Existence of Ishvara is not mAyA; or is it?

[Guest guest]

Namaste all.

 

This title and this post have been prompted by a private

conversation where the proponent, who 'advocates' advaita,

has the following opinion. The opinion proceeds from his

advaitic conclusion that everything is only the supreme Sat

(Existence) and anything that appears to be otherwise is

only mAyA.

 

Proceeding from this base, the proponent concludes that

Ishvara also is mAyA and so all worship, pUjA, divine will,

the concept of surrender, -- all these are non-existent. A

consequence of this is to deny

1. Existence of Ishvara

2. Concept of Divine will

3. Concept of Surrender.

 

According to me, the consequence of even one of these leads

to atheism. Advaita should not lead to an atheistic

attitude. So my answer to the above would go something like

this:

The statement "Ishvara exists only in the mAyic world" is a

statement true from the absolute point of view. It is a

statement which only the Absolute Supreme Brahman can say,

if at all it 'says'. Ourselves being in the mAyic world,

we cannot say that Ishvara is mAyA for us. In our

vyVavahAric state, just as we take care of our body

granting its existence, we have to grant that Ishvara

exists. This is why, I think, our teachers all insist that

advaita-learning should only follow an 'Astikya-buddhi'

(the conviction that Ishvara exists) and should not replace

'Astikya-buddhi'.

 

I would like members of the list to help me polish the

above paragraph of mine or correct me if I have defaulted

in the understanding of advaita.

 

PraNAms to all advaitins.

profvk

 

Prof. V. Krishnamurthy

 

New on my website, particularly for beginners in Hindu philosophy:

Empire of the Mind:

http://www.geocities.com/profvk/HNG/ManversusMind.html

 

Free will and Divine will - a dialogue:

http://www.geocities.com/profvk/HNG/FWDW.html