Guest guest Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Thanks to everybody for their feedback ) On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 23:28:33 -0700, Amitha Krishnamurthi <amitha wrote: > On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 16:43:57 -0000, Tony OClery <aoclery wrote: > > > > > > > > advaitin, Amitha Krishnamurthi <amitha@g...> > > wrote: > > > > > > In response... > > > > > > "Instead of mentally worshipping your > > > Ishtadevata/Guru, replace the image with an image of yourself. You > > > will find the same results, for you are imaging your own higher > > self > > > which has no image really." > > > > > > and subsequently > > > > > > "Only the Ego is holding the body > > > and mind constructs together. Once the Ego is gone and the body > > > drops with the exhaustion of prarabda karma--------there is no > > > common thread. No imprint not anything just the Self." > > > > > > Since the whole idea of spiritual evolution becomes ridding the > > Self > > > of Ego....how is it going to help me if I meditate upon myself > > > mentally??? I for one, find the thought unpalatable...& definitely > > > feel that it feeds the Ego rather than trying to get rid of it... > > ." > > > > > > It is obviously difficult to meditate on a Nirguna Brahman..which > > is > > > where forms come into play...they help in our quest for spiritual > > > evolution..Picking up a form does not indicate fear...it indicates > > > your readiness to move upwards in the process of "realization". > > > > > > What I was trying to say in my earlier mail is that the Nirguna > > > Brahman acts through the form that appeals to the Individual...the > > > form might be that of a Guru, a God, an Avatar...even a pious > > ancestor > > > in your family.. If Maharishi realized that he was/is the SELF...he > > > still exists..since the SELF doesn't perish..he can still manifest > > > himself in any "Form" he chooses to...to his Bhaktas he will > > appear as > > > he was...that does not mean he exists in the astral level...nor > > does > > > that mean he didn't realize Godhood. > > > > > > "We have to realise that we are Praneaswara or the Sakti, and at > > that > > > point we realise Nirguna/Moksha" > > > > > > The texts can help us only to a certain point...after which the > > > experience is what will lead us....the texts tell us that we are > > the > > > Self...but IMHO, any amount of outward analysis is not going to > > help > > > much in crossing that bridge between knowlede from the texts..and > > > realization for oneself...introspection is the need of the hour. > > > > > > In this context..it does become true that without Bhakti..the whole > > > thing is an exercise akin to mental gymnastics. > > > > > > Regards > > > Amitha > > > > Namaste A,IMHO, > > > > A couple of points here; I used 'the image of oneself' as an > > example. The Higher Self has no form and it is we who give it a > > form, any form. Nir-guna cannot act at all through anything, that is > > a contradiction in terms. > > > > 'Ramana' cannot manifest himself in any form to the devotee as he > > that body/mind doesn't exist. It has gone back to the elements. It > > is the devotee's subconscious that does the manifesting. Sure Ramana > > was the Self but the body was just carrying out its predetermined > > prarabda karma unitil it dropped. During this time it went through > > the appearance of Bhakti, actions etc. > > > > Bhakti is much misunderstood. To many it is the devotion and the > > emotion they call Bhakti, but it is more than that. Being devoted to > > the path of Jnana without any forms at all is still devotion. For it > > is the search for the Self, which is the aim of all yogas. Most > > Yogas are about concentration and one pointedness, suitable to the > > sahdhaka. > > > > All actions are predetermined by prarabda karma, there is no 'God' > > organising our lives, the energy is provided that's all. We have > > only the choice in attitude that is all, not in the result. > > > > To a follower of Bhakti Marga this may sound dry and unspiritual, > > but to an Advaitin on the Jnana Marga, it is the essence of Sadhana-- > > --lifting the veil. > > > > Religion for example is possibly a crutch, but to a one-legged man a > > crutch is most useful. > > > > I suppose when we realise we are just part of a dream, it > > ends.......ONS...Tony. > > > > > > In which case I suppose all the great pillars of the advaitin > doctrine..all those who paved the way for others to follow... were > one-legged.. so to speak. > although I always thought there was a message for us in that these > great souls had a judicious mix of bhakti in their quest for > realization. > > besides..I seek to explain again that I didn't mean that Ramana would > manifest himself..I said the Nirguna Brahman adopts the "form" of > Ramana to those who find it appealing..just like other "forms" such as > Shiva, Vishnu etc.. > this would..going by the doctrine of advaita...indicate an evolvement > spiritually...and would possibly eventually lead to realizing that one > should move from "form" to "formless" before realizing that, that too > is an illusion. > > regards > Amitha > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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