Process of visual perception

[Guest guest]

--- " S.N. Sastri " <sn.sastri wrote:

 

> Can you kindly explain the process of cognizing the

> external object as

> explained by the seers of advaita? I have a limited

> exposure of texts

> of advaita. In mAndukya kArika gaudapAdAcharya says

> that the perception

> of name and form is due to " chitta spandana " and

> ultimately he equates

> pure mind/chitta to Atman. But there seems to be no

> elaboration on the

> process of cognition in that work neither by

> gaudapAda nor by shankara.

> I have heard that in vedAnta paribhAsha and

> panchadashi this has been

> enumerated. If you can post it in a simplified form

> it will be very

> much helpful for the beginners here.

>

> It's a pleasure to have a learned person like you in

> this list!

>

> Yours in Sri Ramakrishna,

>

> Br. Vinayaka.

>

 

 

Sri Vinayakaji, you may already be aware but in case

not and for others as well: There is an excellent

book:

 

Methods of Knowledge according to Advaita Vedanta

 

by Swami Satprakashananda

 

Published Advaita Ashrama (RKM matha)

 

thollmelukaalkizhu

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

--- Putran Maheshwar <putranm wrote:

 

>

> --- " S.N. Sastri " <sn.sastri wrote:

>

> > Can you kindly explain the process of cognizing

> the

> > external object as

> > explained by the seers of advaita? > >

> > Br. Vinayaka.

> Methods of Knowledge according to Advaita Vedanta

>

> by Swami Satprakashananda

>

> Published Advaita Ashrama (RKM matha)

>

> thollmelukaalkizhu

 

 

If I may say so, the perception as the means of

knowledge in relation to advaita Vedanta is discussed

elaborately in 'Vedanta Paribhaasha' by Dharmaraja

Adhvarindra - see Shree S.N Sastri's notes on it -

http://www.celextel.org/summaryofvedantabooks/summaryofvedantaparibhasha.html

 

There are several commentaries on it since this is a

classic book. Shree Madhavananda of Ramakrishna

mission has published the book with his commentary.

 

I like the book - 'Perceiving in Advaita Vedanta' By

Prof. Bina Gupta. This is based on Antana Krishna

sastry's commentary on Vedanta ParibhaaSha as

'Paribhaasha prakaashika'. You may be able to down

load Prof. Bina Gupta's book.

 

Now from my understanding:

 

Perception occurs when the senses gather the

attributes of an object - color and form by eyes,

sounds by ears etc. The sense input is integrated by

the mind by forming an image of the object 'out there'

with all the attributes that the senses gathered. So

'object out there' is an 'image' of the object in the

mind which is nothing but thought of the object - up

to this is volition and cognition of the object. Then

the object cognized is compared with stored images of

similar objects in the memory- with the names and

forms. By comparing with stored info the re-cognition

takes place. Consciousness illumines the mind and the

thought of the object in the mind - called 'idam

vRitti'-There is also anther thought that arises

simultaneously with the cognition of the object - as I

am the knower of this object - this is called 'aham

vRitti' - This is ego thought that owns the idam

thought. I know - this. Both are in the mind - the

subject thought and the object thought. Although

object seems to be 'out there' the subject-object

thoughts are in the mind with consciousness forming

substantive for both thoughts. Since both

subject-object are immediately present the perception

is immediate. Recognition may take some time since it

involves the memory. If there is no mind - no thoughts

and no perception, as in deep sleep state.

 

Now where is the world? - World is nothing but objects

which reduce to thoughts in the mind, and thoughts are

nothing but perturbations in the mind that is in the

consciousness. Consciousness pervades every thought

for me to be conscious of the thoughts. Thus thoughts

rise in the ocean of consciousness, sustained by it

and go back into it. And I am that consciousness.

 

Existence of the world out there is related to the

knowledge of its existence and knowledge takes place

in the mind with both subject-object thoughts - both

pervaded by consciousness that I am. 'I am' - become

the source of the world - as discussed in the MAnDUkya

and kaarika.

 

Hari Om!

Sadananda

[Guest guest]

advaitin , kuntimaddi sadananda

<kuntimaddisada wrote:

 

>

> Now where is the world? - World is nothing but objects

> which reduce to thoughts in the mind, and thoughts are

> nothing but perturbations in the mind that is in the

> consciousness. Consciousness pervades every thought

> for me to be conscious of the thoughts. Thus thoughts

> rise in the ocean of consciousness, sustained by it

> and go back into it. And I am that consciousness.

>

> Existence of the world out there is related to the

> knowledge of its existence and knowledge takes place

> in the mind with both subject-object thoughts - both

> pervaded by consciousness that I am. 'I am' - become

> the source of the world - as discussed in the MAnDUkya

> and kaarika.

>

> Hari Om!

> Sadananda

 

Dear Sada-ji,

 

One of the members in some orkut community who seems to be well

grounded in the field of science posted the link with the

caption " scientists have discovered " inorganic LIVING dust " . the

inorganic (non carbon) elements showing living-properties.

Distinction between living(chit) and non-living(jada) are blurred

(it is in tune with advaith rather than vishistadvaith). " :-))

 

http://www.indianpad.com/view/87677

 

Though I cannot appreciate the article fully, due to my non-

scientific background, its very interesting to read!

 

Yours in Sri Ramakrishna,

 

Br. Vinayaka.

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends:

 

It is an unusual coincidence (!!!???) that this question of the

process of visual perception is asked while in the last week I was

immersed in this particular study! (Are we all connected??)

There is a wonderful talk by Swami Tadatmananda (part of the series of

the study of the Bhagavad Gita) where he addresses very skillfully

this very topic of perception and its relation to

Mind-Consciousness-ATMA. Here is the link (the lectures are

downloadable), also you want to fast-forward to about 40 minutes

within the talk where he starts addressing this topic. He is speaking

to an audience of non-scholars, so his explanation is very simple, but

it supremely revelatory and always from the Vedanta's point of view:

 

http://www.arshabodha.org/ab/wcms/en/home/teachings/bhagavadgita/index.html

 

The lecture that addresses this topic (which you may download it by

right click) is:

 

2006-04-01 Gita Chapter-02 Verse-16

 

 

All the best for we All,

Mouna

[Guest guest]

H.N.Sreenivasa Murthy

Pranams to all.

 

Respected Members,

 

Chapter XVII , titled " THE PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION " , of the

book " Vedanta or the Science Of Reality' " written by

Sri K.A. Krishnaswamy Iyyer and Published by Adhyatma Prakasha

Karyalaya, deals with the subject of perception in a very lucid way.

 

The book deals with Tri-Basic- View of Life or Avasthatraya and

the whole subject matter has been presented in a very systematic and

rational way. I will not be exaggerating if I say that the book is

only one of its kind in English language presenting Vedantic

methodology of Avasthatraya in such a wonderful way.It is

EkamEvAdvitIyam. People without the knowledge of Sanskrit language

and who are eager to know the heart of Sri Gaudapada and Sri Shankara

will be vastly benifitted by a study of that book .The undersigned has

derived immense intellectual satisfaction and spiritual fulfilment by

the study of that great book under the guidance of my revered Guru.

 

With warm and respectful regards,

Sreenivasa Murthy.