What is Neo-Advaita?

[Guest guest]

Hi Dennis,

 

YOU WROTE:

This idea is a misunderstanding. No, there never has been anything new created.

There is just the continual, ever-changing, ever-new, yet always the same.

Simply different names and forms of the non-dual reality. Bangles changing into

bracelets but always still gold. To this extent, the neo-Advaitins have always

been right - This is it! Already.

 

VENKAT

 

You have classified books by a few western authors as 'Modern Advaita' on your

website. I particularly have Leo Hartong in mind. I am presently reading his

'Awakening to the Dream'. I recently also read Joan Tollifson's 'Awake in the

Heartland'. Both books are excellent and present the advaitic view point with

tremedous clarity though not professing to be talking about advaita. Would you

call these authors as neo-advaitins? If so and since you say above 'to this

extent neo-advaitins have always been right', where exactly is it that these

neo-advaitins go wrong?

 

Many thanks and regards,

 

Venkat.

 

 

Dennis Waite <dwaite wrote:

Hi Maniji,

 

ajAtivAda - the theory that nothing has ever been born; that there literally

has not been any creation - does not mean that, upon realization, everything

disappears.

 

 

Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PCcalling worldwide with voicemail

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Venkat,

 

<<I particularly have Leo Hartong in mind. I am presently reading his

'Awakening to the Dream'. I recently also read Joan Tollifson's 'Awake in

the Heartland'. Both books are excellent and present the advaitic view point

with tremedous clarity though not professing to be talking about advaita.

Would you call these authors as neo-advaitins? If so and since you say above

'to this extent neo-advaitins have always been right', where exactly is it

that these neo-advaitins go wrong?>>

 

Leo would have to be classified as Neo-Advaita, I guess, though the

quintessential Neo- advocates are Tony Parsons, Nathan Gill and Roger

Linden. All of these have some good things to say and Leo's book in

particular is indeed excellent. Effectively, they attempt to 'describe'

paramArtha and mostly refuse outright to acknowledge the apparent

'existence' of vyavahAra. They do not recognize the person or ignorance so

therefore there is no seeker, teacher, path (progressive or otherwise) etc.

In all of this, they are not actually saying anything new, since Shankara,

Ramana et al have all said it before. The incongruity comes from the fact

they are writing about it and holding satsangs, both obviously very much in

the realm of vyavahAra! So they can never be true to their message since, as

soon as they open their mouths, they give lie to it.

 

I think it is not long ago that the group discussed neo-Advaita so you may

find answers to any other queries you might have in the archives.

 

Best wishes,

 

Dennis