Guest guest Posted September 6, 1997 Report Share Posted September 6, 1997 I must admit that your question was very confusing. But I shall briefly explain the similarities and differences of text 9 and text 12. In text 9, the persons who enter into darkness are those who cultivate nescient activities. Worse than them are those who engage in so-called knowledge which is mistaken and misguided, as it is in modern day society. In text 12, the persons who enter into darkness are those who worship the demigods or other beings who are subordinate to the demigods. Worse than them are they who engage in worship of the impersonal absolute. Although the difference in the two verses is only two words, these words are the indicator of who the verse is about. Therefore the verses stand as separate and as independent of each other. There is no need to compare them or interchange the elements of them for some reason. It is clear that the main emphasis in text 9 is on vidya and avidya, and the emphasis in text 12 is on those who are subordinate to the Supreme and the Supreme Himself. In fact, there is a relation between being in ignorance and engaging in worship of those who are underneath the Lord for that is also another kind of ignorance. Although demigod worship is approved in the vedas, it is approved only when the worshipers know that these demigods are completely dependent on the Lord for their benedictions to be effective. And it is certainly a misguided understanding which causes people to think that worship of the impersonal is the real goal of life. So although the verses stand separately, there is a relation between them. I hope I have answered the question sufficiently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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