Avadhuta Gita

[Guest guest]

Avadhuta Gita

Song of the Ever free

 

 

Chapter 7 Verse 9

 

The Avadhuta may or may not observe the rules of yoga;

still he is a yogi.

 

He may or may not have any possessions;

still he is an enjoyer.

 

Indeed he moves slowly and calmly, and enjoys the

natural bliss arising from his own pure mind.

 

 

Commentary:

Question:- Why bother with self knowledge?

Answer:- Is this verse.

[Guest guest]

-

" Amol Katkar " <amolk

<vivekananda

Thursday, December 28, 2000 03:11

Avadhuta Gita

 

 

> Dear Sir/Madam,

>

> I am a member of the RamaKrishna egroup. I wish to know who

> Avadhuta is because I have no background knowledge of Avadhuta

> Gita. Is Avadhuta the soul? God? Bhraman?

>

> If you find some time, will you please send me some background

> information on Avadhuta Gita?

>

> Also, are the books of the Ramakrishna mission available online? I

> am specially interested in Bhagavad Gita and Uddhav Gita.

>

> Thank you very much.

>

> regards,

> Amol Katkar

 

=====response=====

 

Dear Amol

 

The literal meaning of the word Avadhuta is

Shaken or discarded. In this sense the word here is

used to describe an ascetic who has discarded all

attachments to the world.

 

The background to the Avadhuta is found in some of the puranas

like the the Mahabharata, Vishnu Puran and Bhagavata.

The great Avadhuta ( sometimes called the ever-free) is

Dattatreya (one of the sons of Rishi Atri and Ansuya).

The puranic story says he is one of the incarnation of Vishnu.

 

The Avadhuta Gita is the 'song of the ever free'

It is considered to be a philosophic gem within the Hindu

tradition. It elaborates on the 'Non-dualistic' (Advaita) School

of philosophy. It attracts a lot of interest as it teaches not of

some divinity in the heavens but as being the closest thing we

possess - our own Self.

 

Apart from the Avadhuta Gita there are few other Gitas (songs)

like the Astavakra Gita which too propound the teachings of the

Advaita school of philosophy.

 

Yes you can order books from some of the Ramakrishna Missions

If you visit our site

http://www.vivekananda.btinternet.co.uk/home.htm

you will find the links to most of the Ramakrishna centres in the world.

I know that the Hollywood centre the New York Centre and the Seattle

centre have good bookshops - hence you should contact them and

order via email.

 

Hope this helps.

There may be others on our list who may add their views on the subject.

 

regards

jay