Consider The Prevailing Conditions

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Jaya Guru Datta,

 

Here is today's saying:

 

"Coming to scriptural quotations, such references are certainly found in the

scriptures. But we also come across quotations such as ‘Jnaanaagnih sarva

karmaani bhasma saat kurute ththaa’(the fire of knowledge will burn the karmas

to ashes). and ‘Jnaanaagni dagdha karmaanah…..’ (When the karmas get burnt by

Jnaana, one becomes liberated). When there are such contradicting quotations,

one should not simply say ‘one of them should be wrong’. Instead, one should try

to substantiate them. Also, one must try to figure out which one is to be

considered strong in the particular context. At the same time, one should find

out the context in which the contradictory quotation was said. By this, it will

be possible to differentiate the ‘strong quotation’ from the ‘weak quotation’.

 

A boy is fond of spicy articles. His mother prevents him from eating such

articles and says, ‘spice is like poison; eat as much sweet as you wish; it is

like a panacea.’ When the boy became a middle aged person, he became a diabetic.

His physician told him ‘sweet is like poison to you; you may however use spices

to enhance the taste of your food’. Now, if the person becomes confused because

his mother and his physician have said completely contradictory things and seeks

clarification, don’t we say, ‘both are right; you are a diabetic now; therefore,

the doctor’s words are overriding’?

 

How were we able to say so? We analysed as to when his mother had told him and

in what circumstances is the physician telling him. Both are valid statements.

But, under the prevailing circumstances, the doctor’s advice has to be treated

as ‘strong’.

 

Similarly, in the context of the fate of our actions, it has been said that all

the fruits karmas have to be suffered. In such contexts, they are certainly

valid."

 

Sri Swamiji

Lessons in Vedanta - 33 part XII

Bhakti Mala, August 1998

 

Sri Guru Datta,

Swamiji Says

 

 

 

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