Karma and Reincarnation - a question to Dennisji !

[Guest guest]

Dennisji writes :

 

(In fact, I was not really concerned at all with the concepts of

karma and reincarnation in this thread. (I do have reservations

about both but it could equally be assumed that I was happy with

both.)

 

Dennisji , let me as you this do you not believe in Karma and

reincarnation just with reference to this thread or in general ?

 

Karma and Reincarnation are twin pillars of Hinduism besides Dharma

and Bhakti! !

 

how can anyone who believes in Hinnduism ignore these two basic

principles ?

 

so , dennisji am i to take it that you are only an advaittin and not

a hindu ? smile :-)

 

how would you explain this sloka from the Srimad bhagvat gita ?

 

Chapter 2, verse 27

 

jatasya hi dhruvo mrtyur dhruvam janma mrtasya ca

 

tasmad apariharye'rthe na tvam socitum arhasi

 

 

For one who has taken birth, death is certain and for one who has

died, birth is certain. Therefore in an inevitable situation

understanding should prevail.

 

so, dennisji , pl provide an 'advaitic' explanation for the above

verse !

 

so dennisji , now i take it you are speaking like sri ramana

maharishi ?

 

 

regards

[Guest guest]

Namaste.

 

Although the question is addressed to Dennisji, let me point out.

 

The advaitic meaning of the verse, to my eyes, is that " Those who

think they are born do die and those that think they are going to die

are reborn. " It is call to reckon one's immortality by shedding

false assumptions.

 

Another interepretation that I have found suggests that we have to

understand the meaning of " being manifest " and " becoming unmanifest "

for the words " taking birth " and " death " .

 

PraNAms.

 

Madathil Nair

______________

 

 

advaitin , " bhagini_niveditaa "

<bhagini_niveditaa wrote:

>> how would you explain this sloka from the Srimad bhagvat gita ?

>

> Chapter 2, verse 27

>

> jatasya hi dhruvo mrtyur dhruvam janma mrtasya ca

>

> tasmad apariharye'rthe na tvam socitum arhasi

>

>

> For one who has taken birth, death is certain and for one who has

> died, birth is certain. Therefore in an inevitable situation

> understanding should prevail.

>

[Guest guest]

advaitin , " bhagini_niveditaa " wrote:

 

> so dennisji , now i take it you are speaking like sri ramana

> maharishi ?

 

Dear Bhagini_niveditaa, Namaste:

 

When you have a moment, either in public or offline, I would like to

know what did you mean by this question.

 

Thanks,

Mouna

[Guest guest]

Dear Adi-ji,

 

 

 

I thought you had read my book! You will find on pages 81 -4 the section 'No

personal karma or free will'. In that, I explain the views of Swami Muni

Narayana Prasad that karma refers to the 'creative urge' in reality which

causes the constant emergence of new forms. Just as gold may be repeatedly

transformed into new ornaments but remains forever gold, the same reality

continues but merely changes its visible form.

 

 

 

I believe someone referenced BG II.22 ( " As a man discards his threadbare

robes and puts on new, so the Spirit throws off Its worn-out bodies and

takes fresh ones. " ) Swami MNP points out that 'Spirit' is in the singular

(dehI) and 'bodies' is in the plural (sharIrANi) and deduces that

reincarnation is not part of the essential teaching of the Gita at all. (The

book, if anyone is interested is " Karma and Reincarnation, D. K. Printworld

(P), 1994. ISBN 81-246-0022-8.)

 

 

 

Incidentally, I would claim to be an advaitin but I have never claimed to be

a Hindu. I don't see any problem with denying reincarnation. It has a

logical place in the teaching but is obviously meaningless from an absolute

standpoint.

 

 

 

Best wishes,

 

Dennis

 

 

 

advaitin [advaitin ] On Behalf

Of bhagini_niveditaa

11 November 2007 18:43

advaitin

Karma and Reincarnation - a question to Dennisji !

 

 

 

Dennisji writes :

 

(In fact, I was not really concerned at all with the concepts of

karma and reincarnation in this thread. (I do have reservations

about both but it could equally be assumed that I was happy with

both.)

 

Dennisji , let me as you this do you not believe in Karma and

reincarnation just with reference to this thread or in general ?

 

Karma and Reincarnation are twin pillars of Hinduism besides Dharma

and Bhakti! !

 

how can anyone who believes in Hinnduism ignore these two basic

principles ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Namaste dear Dennis-ji:

 

You have made a very Bold Statement regarding the usefulness of

reincarnation. Honestly speaking, one can be a Hindu and can deny

reincarnation and religious belief is nothing to do one's acceptance

or denial of reincarnation. There is quite a similarity between

names and forms that the gold takes (bangles, necklaces, etc.) and

the incarnation of the Brahman with names and forms. I do believe

that for an advaitin like you (non-Hindu) and me (Hindu)

reincarnation will be quite useful for our progress. Whether we like

it or not, even within a day, we get reincarnated by taking part

various roles of our daily life. I do recognize my personality

changes from my childhood days to current senior citizen days.

 

If your claim is with respect to Hindu religious perspective

of `reincarnation,' I do not see any problem. But in the broader

context, as advaitins, we do have to accept the meaningfulness of

reincarnation which has philosophical significance.

 

By the way from an Absolute Standpoint, all notions including the

notion of `reincarnation', `Karma,' `Dharma,' `Hindu,' and

even `advaitin' will become meaningless. But until we reach that

absolute level we have treat them as real and meaningful.

 

With my warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

advaitin , " Dennis Waite " <dwaite wrote:

 

> Incidentally, I would claim to be an advaitin but I have never

claimed to be

> a Hindu. I don't see any problem with denying reincarnation. It has

a

> logical place in the teaching but is obviously meaningless from an

absolute

> standpoint.

[Guest guest]

Dear Ram-ji,

 

 

 

I agree with you absolutely. The concept of karma is clearly extremely

valuable and one can see the value of extrapolating this to the idea of

rebirth. I really have no problem with using these terms and would not for a

second advocate that anyone 'drop' them. The main point, surely, is always

to accept that any concept is dualistic and therefore ultimately unreal.

Accordingly, we *provisionally* make use of those which help us to progress

in our understanding. As you say, whilst we believe that the world is real

and that we are separate entities, we should treat many concepts as real and

meaningful.

 

 

 

Best wishes,

 

Dennis

 

 

 

advaitin [advaitin ] On Behalf

Of Ram Chandran

13 November 2007 03:38

advaitin

Re: Karma and Reincarnation - a question to Dennisji !

 

 

 

Namaste dear Dennis-ji:

 

You have made a very Bold Statement regarding the usefulness of

reincarnation. Honestly speaking, one can be a Hindu and can deny

reincarnation and religious belief is nothing to do one's acceptance

or denial of reincarnation.