Guest guest Posted November 9, 1999 Report Share Posted November 9, 1999 1. How important to a person is the knowledge of the philosophies of Advaita, Dvaita and Visishtadvaita? 2. The adherence to the philosophies is herditary in Tamil Nadu (I do not know about other parts of the country). For example, if my father belongs to a particular math or ashram, I have no option but to follow the math/ashram. In my case, I belong to the ashram of Srirangam Srimad Andavan, which follows the Visishtadvaita philosophy. I am expected to follow the ashram's traditions. As I am a Vaishnavaite, I have to wear the `namam' on my forehead, and not the ashes or chandan. Why is it so? Why can't each person have the liberty to follow the philosophy of his choice? R. Dinakaran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 1999 Report Share Posted November 9, 1999 I don't know the reson behind namam but i can guess that it may have to do with ida, pinglaa n sushumana. It seems the 3 lines in namam represent each of these naadis. I have read that chandan is applied on the forehead so that energies remain balanced, it helps in control of emotions n anger. I guess something similar may apply to ashes too. On Tue, 9 Nov 1999, Dinakaran wrote: > 1. How important to a person is the knowledge of the philosophies of Advaita, Dvaita and Visishtadvaita? > > 2. The adherence to the philosophies is herditary in Tamil Nadu (I do not know about other parts of the country). For example, if my father belongs to a particular math or ashram, I have no option but to follow the math/ashram. In my case, I belong to the ashram of Srirangam Srimad Andavan, which follows the Visishtadvaita philosophy. I am expected to follow the ashram's traditions. As I am a Vaishnavaite, I have to wear the `namam' on my forehead, and not the ashes or chandan. > > Why is it so? Why can't each person have the liberty to follow the philosophy of his choice? > > R. Dinakaran > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 10, 1999 Report Share Posted November 10, 1999 Namaste > 1. How important to a person is the knowledge of the philosophies of > Advaita, Dvaita and Visishtadvaita? > Kathi: Dinakaran-ji, according to one's mental inclination and disposition is the path chosen. All the 3 schools are important and they are important to a person as long it is important for him/her. I have a close friend who just can't seem to engage in an intellectual analysis of the world, God or anything spiritual. For him, God is the master... 'To define God is to defile God " . On the other hand, myself, I can't seem to stop intellectualizing God. Therefore, I find Advaita very appealing to me. It is not that one is superior to the other. All the paths lead to that Infinite ONE. It is our choice to make our destiny. Just my opinion. :-) > 2. The adherence to the philosophies is herditary in Tamil Nadu (I do not > know about other parts of the country). For example, if my father belongs > to a particular math or ashram, I have no option but to follow the > math/ashram. In my case, I belong to the ashram of Srirangam Srimad > Andavan, which follows the Visishtadvaita philosophy. I am expected to > follow the ashram's traditions. As I am a Vaishnavaite, I have to wear the > `namam' on my forehead, and not the ashes or chandan. > > Why is it so? Why can't each person have the liberty to follow the > philosophy of his choice? > Kathi: I didn't know that one hasn't the liberty to follow the philosophy one finds appealing. Whichever path that you think suits you, take it. There is God in 'this' path and 'that' path. We cannot escape from HIM/HER!!!!! Om Shanti Kathi > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 1999 Report Share Posted November 13, 1999 > Dinakaran wrote: > <<< Why is it so? Why can't each person have the liberty to follow the > philosophy of his choice? >>> Because the person does not want to avail of the freedom of choice he is offered. Swami Vivekananda says: " Do not blame others for your ignorance and weaknesses. " One can (and one does!) reach the Truth from the inherited traditions of worship and rituals. A time or stage comes when the superficial external forms give way to more subtle internal expressions like visions, bhava, and bliss. The same idol of clay becomes the spirit; one does not abandon the idol. Sri Ramakrishna saw first the stone in the idol of the Kali, subsequently he saw living presence there and further the idol took the form of living mother with whom sri ramakrishna could and did talk and play and cut jokes!!! He actually showed the world that the stone idol breathed in and out as we do! ==================================== E-magazine on science and spirituality. Visit: http://members.xoom.com/drcsshah/neovedanta/index.html ==================================== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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