RE: [ramakrishna] Advaita Vedanta

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeremy

Reply to your questions is given below

1.A support for Advaita can be found in modern psychology which recognises

that perception is different from reality. THis is what they call 'Gestalt

Method " . The renunciation of " I' is to be done at metaphysical level. Once

that happens it will slowly transcend to physical level. This could be a

very long and arduous process. Some actions at physical level can in turn

aid the transformation at metaphysical level. Practicing non-violence is

first such step. It recognises that kiling others, hating others, creating

problems for others is like a boomarang. If one shuns from these things in

thought and in action one would have progressed in the direction of the

metaphysical oneness. Hence the disappearance of " I' and " you' need not be

scary but rather a very very enjoyable and comforting state of mind.

Christ's love thy neighbour as thy self also tells us to recognise this

oneness.

2. Kali and Advaita are one and the same. Impersonal is NOT manifesting into

personal in real sense. The distinction between the two is only at the level

of the perceiver (beholder).

3. Ramakrishna was as he said Rama and Krishna not from Vendantic angle from

for real as he himself said. By this account he himself was Kali too. And

he was completely aware of this fact in 'that' state. Once he was not in

'that' state the establishmment of a mother and child relation was as you

rightly say a bridge to travel between attaining 'that' state and coming

back from it. there is pleasure and great joy in calling the Kali a mother

and then being just a child to her. This Ramakrishna did to perhaps show

how people should worship Kali. Probably he thought it is the most easiest

way to establish link with the Advaita for every one. He must have thought

that once we establish a bridge like that with Kali in course of time we

will not even need that bridge and being in and out of 'that' state will be

easy for us as it was to Him.

4. To me yes. It is a progess from dwaita to advaita. Advaita is the

Everest. From that peak when one looks, one will find that all the hills

which appeard distinct are interconnected.

 

Regards

 

Yours sincerely

Milind Sathye

Department of Finance and Banking

University of Southern Queensland

Toowoomba, Queensland 4350

Australia

Phone 61 +7 + 4631 5509

Fax 61+ 7 + 4631 2625

web page: http://www.usq.edu.au/users/sathye

 

 

 

 

Jeremy Frost [frost]

Wednesday, 25 April 2001 5:28

Ramakrishna

[ramakrishna] Advaita Vedanta

 

 

Hello Everyone,

 

The teaching that all sense of individuality is maya or illusion

in Advaita Vedtanta is somewhat unsettling to me. I can logically agree with

its concepts and theories but the thought of eventually giving up one's

individuality is somewhat scary as the sense of " I " as a distinct and

seperate personality from " you " is all I have ever known. Is it for this

reason that the teachings of Advaita are usually extremely difficult to

grasp for the neophyte Vedantist?

 

If God is both personal (in the form of Kali for example) and

impersonal (as brahman or the absolute) does this mean that the impersonal

manifests itself in the personal (as Kali)? But according to the teachings

of Advaita wouldn't the notion of Kali herself as seperate from our true

self be merely an illusion or trick of maya?

 

Why did Ramakrishna choose to see Kali as " Mother " when he was

certainly aware that on the Advaita Vedantic level he and the Divine Mother

were one and the same? Did he remain at the level between these 2 modes of

thought so he could act as a bridge between them in order to better help his

disciples during their spiritual journeys?

 

Does all of Vedanta eventually come to the level of Advaita,

where one realizes the distinction between the Atman and Brahman is false?

 

Take care everyone,

Jeremy

 

 

 

 

Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah

Vivekananda Centre London

http://www.vivekananda.co.uk