An idea Whose Time has come - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin !

[Guest guest]

Thank you Michael-ji for introducing to this audience Pierre

Teilhard de Chardin ( May 1, 1881 – April 10, 1955), a French

Jesuit priest trained as a paleontologist and a philosopher! I am

not here to discuss his views here ( it is available on the net

for those who are interested) but i would like to repeat a famous

phrase that is attributed to French Philosopher !

 

" An idea whose time has come "

 

 

In this context , i would like to narrate a conversation between Adi

shankara bhagvadapada and one of his disciples !

 

When one of Adi Shankara's disciples questioned him:

 

"mumukSunNA kiM tvaritaM vidheyam?"

 

"What should the seeker who is desirous to attain Salvation do

immediately?

 

Acarya's reply:"satsangatir nirmamateza bhaktiH"

 

Adi Shankaracarya replied "that the bonds of material attachment

should be broken, and the mind attached to God and the

aspirants should seek the Association of Saints."

 

 

The desciple again asked:"kiM karma kRtvA na zocanIyaM?"

 

"What is that work which a wise man performs and does

not repent?"

 

Adi Shankaracarya immediately said:"kAmAri-kaMsAri amarcanAkhyam"

 

"One who is devoted to God (Lord Krishna) is carefree.

 

In fact Acharya Shankara, the greatest advOcate of Advaita doctrine,

advised his Own Mother Aryambaal to practice devotion to Lord

Krishna and Blessed her with the Vision of the Lord DURING HER LAST

DAYS !

 

Not only that, listen to his next proclamation

 

-"kAmyopAsana yArthayanty anudinaM kincit phalaM svepsitam,kecit

svargam athApavargam apare yogAdi yajnAdibhiH,asmAkaM

yadunandanAMghri yugala dhyAnAvadhAnArthinAm,kiM lokena damena kiM

nRpatinA svargApavargaizca kiM?"

 

"Those who waste their time for the attainment of celestial joys or

Liberation (mukti- apavarga) are Fools! I DO not want any of that ! O

I only desire to remain engrossed in the Sweet Remembrance of the

Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna. What is the need for heaven or

Mukti to Prema Bhaktas of Lord?"

 

Thus Sri Shankara appears to consider all objects, including final

Liberation as insignificant in comparison to constant Loving

Meditation of the Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna!

 

One needs to read 'Prabodha Sudhakara' to understand the Acharya's

Divine Love for the lotus feet of the Lord Krishna!It is best

treatise on Jnana and Bhakti composed by Adi Shankara bhagvadapada !

we do not have English translation of this stotra -S.N. Shastri-ji

has translated some verses on his wb site . May be our member P.R.

Ramachandran can attemt at a full translation of these verses!

 

On the eve of Thanksgiving Holiday , may i be please allowed to

share the Nasadiya suktham ( the hymn of Creation ) from Rig Veda ?

 

Rigveda 10.129

Nsadiya Suktham

 

 

 

There was neither non-existence nor existence then; there was

neither the realm of space nor the sky which is beyond. What

stirred? Where? In whose protection? Was there water, bottomlessly

deep?

 

There was neither death nor immortality then. There was no

distinguishing sign of night nor of day. That one breathed,

windless, by its own impulse. Other than that there was nothing

beyond.

 

Darkness was hidden by darkness in the beginning; with no

distinguishing sign, all this was water. The life force that was

covered with emptiness, that one arose through the power of heat.

 

Desire came upon that one in the beginning; that was the first seed

of mind. Poets seeking in their heart with wisdom found the bond

of existence in non-existence.

 

Their cord was extended across. Was there below? Was there above?

There were seed-placers; there were powers. There was impulse

beneath; there was giving-forth above.

 

Who really knows? Who will here proclaim it? Whence was it produced?

Whence is this creation? The gods came afterwards, with the creation

of this universe. Who then knows whence it has arisen?

 

Whence this creation has arisen perhaps it formed itself, or perhaps

it did not the one who looks down on it, in the highest heaven, only

he knows or perhaps he does not know.

 

Also this verse from

Svetasvatara Upanishad

 

" It is the self-same One who exists alone at the time of creation

and dissolution of the universe, that assumes manifold powers and

appears as the Divine Lord by virtue of His inscrutable power of

Maya. He it is that protects all the worlds and controls all the

various forces working therein. Those who realize this Being becomes

immortal."

 

An idea whose time has come ! Tntric Advaita !

 

Sarvam Vishnu Mayam !