played' it at all. There is simply no other way out for those who still experience duality. PraNAms. Madathil Nair ______________________________ advaitin, "v_vedanti" <v_vedanti> wrote: > Namaskar > I have a question regarding a spiritual aspirant going through his > sadhana . > while Brahman is said to be only Nirguna, the effect of all > Sadhana's would only be to Maya, would it not ? At least, it appears > to me so. so why should one even attempt at any sadhana ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2003 Report Share Posted September 24, 2003 shri v_vedanti wrote on sunday , 24 Aug 2003 > Namaskar > I have a question regarding a spiritual aspirant going through > his sadhana . > while Brahman is said to be only Nirguna, the effect of all > Sadhana's would only be to Maya, would it not ? At least, it appears > to me so. so why should one even attempt at any sadhana ? Is it to > cut through the maze of maya ? Is it to get the divine grace of Maya > so that my true state will be visible to me ? Or is any kind of > seeking itself wrong in the first place!! ? > why should one chant the sahasranama ? Isn't just one Om enough ? > even that seems futile in the attempt sometimes. maybe the futility > is itself born out of wrong notions! or wrong understanding. > I know that my questions would certainly have been answered by > acharyas. I do not know why anybody has to go through his sadhana. > But I realize that this seems to be the only way out. I appreciate > the learned members comments. > please note that I am not criticizing anything here. just asking to > get my doubts cleared. > Om Tat Sat > Guruprasad namaste. pardon the delay in responding to this, but only just now, I am going through some of the mails thoroughly. I notice I put this mail for response at that time but I am venturing into responding to this only now. sAdhana is cultivation, cultivation of the mind. Just like a well-cultivated ground becomes fertile in course of time and will be ideal location for growth of useful vegetables, similarly, a well-cultivated mind (antahkaraNa) is ideal for jnAnam to dawn (kaTha u. chapter 2; I can give the verse number after referring to the text) Proper sAdhana will make the thoughts pure and pure antahkaraNa is the essential requirement for jnAnodayam. Proper sAdhana will get the mind into control of the intellect. If the intellect has viveka, the controlled mind can be cultivated properly. It becomes ideal ground for sAttwic guNA-s and also, such well-cultivated mind controls the sense organs. kaTha upanishad's chariot analogy is relevant in this context. In that analogy, the horses are the senses, the reins the mind, the charioteer is the buddhi (intellect), the chariot is the physical body, the owner of the chariot is the jIvA. If the charioteer properly controls the reins, the chariot can be steered to the appropriate destination. sAdhna, the controlling of the reins is the critical part of this spiritual journey. Thus, the importance of sAdhana cannot be minimized. But, we have to understand in this context what the proper sAdhana is. Regards Gummuluru Murthy ------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2003 Report Share Posted September 24, 2003 advaitin, Gummuluru Murthy <gmurthy@m...> wrote: > shri v_vedanti wrote on sunday , 24 Aug 2003 > > I have a question regarding a spiritual aspirant going through > > his sadhana . > > while Brahman is said to be only Nirguna, the effect of all > > Sadhana's would only be to Maya, would it not ? At least, it appears > > to me so. so why should one even attempt at any sadhana ? Is it to > > cut through the maze of maya ? Is it to get the divine grace of Maya > > so that my true state will be visible to me ? Or is any kind of > > seeking itself wrong in the first place!! ? > > why should one chant the sahasranama ? Isn't just one Om enough ? > > even that seems futile in the attempt sometimes. maybe the futility > > is itself born out of wrong notions! or wrong understanding. > > > I know that my questions would certainly have been answered by > > acharyas. I do not know why anybody has to go through his sadhana. > > But I realize that this seems to be the only way out. I appreciate > > the learned members comments. > > please note that I am not criticizing anything here. just asking to > > get my doubts cleared. > > > Om Tat Sat > > Guruprasad > ------------------------- Namaste Guruprasadji Your questions are legitimate. To supplement the answers given by Murthygaru, let me point out that most of the answers to your questions are contained in the Soundaryalahari Digest which presents the Paramacharya's Discourses in serial form. Particularly I want to draw your attention to DPDS #s 2, 3, 9, 12 and 13 for the answers to the questions you ask. The Paramacharya has anticipated most of your questions. Nos.9 and 13 specifically contains the answers to your important questionsabout Sadhana and Maya. In fact I would presume you are perusing through the whole series. A full reading of the entire series would be worthwhile. PraNAms to all advaitins. profvk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2003 Report Share Posted September 26, 2003 I apologize Sri Krishnamurhiji. the subject for my earlier post was supposed to be "Re: Spiritual Sadhana and Maya " and not on the 'Soundaryalahari posting'. I replied to the wrong post. regards Guruprasad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 27, 2003 Report Share Posted September 27, 2003 Namaste. My comments are in [ ]. advaitin, "v_vedanti" <v_vedanti> wrote: > > Murthyji wrote : > Thus, the importance of sAdhana cannot be minimized. But, we have to > understand in this context what the proper sAdhana is. > __________________ > > I quite agree with you. however, my contention is, any sadhana is > only to remove the ignorance and bring mental strength in the > individual to face the truth. Because even Ishwara is said to be > unreal because it exists only temporarily. [ 'temporarily' in what sense? Only in the cosmological sense ] >And Mind - Body not being > the real, the results of any Sadhana goes to who ? To nobody. [ When you say 'Mind-Body not being real', then the Sadhana also which is done by the mind and body cannot be real. So the 'unreal' Sadhana goes to the 'unreal' mind, just as drinking water in dream quenches the thirst in the dream. > Krishnamurthiji wrote : > I want to draw your attention to DPDS #s 2, 3, 9, 12 and 13 for the > answers to > the questions you ask. The Paramacharya has anticipated most of > your questions. Nos.9 and 13 specifically contains the answers to > your important questionsabout Sadhana and Maya. In fact I would > presume you are perusing through the whole series. A full reading of > the entire series would be worthwhile. > > > I went through some topics in your postings and would like to say > with all due respects that > > Soundaryalahari seems to me to be more like a book on Siva / Shakti > than Advaitam of Sri Shankaracharya. [so what? Is the topic of Siva Shakti something not worthwhile? Please remember that advaitam, without bhakti, is only gymnastics with words. Can you point out a single great advaitin, old or modern, without an ingrained bhakti in him? And also please note that the Paramacharya has been the greatest advaitin of modern times. So just because Soundaryalahari talks about Shiva and Shakti, please do not discard that] > I will go through the topics you have mentioned and will come back > with my questions. If I may add, its a tremendous effort and I'm > sure its being thanked by a lot of people. [Thank you ] > I was planning to ask if you had any plans to write on Vishnu > Sahasranama at any time. [Please see http://www.geocities.com/profvk/gohitvip/1207.html and several succeeding web pages.] PraNAms to all advaitins profvk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 27, 2003 Report Share Posted September 27, 2003 On Namah Sivaya. Dear Provk: This line you wrote rings so true, and it is something that I feel we must all try always to remember. Swami Sivananda taught us all this constantly. Please remember that advaitam, without bhakti, is only gymnastics with words. Thank you for so succinctly expressing this truth. Peace and Love Always, Sarojini - V. Krishnamurthy advaitin Saturday, September 27, 2003 12:17 PM Re: Spiritual Sadhana and Maya Namaste. My comments are in [ ]. advaitin, "v_vedanti" <v_vedanti> wrote: > > Murthyji wrote : > Thus, the importance of sAdhana cannot be minimized. But, we have to > understand in this context what the proper sAdhana is. > __________________ > > I quite agree with you. however, my contention is, any sadhana is > only to remove the ignorance and bring mental strength in the > individual to face the truth. Because even Ishwara is said to be > unreal because it exists only temporarily. [ 'temporarily' in what sense? Only in the cosmological sense ] >And Mind - Body not being > the real, the results of any Sadhana goes to who ? To nobody. [ When you say 'Mind-Body not being real', then the Sadhana also which is done by the mind and body cannot be real. So the 'unreal' Sadhana goes to the 'unreal' mind, just as drinking water in dream quenches the thirst in the dream. > Krishnamurthiji wrote : > I want to draw your attention to DPDS #s 2, 3, 9, 12 and 13 for the > answers to > the questions you ask. The Paramacharya has anticipated most of > your questions. Nos.9 and 13 specifically contains the answers to > your important questionsabout Sadhana and Maya. In fact I would > presume you are perusing through the whole series. A full reading of > the entire series would be worthwhile. > > > I went through some topics in your postings and would like to say > with all due respects that > > Soundaryalahari seems to me to be more like a book on Siva / Shakti > than Advaitam of Sri Shankaracharya. [so what? Is the topic of Siva Shakti something not worthwhile? Please remember that advaitam, without bhakti, is only gymnastics with words. Can you point out a single great advaitin, old or modern, without an ingrained bhakti in him? And also please note that the Paramacharya has been the greatest advaitin of modern times. So just because Soundaryalahari talks about Shiva and Shakti, please do not discard that] > I will go through the topics you have mentioned and will come back > with my questions. If I may add, its a tremendous effort and I'm > sure its being thanked by a lot of people. [Thank you ] > I was planning to ask if you had any plans to write on Vishnu > Sahasranama at any time. [Please see http://www.geocities.com/profvk/gohitvip/1207.html and several succeeding web pages.] PraNAms to all advaitins profvk Sponsor 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 27, 2003 Report Share Posted September 27, 2003 Namaste, Advaitam does not mean there is no Bhakti. In fact, Advaitam leads to Parama Bhakti and it is not any conditional Bhakti. This is my understanding. Hari Om R.S.Mani Sarojini <Yoga wrote: On Namah Sivaya. Dear Provk: This line you wrote rings so true, and it is something that I feel we must all try always to remember. Swami Sivananda taught us all this constantly. Please remember that advaitam, without bhakti, is only gymnastics with words. Thank you for so succinctly expressing this truth. Peace and Love Always, Sarojini - V. Krishnamurthy advaitin Saturday, September 27, 2003 12:17 PM Re: Spiritual Sadhana and Maya Namaste. My comments are in [ ]. advaitin, "v_vedanti" <v_vedanti> wrote: > > Murthyji wrote : > Thus, the importance of sAdhana cannot be minimized. But, we have to > understand in this context what the proper sAdhana is. > __________________ > > I quite agree with you. however, my contention is, any sadhana is > only to remove the ignorance and bring mental strength in the > individual to face the truth. Because even Ishwara is said to be > unreal because it exists only temporarily. [ 'temporarily' in what sense? Only in the cosmological sense ] >And Mind - Body not being > the real, the results of any Sadhana goes to who ? To nobody. [ When you say 'Mind-Body not being real', then the Sadhana also which is done by the mind and body cannot be real. So the 'unreal' Sadhana goes to the 'unreal' mind, just as drinking water in dream quenches the thirst in the dream. > Krishnamurthiji wrote : > I want to draw your attention to DPDS #s 2, 3, 9, 12 and 13 for the > answers to > the questions you ask. The Paramacharya has anticipated most of > your questions. Nos.9 and 13 specifically contains the answers to > your important questionsabout Sadhana and Maya. In fact I would > presume you are perusing through the whole series. A full reading of > the entire series would be worthwhile. > > > I went through some topics in your postings and would like to say > with all due respects that > > Soundaryalahari seems to me to be more like a book on Siva / Shakti > than Advaitam of Sri Shankaracharya. [so what? Is the topic of Siva Shakti something not worthwhile? Please remember that advaitam, without bhakti, is only gymnastics with words. Can you point out a single great advaitin, old or modern, without an ingrained bhakti in him? And also please note that the Paramacharya has been the greatest advaitin of modern times. So just because Soundaryalahari talks about Shiva and Shakti, please do not discard that] > I will go through the topics you have mentioned and will come back > with my questions. If I may add, its a tremendous effort and I'm > sure its being thanked by a lot of people. [Thank you ] > I was planning to ask if you had any plans to write on Vishnu > Sahasranama at any time. [Please see http://www.geocities.com/profvk/gohitvip/1207.html and several succeeding web pages.] PraNAms to all advaitins profvk Sponsor 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 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 The New with improved product search Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.