Dr. Greg Goode-ji !

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the welcome, Adi-ji,

 

About the NonDual Philosophy group - I actually gave it away. I found

that there was less philosophy and more personal attacks, and a lot of

VND-ism* (see footnote) The members didn't feel the same commitment to

gracious cyber-conduct as on this wonderful list. The task of

moderating was consuming hours each day - so I gave the list up for

adoption!

 

The statement that the great world teachers "cautioned against turning

philosophy into an intellectual parlor game" ties into the same point

about VND-ism. Philosophy can be transformational, and all the great

historical spiritual paths employ philosophical tools. But its

transformational power can work only if the aspirant throws himself

wholly into the inquiry. The emphasis is on the wholeness, where the

investigation is pursued without keeping part of one's self back. This

is another respect in which jnana yoga is like bhakti yoga.

 

Making a parlor game of philosophy is to participate in a competitive,

meretricious display of talk, writing, or discourse. The motive is not

a holistic desire to know the Truth, but rather to impress. And it can

even be done in the belief that one is pursuing something like spiritual

inquiry. When the parlor game eventually fails, or becomes boring, then

the person can get nihilistic. It would be spiritually more effective

not to have encountered the philosophical approach in the first place.

 

With regards,

 

--Greg

 

==========

Footnote:

*VND-ism: verbal nondualism, participating in the verbal formulations of

nondualism, especially in an unbalanced way, towards one's person and

away from others. E.g., someone tells me I wrote something that seemed

angry, as though I was over-reacting, then I'd say "What do you mean I

over-reacted!? There's no one here to over-react! How can

consciousness over-react?!").

 

 

 

 

 

>

> advaitin

> [advaitin] On Behalf Of adi_shakthi16

> Friday, December 09, 2005 11:54 AM

> advaitin

> Dr. Greg Goode-ji ! (suspected SPAM)

>

> First , let me extend a warm welcome to you as the 'Chief moderator'

> of this group !

>

> Gregji , you were leading a group called non-dual philosophy and i

> don't know if you stll are !

>

> the group page says

>

> "The famous world teachers, sages and saints from these and other

> traditions spoke nondual philosophy -- Buddha, Jesus, Nagarjuna,

> Shankara, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, Sri Atmananda and

> many others. They also cautioned against turning philosophy into an

> intellectual parlor game"

>

>

> can you knidlty explain this last sentence ? does this have any

> relevance to the discussion on Bhakti and Jnana ? for Jnana is not

> the knowledge of the scriptures but jnana is the knowledge that i

> and my god are One ?

>

> anyway, how would you or anyone else in this august group interpret

> this verse from Srimad Bhagvat gita :

>

> manmana bhava mad-bhakto / mad-yaji mam namaskuru

> mam evaisyasi satyam te / pratijane priyo 'si me

> (B.G. 18.65)

>

> "Offer your mind to Me; become My bhakta by hearing and chanting,

> etc. about My names, forms, qualities and pastimes; worship Me and

> offer obeisances to Me. In this way you will certainly come to Me. I

> promise you this truthfully because you are very dear to Me."

>

> Thank you sir!

>

> NICE TO SEE YOU BACK IN THE ADVAITA Saddle!

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