Need for a proper teacher

[Guest guest]

Sri Sadaji, pranams:

 

In your last post, you wrote:

" Shankara says, if a person is

realized but do not know shastras, you have to reject

him as a teacher, since he cannot teach properly. "

 

I am a little confused by this interpretation from VivekachuuDamaNi,

since there were Advaitic Teachers like Sri Ramana Maharshi or

Nisargadatta Maharaj to name those known to me that are clearly an

exception to your statement when they began teaching... (at least I

consider them Teachers, maybe you don't view them like that).

 

If apropiate, could you expand your commentary on that sloka under

this angle of view?

 

Thank you,

Mouna

[Guest guest]

Mounaji - My PraNAms.

 

I did not realize that I am going to get into trouble

here.

 

The VevekachhuDaamaNi sloka (please check the text for

sloka since I am natorious for misspelling) just says,

it is not sufficient to learn shaastras but one has to

do inquiry using the shaastra as a basis to find out

the truth. Of course the second part is once you have

realized, the purpose of the shaastras is over. But

somewhere else it says one has to still study

shaastras to protect them - shaastras protect me until

I realize and I have to protect shaastras after I

realize since they are pramaaNa for self-realization.

 

About the second question, I would not like to comment

on Bhagavaan Ramana Maharshi or Nisarga datta Maharaj

- I took 'upadeshasaara' of Bhagavan Ramanamaharshi

for spiritual camp (MP3's available Chinmaya Mission

Washington DC if anyone is interested). " I am that " of

Maharaj - I use it for meditation.

 

A proper teacher is one who does not say 'I am the

authority' but points to scriptures for authority. A

sampradaaya teacher is required for proper teaching.

There are always exceptions to the rule but as I

mentioned before, we do not make rule out of

exceptions.

 

 

Hari Om!

Sadananda

 

 

--- Mouna <maunna wrote:

 

... (at least I

> consider them Teachers, maybe you don't view them

> like that).

>

> If apropiate, could you expand your commentary on

> that sloka under

> this angle of view?

[Guest guest]

" Mounaji wrote

I am a little confused by this interpretation from VivekachuuDamaNi,

since there were Advaitic Teachers like Sri Ramana Maharshi or

Nisargadatta Maharaj to name those known to me that are clearly an

exception to your statement when they began teaching... (at least I

consider them Teachers, maybe you don't view them like that). "

 

Namaskar,

 

I am sorry to barge in. As I understand the Teacher Mounaji is referring

to is not the same as Sadaji is referring to.

 

To be " realized " (whatever that means) as per the shloka cited by Sadaji

you do not need to study the scriptures, but to be a Shastri (I suppose

Shastris are the custodians of Shastras needed to maintain the weaving

consistency in the social cloth) you need a teacher who is well

acquainted with Shastras.

 

Dinesh

[Guest guest]

Thank you Sadaji and Dineshji for your responses.

 

As complement to my previous post I would like to give what I think is

Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi's interpretation of the recent sloka #59

of Viveka chudamani quoted by Sri Sadanandaji.

 

Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi: All questions relating to 'mukti'

(liberation) are inadmissible because 'mukti' means release from

bondage, which implies the present existence of bondage. There is no

bondage and therefore no 'mukti' either.

Question: The 'sastras' speak of it and its grades.

Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi: The 'sastras' are not meant for the wise

because they do not need them; the ignorant do not want them. Only the

'mumukshus' (those aspiring for liberation) look up to the scriptures.

That means that the 'sastras' are neither for wisdom nor for ignorance.

(The Power of the Presence, Part Three, pages 132-3, by David Godman)

 

By these words I see Sri Shankara's sloka under a new way, meaning

that some of us we are not completely ignorant about our Identity, we

had glimpses, samadhi... at the same time, we are not yet realized in

the sense that the veil it's not completely lifted. Recognition has

started, so the sastras is the perfect 'usefull'

tool/guide/inspiration for us.

 

I would like to finish also with a dear quote that also denotes this

line of thought:

 

....'No. There is no need to study mountains of intellectual materials.

All you need is a simple faith that Lord is every where, that all

religions proclaim. If you have unwavering faith in that statement -

you will then see the Lord everywhere, since you cannot miss Him, as

He is everywhere and in everything you see. Other than that faith,

nothing else is needed - since in that very seeing you will see there

is nothing other than the Lord - the 'you' in you also dissolve to

become the Lord that is everywhere. No more seeking or no more

studying mountains of materials.

But do you have that faith that Lord is everywhere? If you do not have

it, then study the scriptures to get that faith. It is as simple as that.'

 

Grateful to All,

Mouna

 

(Sri Sadaji, you are getting busy this time with all these questions

from different sides!! You will soon need assistants! It may be the

price to pay when one has such Clear Understanding... Pranams to you.)