Guest guest Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 H.N.Sreenivasa Murthy Pranams to all. advaitin , " Dennis Waite " <dwaite wrote: " My own view is that mithyAtva is possibly the single most important concept in the teaching of advaita and yet I encounter whole books on advaita that do not even mention it! " Dear Sri Dennis Waite, In so many places in his commentaries, Sri Shankara has written about 'the mithyatva '. i have collected a couple of such passages for my manana and if permission is granted I will post those transliterated excerpts. I cannot translate them to English because my command over the English language is not good enough to bring out the correct meaning and the true spirit of the original writing in Sanskrit. The reason why a mumukshu should go back to Sri Shankara'S commentaries is that , Sri Shankara in an unambigious and rational way has given out the PRISTINE PURE doctrine of Advaitha as well as the methodology for realizing it in the most simple and direct way. As an example,a study and cognition of the contents of The commentary to the 4th mantra chapter 2 of Kenopanishad is enough for a sincere mumukshu to realize his true nature and abide as Atman/Brahman. My firm understanding is that in Sri Shankara's commentaries there is complete wholeness and study of other works become redundant to a mumukshu. With warm and respectful regards, Sreenivasa Murthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 Dear Sri Murthy, I agree that *ideally* one would always refer to Shankara for the authoritative statements. Unfortunately, I think a very significant basic understanding of advaita is required before being able to appreciate these. Also, of course, most seekers do not have the command of Sanskrit to be able even to attempt to understand the untranslated original. This is why access to more general books on advaita is needed by most, in which the fundamental concepts are expressed in modern language and idiom. By all means post your excerpts but I am bound to point out that few members will understand them if they are not translated (including myself!). If the extracts are from Shankara, I would have thought that suitable translations must be available somewhere on the net. I must also say that your command of the English language is clearly infinitely better than most members command of Sanskrit! Best wishes, Dennis advaitin [advaitin ] On Behalf Of narayana145 26 January 2008 10:20 advaitin Re: What is self realization ?? H.N.Sreenivasa Murthy Pranams to all. advaitin <advaitin%40> , " Dennis Waite " <dwaite wrote: " My own view is that mithyAtva is possibly the single most important concept in the teaching of advaita and yet I encounter whole books on advaita that do not even mention it! " Dear Sri Dennis Waite, In so many places in his commentaries, Sri Shankara has written about 'the mithyatva '. i have collected a couple of such passages for my manana and if permission is granted I will post those transliterated excerpts. I cannot translate them to English because my command over the English language is not good enough to bring out the correct meaning and the true spirit of the original writing in Sanskrit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 Namaste, In a preceeding post Shri Waite mentionned that a post had many Sanskrit words which turn, members like me, away from the text, for a lack of understanding of the words used. Could I humbly suggest to sometime add an english translation of these words to enable those like me who, sadly, don't give the attention it deserve for a lack of understanding. For example, in this post, " mithyAtva is mentionned as being " the single most important concept " and I do not know what this is. Same with the last part of the post below, which leaves me without a hint on what this text of Sri Shankara is, or even where I could read it, or what it is talking about. quote: " " " " As an example,a study and cognition of the contents of The commentary to the 4th mantra chapter 2 of Kenopanishad is enough for a sincere mumukshu to realize his true nature and abide as Atman/Brahman. " " " If there is a place where I could find a translation of these words, concepts, that would also be helpfull. Namaste PS. Forgive me for letting the text below, which I left so that it would help understand what I am talking about advaitin , " narayana145 " <narayana145 wrote: > > H.N.Sreenivasa Murthy > Pranams to all. > > > advaitin , " Dennis Waite " <dwaite@> wrote: > " My own view is that mithyAtva is possibly the single > most important concept in the teaching of advaita and yet I encounter > whole books on advaita that do not even mention it! " > > Dear Sri Dennis Waite, > > In so many places in his commentaries, Sri Shankara has written > about 'the mithyatva '. i have collected a couple of such passages for > my manana and if permission is granted I will post those > transliterated excerpts. I cannot translate them to English because > my command over the English language is not good enough to bring out > the correct meaning and the true spirit of the original writing in > Sanskrit. > > The reason why a mumukshu should go back to Sri Shankara'S > commentaries is that , Sri Shankara in an unambigious and rational way > has given out the PRISTINE PURE doctrine of Advaitha as well as the > methodology for realizing it in the most simple and direct way. As an > example,a study and cognition of the contents of The commentary to the > 4th mantra chapter 2 of Kenopanishad is enough for a sincere mumukshu > to realize his true nature and abide as Atman/Brahman. My firm > understanding is that in Sri Shankara's commentaries there is complete > wholeness and study of other works become redundant to a mumukshu. > > With warm and respectful regards, > Sreenivasa Murthy. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 Dear Nonduel, I apologise for being guilty of the same 'crime' of which I am accusing others. Unfortunately, it is necessary to use Sanskrit words from time to time because there are no equivalent English words - mithyA is one of these. There is a section at my website containing some 'definitions of key terms and concepts' - http://www.advaita.org.uk/discourses/definitions/definitions.htm. These originate mainly from last year's attempt to provide a definition per week from within the group. It was not too successful, unfortunately, but mithyA is one of the words defined (mithyA is the adjective and mithyAtva the noun). I am also in the process of adding one page per week (approximately) of dictionary definitions of key Sanskrit words to the site. This has only just begun so will take most of this year to complete. See http://www.advaita.org.uk/sanskrit/sanskrit.htm#dictionary. Best wishes, Dennis advaitin [advaitin ] On Behalf Of nonduel 26 January 2008 13:47 advaitin Re: What is self realization ?? Namaste, In a preceeding post Shri Waite mentionned that a post had many Sanskrit words which turn, members like me, away from the text, for a lack of understanding of the words used. Could I humbly suggest to sometime add an english translation of these words to enable those like me who, sadly, don't give the attention it deserve for a lack of understanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 Dear Dennis, No need to appologies, I only wanted to comfirm that I agreed with your post, that I was an example, of someone who had difficulties in understanding I still would like to know more about the text mentionned in post 32951 Namaste advaitin , " Dennis Waite " <dwaite wrote: > > Dear Nonduel, > > > > I apologise for being guilty of the same 'crime' of which I am accusing > others. Unfortunately, it is necessary to use Sanskrit words from time to > time because there are no equivalent English words - mithyA is one of these. > > > > There is a section at my website containing some 'definitions of key terms > and concepts' - > http://www.advaita.org.uk/discourses/definitions/definitions.htm. These > originate mainly from last year's attempt to provide a definition per week > from within the group. It was not too successful, unfortunately, but mithyA > is one of the words defined (mithyA is the adjective and mithyAtva the > noun). > > > > I am also in the process of adding one page per week (approximately) of > dictionary definitions of key Sanskrit words to the site. This has only just > begun so will take most of this year to complete. See > http://www.advaita.org.uk/sanskrit/sanskrit.htm#dictionary. > > > > Best wishes, > > Dennis > > > > advaitin [advaitin ] On Behalf > Of nonduel > 26 January 2008 13:47 > advaitin > Re: What is self realization ?? > > > > Namaste, > > In a preceeding post Shri Waite mentionned that a post had many > Sanskrit words which turn, members like me, away from the text, for a > lack of understanding of the words used. > > Could I humbly suggest to sometime add an english translation of > these words to enable those like me who, sadly, don't give the > attention it deserve for a lack of understanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2008 Report Share Posted January 28, 2008 Respected Shastri-ji Saashtang pranams. Thank you for your (undeservingly) kind words. Truly it has been said durlabhaM trayamevaitaddevaanugrahahetukam.h . manushhyatvaM mumukshutvaM mahaapurushhasa.nshrayaH and it this satsang's e-prarabdha to be blessed by a great scholar such as yourself staying so actively involved in it everyday. Which group would have a " authentic " translation of a book like the mahavakyaratnavali become freely available in regular instalments! My salutations to you again. I shall also heed your words and try my best to stay more active in the group's discussions - it is wonderful of course to simply read many of the scholarly posts here. I also want to acknowledge the kind words of appreciation of Dennis- ji, Sada-ji, Harsha-ji, and others. Dennis-ji, is there a limit to how often one can apologize for the same crime? No translations and no transliterations! Please let me know if you need it with translations and I can send it to you either in a private email or repost it to the group after editing it. Trouble is - like you discovered with the term mithya - there is sometimes no " easy " English translations - such as even " sat " and " asat " - true and false dont really do justice do these terms, do they? Hari OM Shri Gurubhyoh namah Shyam advaitin , " snsastri " <sn.sastri wrote: > > Dear Shri Shyam, > Your post is most wonderful and full of substance. I agree with all > that you have said. I feel that you should send such posts more > often. I do not now have the physical energy to type out such long > notes or enter into arguments. I enjoyed reading your note. > Best wishes, > S.N.Sastri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2008 Report Share Posted January 28, 2008 Dear Shyam-ji, If you are happy to provide translations (and I am sure that 'to the best of your ability' will be more than adequate!), I suggest that you repost. We may all then benefit from re-reading! (The page at the website will be 4 - 5 weeks hence as there is a queue!) Best wishes, Dennis advaitin [advaitin ] On Behalf Of shyam_md 28 January 2008 18:54 advaitin Re: What is self realization ?? Please let me know if you need it with translations and I can send it to you either in a private email or repost it to the group after editing it. Trouble is - like you discovered with the term mithya - there is sometimes no " easy " English translations - such as even " sat " and " asat " - true and false dont really do justice do these terms, do they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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