"Why a commentary?"

[Guest guest]

Namaste, all

 

I was traveling from Bombay to Calcutta. Breakfast was served. My co-passenger

took the opportunity to open a conversation with me. “Look this Pineapple slice,

very sweet and very tasty”. “Yes” I said. He continued “But I have never come

across a fruit like Mangoostan. It is in my opinion the most wonderful fruit”. I

said “Mangoostan? I have never heard of it. What does it look like?”

 

My co-passenger was full of admiration for that fruit and described it to the

best of his ability, and said “its shape is such and such, its color is such and

such, and it tastes like such and such. I think it is available in abundance in

such and such place.”

 

I got some “idea” (some indication) of the fruit.

 

On getting off the aircraft we said ‘bye’ but my co-passenger reminded me about

‘Mangoostan’ and asked me to look for it.

 

After a couple of years or so, while I was shopping, in a fruit shop, I came

across a fruit, which I had never seen in my life. The shopkeeper said “Sir, it

is Mangoostan, a very tasty fruit”. I remembered my co-passenger’s words, and

bought a couple of Mangoostans. It matched with the description he gave. When I

tasted I said to myself “Mangoostan is wonderful”.

 

I got knowledge of Mangoostan from my co-passenger through his words, and it was

“Sabda Pramanam” and only indirect knowledge. When I saw it and tasted it

myself I got direct knowledge of the fruit, i.e. its shape, color, taste, etc.

Though my co-passenger explained Mangoostan to the best of his ability, i.e.

about its shape, colour, taste, etc., till I saw it myself, till I touched it

myself, and till I tasted it mself, I had only indirect knowledge about the

fruit. The moment I tasted it, my knowledge of Mangoostan became full, and

direct.

 

Similarly, when Sruties, ‘sabda pramanam’, say, “Prajanam Brahma”, “Ayam Atma

Brahma” and “Tatwam Asi” I get only indirect knowledge. Respecting Mother-

sruti vakya, one accepts them. Just like, when I was shown a picture of a man,

and my mother said “Know this, person, he is your great great great

grandfather.” I accepted it, although I cannot not verify it, as it is my own

mother’s words, who is my well wisher.

 

However, in the case of the Mahavakyas, “Prajanam Brahma”, “Ayam Atma Brahma”

and “Tatwam Asi”, after hearing them, one has to do a lot of manana, i.e.

intellectual analysis by himself, with the help of Bhashya and also the

enfoldment of Self by one’s Guru, as Self or Brahman cannot be objectified like

a Mangoostan, continuously for days and nights, and suddenly like a flash, one

appreciates the sruti vakyas, and almost shouts (to himself) “Aham Brahmaasi”.

 

Sruti only indicates That, through the “upadesha vakyas”, and it is for the

listener to make it out, and realize it i.e. “Anubhava vakya”. Even sruti cannot

explain That “Yato Vacho Nivartante”.

 

However, if the patra i.e. the Adhikari, the disciple has the adhikaritwa, i.e.

merits, blessed with Anthakaranashudhi, a clear mind free from all notions and

prejudices, he will require to do manana for a shorter period, but without

manana, “Tatwam Asi” will not turn to be “Aham Brahmasmi”.

 

In short, the sabda pramana i.e. sruti vakyas are indicative, or upadesha

vakyas, and therefore, they can give only indirect knowledge of That.

 

Hope the learned members may correct my understanding of the position.

 

Hari Om and warm regards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Namaste Maniji,

 

Thanks for the post and the analogy:

> Namaste, all

>

> I was traveling from Bombay to Calcutta. Breakfast was served. My

co-passenger took the opportunity to open a conversation with

me. "Look this Pineapple slice, very sweet and very tasty". "Yes" I

said. He continued "But I have never come across a fruit like

Mangoostan. It is in my opinion the most wonderful fruit". I

said "Mangoostan? I have never heard of it. What does it look like?"

>

> My co-passenger was full of admiration for that fruit and described

it to the best of his ability, and said "its shape is such and such,

its color is such and such, and it tastes like such and such. I

think it is available in abundance in such and such place."

>

> I got some "idea" (some indication) of the fruit.

>

> On getting off the aircraft we said `bye' but my co-passenger

reminded me about `Mangoostan' and asked me to look for it.

>

> After a couple of years or so, while I was shopping, in a fruit

shop, I came across a fruit, which I had never seen in my life. The

shopkeeper said "Sir, it is Mangoostan, a very tasty fruit". I

remembered my co-passenger's words, and bought a couple of

Mangoostans. It matched with the description he gave. When I tasted I

said to myself "Mangoostan is wonderful".

>

> I got knowledge of Mangoostan from my co-passenger through his

words, and it was "Sabda Pramanam" and only indirect knowledge. When

I saw it and tasted it myself I got direct knowledge of the fruit,

i.e. its shape, color, taste, etc. Though my co-passenger explained

Mangoostan to the best of his ability, i.e. about its shape, colour,

taste, etc., till I saw it myself, till I touched it myself, and till

I tasted it mself, I had only indirect knowledge about the fruit. The

moment I tasted it, my knowledge of Mangoostan became full, and

direct.

>

> Similarly, when Sruties, `sabda pramanam', say, "Prajanam

Brahma", "Ayam Atma Brahma" and "Tatwam Asi" I get only indirect

knowledge. Respecting Mother- sruti vakya, one accepts them. Just

like, when I was shown a picture of a man, and my mother said "Know

this, person, he is your great great great grandfather." I accepted

it, although I cannot not verify it, as it is my own mother's words,

who is my well wisher.

 

I had to quote this analogy of yours fully. You draw the same kind of

analogy as the sweetness of sugar here. I should however, warn you

that this post shall put you in a very unfavorable position and would

lead to only mindless argumentation on a point that requires no more

explanation, although your position is justified in this matter as a

person not ready for gaining 'direct knowledge' in Sri Shankara's

words. I donot think Sri Shankara would disagree with you, as he

would know the stand point from which the so-called 'unprepared' ones

must talk.

 

If you remember it was exactly what I said and it lead to only

mindless discussion.

> However, if the patra i.e. the Adhikari, the disciple has the

adhikaritwa, i.e. merits, blessed with Anthakaranashudhi, a clear

mind free from all notions and prejudices, he will require to do

manana for a shorter period, but without manana, "Tatwam Asi" will

not turn to be "Aham Brahmasmi".

 

Again in accord with you. This is what I meant when I said, 'it takes

very little time after having tranquility of the mind.' But I think,

this point is just going to lead to a mindless argumentation over an

issue, which hardly matters.

>

> In short, the sabda pramana i.e. sruti vakyas are indicative, or

upadesha vakyas, and therefore, they can give only indirect knowledge

of That.

 

 

Whether they give direct knowledge to the well prepared or not, I

really don't care. But they are giving me only indicative indirect

knowledge, that can only be speculated upon, till now. So I must

develop that preparedness for the Shruthi.

 

I would rather suggest, that you also simply forget about all this

and just try to develop the 'preparedness for Shruthi' atleast.

 

But I'd rather ask someone to do away with all sorrow and pain and

hope he acheives Nirvana. May the light of Brahman dawn upon us

someday.

 

Satyameva Jayate Naanrtam

[Guest guest]

Hi Maniji,

 

I heard your metaphor from Francis Lucille a number of years ago (except his

fruit was a mango). Yes, agree entirely, though he was using it specifically

to indicate why a guru is necessary. You can read about it and understand

the truth intellectually but not until you taste it for yourself through the

grace of a guru do you truly appreciate it. And this only needs to happen

once - thereafter you can genuinely recall the taste and it is as if the

guru is once again present.

 

Best wishes,

 

Dennis