Prophets old and new

[Guest guest]

One of the major step forward in spirituality came with Kapila who said:

'Purusha' or the Self is different from 'Prakriti' (nature which includes

body, senses, mind and even the intellect). I am quite convinced that Kapila

was in the same state of heightened awareness that say Adi Shankara or Swami

Vivekananda experienced. We have to understand that the experience is the

same but the explanation - the language used are necessarily different.

Their explanation and language reflect the best tools they had available in

their times to put across their vibrant experience. As Swami Vivekananda

once remarked 'There is nothing new in what I preach'. The same thinking can

be applied to the teachings of all prophets of all religions. Real religion

begins with vibrant spiritual experience (has to be first hand!!) - the

person who experiences then tries to put across what he has experienced

(which really defies description) - in the best language and terminology he

can muster.

 

>Raman Sharma wrote

> Taking that Purusha and prakriti are within the individual, Is it

> 'Chith Jada Grandhi " that links both? Can any body throow light on

> this? Can we identify purusha and prakriti with sentient and

> insentient aspects of the individual?

>

> Ramana Sarma

 

The best way to explain the relationship between Purusha and Prakriti

through the Dvaita approach would be to introduce the idea of 'Leela' (play

for the sake of the play is why Purusha has got involved with Prakriti. The

involvement is very real but how and why is best explained as play for the

sake of the play.)

 

In the Advaita approach it is explained via the concept of 'Maya'. (the fact

that we think Purusha is involved with Prakriti is mere ignorance. It is not

true - Full stop).

 

This unity that lies behind all varied approaches to spirituality - to all

varied philosophies like Advaita and Dvaita is best highlighted by Sri Sri

Ramakrishna.

 

jay

[Guest guest]

I offered myself to my Beloved,

and now I am no more myself.

For my soul has become

the very substance of flame.

And on the evening of our wedding,

my Beloved gave me a pearl of great price.

 

And for our wedding music,

a sound,

of highest note

but not piercing,

of a low rumble

without shaking,

a continual flow of music

not heard with the ears,

nor understood with the mind.

 

This music,

eternal yet never tiring,

omnipresent but never intrusive,

is like a living water to my soul,

my beloved’s nectar he feeds me

with tenderness.

And I drink from His hand.

 

And my hands tear open my heart

to receive the floodtide of His love.

 

-- Karen

Westend Ashram

 

Jay at Vivekananda Center wrote:

 

Their explanation and language reflect the best tools they had available in

their times to put across their vibrant experience. As Swami Vivekananda

once remarked 'There is nothing new in what I preach'. The same thinking can

be applied to the teachings of all prophets of all religions. Real religion

begins with vibrant spiritual experience (has to be first hand!!) - the

person who experiences then tries to put across what he has experienced

(which really defies description) - in the best language and terminology he

can muster.