Questions about mergence

[Guest guest]

Hari Om!

 

I read Viveka-cudAmaNi by ZaGkarAcArya, and I found that the description

of mukti by ZaGkara seems to fit very broadly with(in) the concept of

jIvanmukti. I have some questions:

 

- Is it possible for any knowledgeable devotee here to provide authentic

references from ZaGkara's works that describe the "mergence" of jIva and

Brahman *after the jIva has left the physical body* and attains full mukti?

 

- What is the proper orthodox Advaitin understanding of this "bodiless"

mukti where the jIva is completely merged in Brahman?

 

- Is there any vestige of individuality left, or is it total and

complete mergence?

 

References from Zagkara's works would be appreciated in presenting the

answers to these points, thank you.

 

Regards,

 

D. Jay

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "Sunder Hattangadi" <sunderh>

wrote:

> Namaste,

>

> Brahma Sutra Bhashya, Adhyaya (Chapter) 4, deals with this

> topic in considerable detail, and has references to the Upanishads.

>

> http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/bs_4/bs_4.html

>

 

Hari Om!

 

I see from this translation that "avibhAgena dRSTatvAt" is supposedly

interpreted to mean that the released soul attains a state of

non-separation from Brahman, yet the successive verses speak of the

released soul and a discussion about the limitations of their attained

powers. How do we understand ZaGkara's teaching in terms of mergence,

what exactly does mergence mean here? The commentary to the successive

verses give the impression that the mukta retains individuality and

has all powers of Brahman except the power of creation. Is this so?

 

In Thibaut's translation

(http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbe34/sbe34006.htm): "Of the released

soul it is said in Kh. Up. VIII, 12, 3 that after it has manifested

itself in its true nature it moves about playing and rejoicing with

women, carriages, and so on." This reference is not given in

Krishnananda's translation.

 

What I would like to ask or get confirmed here is that, according to

the Advaita-vAda of ZaGkara, does the mukta retain individuality upon

reaching ("merging") in Brahman? Is this the teaching of ZaGkara?

Individuality is not extinguished as such?

 

Kind regards,

 

D. Jay

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "killuminati108" <killuminati@o...>

wrote:

> In Thibaut's translation

> (http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbe34/sbe34006.htm): "Of the released

> soul it is said in Kh. Up. VIII, 12, 3 that after it has manifested

> itself in its true nature it moves about playing and rejoicing with

> women, carriages, and so on." This reference is not given in

> Krishnananda's translation.

>

> What I would like to ask or get confirmed here is that, according to

> the Advaita-vAda of ZaGkara, does the mukta retain individuality upon

> reaching ("merging") in Brahman? Is this the teaching of ZaGkara?

> Individuality is not extinguished as such?

 

Namaste,

 

Thibeaut's translation & reference is to Ramanuja's viewpoint,

not Shankara's; that is why Krishnananda does not give it!

 

For Shankara's commentary on the same reference, please see:

 

http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/chhand/ch_4f.html and

 

http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/chhand/ch_4g.html

 

For Shankara, the word 'mergence' would be a misnomer, because

the duality/plurality is due to ignorance (darkness) to be removed by

knowledge (light) - one cannot say 'darkness merges into light'!

(Also, Gita 10:11).

 

There is no individuality left, because being identified with

the Consciousness, the identification with the body (gross, subtle,

and causal) is lost for ever. That state cannot be conveyed in words,

no matter how many similes and metaphors are tried to explain it.

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder