Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 Whether one calls oneself Hindu, Buddhist, American, strip tease artist, doctor, writer, working, retired, Gita scholar, Christian, alcoholic, Baptist, Advaitan...they're all just names and all equal in the sense that identification with the name or role IS NOT what we are. If I can see it, it's not me. If I can name it, it's not me. If I have the concept it's not me, if I can describe it, it's not me. Advaita, Dzogchen, Zen, esoteric Christianity, Ati Yoga, Bhatkti, Karma Yoga, etc etc etc...all these seem to be just names related to certain practices, modes of thought, ways of perception...why can't we see that none of those things/practices/modes are what we are? I cannot be any of those, nor can any one else. If someone tells me they are Hindu, I'd have to say, " Really?? I see a human being standing before me. Where is this Hindu you speak of? I see a body like mine and a mind similar to mine which wants basically what I want, to be happy and dislikes what I dislike, pain, discomfort etc...so where is this Hindu? Are you Hindu (substitue Christian, retired, doctor etc) when you're asleep? Are you a (substitute) when you're cooking a meal, or when you're on hold waiting for someone at a call center to give you information about a mistake in your phone bill? Are you a (substitute) when you're waiting for a doctor to give you a diagnosis of a lump which you're afraid is cancer? One guy's opinion...maybe we can get away from names and roles a little bit. I want the same things here in Texas that someone in Bombay wants. My situation may be better in some ways than a street person in Bombay, but still, being human first, beyond any name or relgion or philosophy...we want the same things whatever other differences there are...okay, enough of my rant. Best wishes, all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 advaitin , " otnac6 " <otnac6 wrote: I see a body > like mine and a mind similar to mine which wants basically what I > want, to be happy and dislikes what I dislike, pain, discomfort > etc...so where is this Hindu? Are you Hindu (substitue Christian, > retired, doctor etc) when you're asleep? Are you a (substitute) when > you're cooking a meal, or when you're on hold waiting for someone at > a call center to give you information about a mistake in your phone > bill? Are you a (substitute) when you're waiting for a doctor to give > you a diagnosis of a lump which you're afraid is cancer? > > One guy's opinion...maybe we can get away from names and roles a > little bit. I want the same things here in Texas that someone in > Bombay wants. My situation may be better in some ways than a street > person in Bombay, but still, being human first, beyond any name or > relgion or philosophy...we want the same things whatever other > differences there are...okay, enough of my rant. Best wishes, all. > well written my firend. i could be in texas and you in chennai we think the same.neither veda nor gita mentions the word hindu anywhere.it is a way of living, according to sanatana dharma.see the self in you as the self of all and see all as you see yourself.thatis the essence of living. with best wishes my friend/brother/son? baskaran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 Whether one calls oneself Hindu, Buddhist, American, strip tease artist, doctor, writer, working, retired, Gita scholar, Christian, alcoholic, Baptist, Advaitan...they're all just names and all equal in the sense that identification with the name or role IS NOT what we are. praNAms Hare Krishna Can we stretch this to say that *ahaM brahmAsmi* (I am brahman) shruti declaration also just a name or role??? Hari Hari Hari Bol!!! bhaskar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 Bhaskar! Can we stretch this to say that *ahaM brahmAsmi* (I am brahman) shruti declaration also just a name or role??? I don't know! But I suspect that if it's a big deal for a person to say " I am Brahman " then maybe it is just a name or role...The more I want something, the more separate I am from it (?) Can it be a big deal for God to be God, or does God think He?She?It? is God? I'm just speculating here, but it does seem that I'm stuck in all sorts of boxes by indentifying with names and roles. That something which does the identifying is beyond the thing it identifies with--but forgets that!...maybe. Ha! This is all talk, who knows? I won't identify with the role of " one who knows! " ...best wishes. ______________________________\ ____ Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile./sports;_ylt=At9_qDKvtAbMuh1G1SQtBI7ntAcJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 What is in a name and form? Yes that is true only, and one and only when I recognize or realize that I am one and only one that is true and everything else is just the name and form superimposed on Brahman that I am. This understanding, my friend, is not as a thought or concept but as a fact. Your question - what is there in name is valid only when you are firmly established in that advaita jnaanam - that I alone am. Then, of course, what is in name question also do not arise - since that question itself become invalid. At the vyavahaara or relative plane that we are dealing with this discussion, where all the saadhana and all the discussions are going on, doctor is different from a plumber who is different strip tease artist that you mentioned. I have no interest in interacting if they change their roles thinking that what is in name? Transactional reality is valid at transactional level. Knowing that matter is made of electrons, protons and neutrons does not make to equate garbage and delicious food. Understanding and operating that 'I am the totality' does not negate the transactional reality. A jnaani will understand the transactional reality has only relative reality at transactional level, and only at absolute reference all are one - only from the fundamental perspective all matter is nothing but assemblage of fundamental particles. Otherwise iron is different from gold! We have to protect the sanaatana dharma when other religious fanatics are trying to destroy in the name of their religion. The age old Buddha in Afghanistan was destroyed by some religious fanatics. The whole library containing age old books were bunt down by some fanatics. Only way to preserve the culture and tradition is to study, assimilate and pass it on to the next generation. What makes a Hindu or more appropriately follower of sanaatana dharma? First one has to have a clear understanding that Vedas are pramANa for spiritual knowledge. We accept any religion as true as long as their philosophical doctrines are in agreement with Vedas or more particularly Vedanta or Upanishads. Anyone who accepts the Vedic way of life is a Hindu since Vedas are sanaatana and they teach that dharma. There is no conversion to Sanatana dharma - one has to follow it. Hence my friend, name is important to indicate essentially the acceptance of Vedas are pramaaNa or means of knowledge. This is becuase, other means of knowledge like perception, inference etc are not available in understanding the absolute truth. Hari Om! Sadananda --- otnac6 <otnac6 wrote: > Whether one calls oneself Hindu, Buddhist, American, > strip tease > artist, doctor, writer, working, retired, Gita > scholar, Christian, > alcoholic, Baptist, Advaitan...they're all just > names and all equal > in the sense that identification with the name or > role IS NOT what we > are. If I can see it, it's not me. If I can name it, > it's not me. If > I have the concept it's not me, if I can describe > it, it's not me. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 advaitin , kuntimaddi sadananda <kuntimaddisada wrote: > > > > --- otnac6 <otnac6 wrote: > Sri Otnac6 Ji, It feels ,at least to me, a bit odd to address you as Otnac6, though I agree what's in a name!. Sada Ji has replied much better than I, but just want to add that when you say you are a man or woman, vegetarian or non-veggie, Texan or Mumbaiyya, human or a lion, this is just to set a frame of reference for interaction with the world. It is not to discriminate one with the other or think one better than other. Thanks Sudesh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 Sudesh, .. It is not to discriminate one with the other or think one better than other. Yes, I understand. It just seems though that it is very easy to slip into judgement based on discrimination. I think maybe it takes constant awareness not to do that. And maybe I'm completely wrong, too! But it does seem that the " fanatics " mentioned before have gone way beyond mere discrimination and into the area of " we're absolutely right, YOU'RE absolutely wrong! " ______________________________\ ____ Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Mail. See how. http://overview.mail./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 advaitin , Steve Stoker <otnac6 wrote: > > Sudesh, > > discrimination and into the area of " we're absolutely > right, YOU'RE absolutely wrong! " > > > Sri Steve Ji, Yes on that point I totally agree with you sir, and that is the constant struggle even I face when I meet a Dvaitin to not think that the non dual truth is a better one than that of Dual (and hence I am better than the him)- it is difficult to let go Ego. Thank you Sudesh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 Sudesh, Thank you Yes on that point I totally agree with you sir, and that is the constant struggle even I face when I meet a Dvaitin to not think that the non dual truth is a better one than that of Dual (and hence I am better than the him)- it is difficult to let go Ego. I have a daily struggle with this, from the time I get up till the time I go to bed. Constant " self observation " shows me often that I want to put myself " above " something else. When I see that that's happening, I don't try to stop it or overlay it with some scriptural reference or feel guilt or try to make it go away. I just watch those images and pictures of me " above " something else until they dissolve. Instead of fighting it, I just watch it. The struggle comes in just maintaining the awareness and not letting it go into the unconscious again...ha! Well, it often DOES disappear into the unconscious again but I throw in a fishing line with bait on a hook and bring it back up for observation!....Best wishes, Steve. ______________________________\ ____ Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Mail. See how. http://overview.mail./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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