Unsubscribing from the group

September 6, 2006

Dear Advaitins,

For couple of reasons I have decided to from the group

for the time being. Currently I am going through some other

literature which is outside the interest of the group.

To be honestly speaking I am not satisfied with the theoretical

understanding of the advaita Vedanta. It seems to me like any other

postulation unless I experience it. It is of very great help during

the initial stages. But I feel until and unless we realize, the

knowledge will be only second hand and it can be equated to faith or

belief in the words of mahatmas like Sri Shankaracharya, Sri

Ramakrishna, and Sri Ramana. So I have decided to put more stress on

the sadhana and contemplation part.

I strongly believe that we have to unlearn what we have learnt fully

as the popular 'cup of tea' story in Zen Buddhism asks us to do.

Then with the help of the personal effort and Grace of the Ishwara

we have to proceed in sadhana and once we realize it, see it face to

face. Then only it will be true wisdom.

Just I want to recall an incident. A Christian lady asked an elderly

monk- I am a Christian. I do not believe in your karma theory. What

will happen to me?

The monk said smilingly. If there is anything called law of karma

you will come under it and cannot escape. I believe it surely is. If

you don't believe, WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!

I think this is what all of us has to do in spite of our

dialectics , philosophy etc. :-))

May Bhagavan Shankara the lord of renunciation give us true wisdom

is my earnest prayer to him.

JAI JAI RAGHUVEER SAMARTHA

Yours in the lord,

Br. Vinayaka

September 6, 2006

praNAms

Hare Krishna

It is really regret to note that somany knowledgeable members (Sri Vinayaka

prabhuji, Sri Sankararaman prabhuji )are leaving the list saying they are

not part with the discussion or they are not completely satisfied with mere

textual knowledge of advaita of some members....I am the one, would like

to take the moral responsibility & confirm that, sofar I have not

experienced any type of *advaita jnAna* in any state and my knowledge is

mere bookish or whatever I understand from my guruji during bhAshya

shanti....If my comments & fussy nature hurts anyone & causing them the

untimely departure from the list, I openly offer my humble apologies &

request the members who are leaving the list ONLY for this reason to stay

back. And also I assure them, in future, I'd refrain my self from entering

any sort of debate on any topic.

Hari Hari Hari Bol!!!

bhaskar

September 6, 2006

Namaste Bhaskar Prabhuji:

Harih Harih Bol:

Let me join you to express my regret for the leaving of many

knowledgeable members such as Sri Chitta, Sri Sankararaman, Sri

Vinayaka, Srimathi Dhyana Saraswati, Srimathi Lakshmi, etc. As a

moderator of this list, I have witnessed the departure of many

scholars and also new enrollment of equal number of scholars. This

is part of our life journey and it is like taking a long train

journey in India from Delhi to Kanyakumari. During such long journey

we come across many interesting co-passengers who enter and exit at

different junctions where the train stops. We don't stop anybody

entering or exiting and we have no problem in accepting departures

during train journey. But somehow we don't want to accept similar

events in other parts of our life.

Tennyson, in the famous poem, `"The Brook," explains the coming and

going of men beautifully.

I chatter, chatter, as I flow

To join the brimming river,

For men may come and men may go,

But I go on forever.

- Lord Alfred Tennyson, The Brook

The sages of the Upanishads have made another beautiful statement –

"Life is a bridge, enjoy while crossing and don't build any castle

on it." I truly believe that this list is like that stream where

members/moderators come and go but this list hopefully will go for

ever! If we take a broader perspective, then it should be also true

that `lists may come and lists may go" but the Brahman stays for

ever.

Honestly speaking, I am of the opinion that your comments have

anything to do with the departure of any member. But our human mind

has the capacity to imagine that we are responsible for certain

events such as departure of some members during an interesting

conversation. Sometime I do entertain the thought that I might be

responsible for the departure of some members due to my some harsh

moderating decisions. It is also possible that might very well be the

reason for the departure of certain members. Swami Chinmayanandaji

in one of the question and answer sessions during a spiritual camp

provide a simple solution to face unpleasant events. Just say,

Narayana and do your duty sincerely with dedication without worrying

about how others react to your actions..

We can all learn from the Nike commercial, "JUST DO IT!" It is

philosophical and it contains a very high concentration of the

essence of Karma Yoga!!

Warmest regards,

Ram Chandran

advaitin, bhaskar.yr wrote:

>

> praNAms

> Hare Krishna

>

> It is really regret to note that somany knowledgeable members (Sri

Vinayaka

> prabhuji, Sri Sankararaman prabhuji )are leaving the list saying

they are

> not part with the discussion or they are not completely satisfied

with mere

> textual knowledge of advaita of some members....I am the one,

would like

> to take the moral responsibility & confirm that, sofar I have not

> experienced any type of *advaita jnAna* in any state and my

knowledge is

> mere bookish or whatever I understand from my guruji during bhAshya

> shanti....If my comments & fussy nature hurts anyone & causing them

the

> untimely departure from the list, I openly offer my humble

apologies &

> request the members who are leaving the list ONLY for this reason

to stay

> back. And also I assure them, in future, I'd refrain my self from

entering

> any sort of debate on any topic.

>

> Hari Hari Hari Bol!!!

> bhaskar

September 6, 2006

Namaste:

Let me request Bhaskar Prabhuji to forgive my typo in the statement

below: I meant to write, "Honestly speaking, I am of the opinion that

your comments have NOTHING to do with the departure of any member."

regards,

Ram Chandran

advaitin, "Ram Chandran" <ramvchandran

wrote:

>

> Honestly speaking, I am of the opinion that your comments have

> anything to do with the departure of any member.

September 6, 2006

Ram - just a correction. Smt. Lakshmiji has not left. She has gone out of station where accessability to internet is limited and has wittten to me that she intends to be back in October and plan to present her series.

The rest of the people I presume, found other pressing needs that help in their sadhana.

Let us march on. The flow of knoweldge is eternal like mother Ganga flowing from heavens to all the way down. Let the list continue with flow of knowledge serving those who are thirsty. As Swami Chinmayanandaji said once when some one expressed concern about the fate of mission after he leaves this earth; "Missions come and missions go, but the knowledge is eternal and the good Lord will find a way to continue, if there are enough souls longing for that knowledge".

Hari Om!

Sadananda

Ram Chandran <ramvchandran >

advaitin] Re: Unsubscribing from the group

Let me join you to express my regret for the leaving of many

knowledgeable members such as Sri Chitta, Sri Sankararaman, Sri

Vinayaka, Srimathi Dhyana Saraswati, Srimathi Lakshmi, etc.

September 6, 2006

what Vinayakji wrote:

"honestly speaking I am not satisfied with the theoretical

understanding of the advaita Vedanta.

I strongly believe that we have to unlearn what we have learnt fully

as the popular 'cup of tea' story in Zen Buddhism asks us to do.

Then with the help of the personal effort and Grace of the Ishwara

we have to proceed in sadhana and once we realize it, see it face to

face. Then only it will be true wisdom."

--------------------

what Shankarramanji had to say....

"I find it difficult to understand the concepts of nirvikalpa samadhi and other subtle things. I am opting out of the group as I find myself inadequate in participating in all these discussions; nor am I able to find any relevance of these concepts to my life....."

******************************************

It is very easy for us, observers to comment upon what is happening to the psyche of these friends in here and similarly many who have not expressed what is going on in their mind.

I should also say that at this point I am not surprised to see this sort of communications because, this confirms very well that "I" am still merely "i" am and " i " have yet to learn a lot more, understand a lot more, and some day in this birth ( which is a remote possibility) or in someother birth with the Grace of the Guru " i " will know who or what " I " am and then there will be nor more " I ".

Interestingly, in the process of the discussions going on in here, should "i" get provoked by others around me if they dont agree with me? Should " i " feel bad that they are " intolerant" ?

This calls for a further look at " i " since my understanding of ' i ' is in kindergartenlevel and if " i " am not able to comprehend or do not agree with what others express, i am having a FREE WILL to ignore . Is there anyone from this site holding on to the neck of others that one must agree to what is stated in here?

This is a typical phenomena with we Indians, and I do not know if this is part of our culture. That is we do not know how to agree to disagree. When we disagree, we still can disagree and continue to be friends, continue to be neighbours, continue to be only known faces ( like some faces u see on the suburban trains when u go for work, but no communication with) etc. What is the benefit or advantage by telling others that, " pl do not send me mails" or i want to unsubscibe etc..

Afterall, when i am in no mood to read a mail, i just ignore. when i dont like to see someone, i just keep myself busy with something else. Do I need to tell them that I dont like to read what u write? do i need to tell that i dont like to see your face?

And if and when our perception or understanding changes, then what will say? sorry, that time i thought so and so i behaved like that or i wrote like that or i said like that etc..

Is it necessary for us to go thru all this?

Let us convert our life something different...if one agrees or not, i know that only " i " can hurt me and no one else, " i " will not allow me to get hurt by anyone, any thing ( and that anything or anyone is " i " only )

Yes, we all have been reading in here about " mithya", avidya, and so many many words. there was a posting " shabdajalam" if i remember correct.

Some one told me a story the other day...one sadhu came out of a train in one place ... He came out of the station and saw one cycle riksha fellow sitting smoking a beedi. The sadhu told the cycle riksha driver

" there is a temple on the ourskirt of this town...i dont know the exact place, but i think i know the direction. may be 2 or 3 km. The driver told him his rate for 3 km and the sadhu agreed and they left the station. after travelling 3km in the direction suggested by sadhu, they reached a place , but there was no temple around. The sadhu then said that may be they went on the wrong direction and so now they will go the other direction. The driver called all names, but in heart of heart, he was happy because he was getting more money, which sadhu readily agreed to give. when they reached the other end, the situation was same...no temple there also. The driver got so angry that he didnt care for sadhu and went on shouting at him. Sadhu offered him more money to go to the third direction and then fourth direction...all thru the sadhu sad listening to all the shouting and bad words the driver was screaming..

finally the sadhu told the driver, may be he has made a mistake and so he can leave him back in the station. The driver brought him back to station and the sadhu gave him the agreed charges and some more money.

surprised, the driver asked him, i have never seen a fellow like you. you have been listening to all the shouting and screaming and still you give me more money. what is this?

the sadhu told him..." i have been testing my own ability to withstand all shouting and screaming and only way to test it is to go thru actual situation. you have helped me in this and i know several times i was to give you back , but some how i could manage. this has proved to me that i need to go thru my study and practice more as i am not yet fully successful. and thanks for cooperating with me in the test."

i think every instance in our life is a test for " i" and very often i forget that .

We all have our FREE WILL and we are all free to use it the way we wish to. And we need not be scared to use it the way we think right, simple becasue by using the free will, i have told the computer that i have locked the option (as in kaun banega karod pati) and i am ready for the result ...what ever it be..

only thing, i also need to know and have the courage to accept it as the 'PRASADA'

I dont know if and when such a situation arises will i be able to think and accept it as "PRASADA" . Do i have the courage??

but then that is what I pray for, that is what i try to learn and understand

And every one in here, who write so many things, in so differing ways, agreeing and disagreeing, laughing at and getting emotional, ignoring and taking things seriously, what ever ways...

it is all lessons to me

to help me distinguish the right from not so right, Dharma from not so Dharma, clarity from fogginess,

and what better prayer one can think of than

DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT

namaskaram to all

Here's a new way to find what you're looking for - Answers

Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Messenger Version 8. Get it NOW

September 7, 2006

Any quest towards realization is a start in the right direction and it is only logical that this quest would be academic in nature to begin with. I have no clue of the happenings on this forum that has led to the correspondence but I tend to agree with Bhaskarji's views.

"sofar I have not experienced any type of *advaita jnAna* in any state and my knowledge is mere bookish or whatever I understand from my guruji during bhAshya

shanti...."

Bhaskarji, the fact that you say this without a trace of inhibition means a lot to me. Let me confess that there are times when I feel that this forum knowingly ir unknowingly advertises personal debates and the underlying egos, nevertheless, I have found it to be a great source of inspiration as I begin my day every morning.

I urge all members including Sri Vinayaka prabhuji and Sri Sankararaman prabhuji to be part of this forum and let's all try and evolve together. The crux lies in the word "try", I believe.

Warm regards

Sudhir

bhaskar.yr (AT) in (DOT) abb.com wrote: