S.S. Cohen - Guru Ramana - Memories & Notes, Danger of Philosophy

[Guest guest]

Danger of Philosophy

 

10th April, 1937

 

A highly learned visitor whose chief interest was man

and his constitution, wanted Sri Bhagavan to explain fromexperience man’s various bodies, his koshas and their functions,his atma-buddhi-manas, etc.

Bhagavan: (after a brief explanation added) The intricate maze of

philosophy of different schools claims to clarify matters andreveal the Truth, but in fact they create confusion where noconfusion need exist. To understand anything there mustneeds be the understanding being. Why worry about hisbodies, his ahankar, his buddhi, creation, God, Mahatmas,world – the not-Self – at all? Why not remain yourself andbe in peace? Take Vedanta, for instance: it speaks of thefifteen pranas, the names and functions of which the studentis asked to commit to memory. Will it not be sufficient ifhe is taught that only one prana does the whole work ofmaintaining life in the body? Again, the antahkarana is saidto think, to desire, to will, to reason, etc. Why all thesedetails? Has anyone seen the antahkarana, or all these pranas?Do they really exist? They are all conceptual divisionsinvented by teachers of philosophy by their excessive analysis.Where do all these concepts end? Why should confusionbe created and then explained away? Fortunate is the manwho does not lose himself in the labyrinths of philosophy,but goes straight to the Source from which they all rise.

 

 

 

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