Monism vs Non-dualism, Swami Yogeshanandaji's reply

[Guest guest]

To:

 

Rev. Shrimat Swami Yogeshanandaji Maharaj

 

Respected Maharajji:

 

Please accept my Pranam at the outset. I feel really honored that my simple

query has drawn your kind attention and you have been kind enough to reply

immediately, your otherwise busy schedule notwithstanding. Since you have

been kind enough to allow us to approach you with our insignificant queries,

I am going to take full advantage of it (with your kind permission, of

course). Anyway, I will place my questions here which may sound to you too

elementary. My apologies for the same. However, I do not expect you need to

reply immediately. Please take your own time.

 

1. What exactly is meant by " Pluralism " ? How is it related to Indian

" Bahu-deva-vada " ?

 

2. If I have understood Rev. Sister Gayatriprana and yourself correctly, I

may say that since " monism " was the buzz-word in the intellectual circles

Swamiji met with in the eastern United States (academicians like Wm. James,

Josiah Royce et al.), it was definitely not a coinage of Swamiji himself. He

has only used this known buzz word to convey the Advaita philosophy to the

uninitiated audience during his time (cf. Arundhati-nyaya). Thanks to both

of you for this enlightening revelation.

 

My specific points are--

 

(a) Any idea about who has coined this word " Monism " ?

(b) What exactly did this word used to mean at that time in US?

© How can one compare the connotation of " Monism " with that of Advaita

Philosophy? You have raised my curiosity to a high level by saying that

there is a " subtle but important distinction between " Monism and

Non-dualism " [which] was perfectly well known to him [swamiji] and could

never have been far from his mind. " Pray, please elaborate this point a

little further and enlighten us.

 

(d) Is it (Monism) still a buzz word in the academic circle of present time?

Or, the word " Monism " and its inherent implication have been absorbed by the

all-encompassing Advaita Philosophy with the passage of time?

 

(e) Swamiji has used this word (Monism) with a definite purpose at that

time. But, as you have said, who knew better than him that " Monism " and

" Non-dualism " do not convey the same meaning and, therefore, are not

interchangeable by any

means. If it is so, then should we still continue to use the word " Monism "

today when we want to talk about Advaita Philosophy in practice. If you

pardon my audacity, I will say that the basic concepts of Indian Philosophy

are more known to the present generation of the West as compared to the

state of awareness they had regarding Indian Philosophy during last century,

thanks to the untiring efforts of Swamiji and his able and dedicated

followers (which includes Sister Gayatripranaji and yourself too). Under

these circumstances, would both of you advise us to use the old word

" Monism " (which might have, I am not sure, lost most of its currency by

now). Or should we use the more appropriate word " Non-dualism " , if not the

term " Advaita Philosophy " itself? This is of course an academic point and I

request you to favor us with your considered opinion whenever to might find

some time.

 

Let me stop here. Pardon me if I have crossed my limits.

 

Once again, Pranam.

 

TP Bagchi

 

 

-

" Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda

" list " <Ramakrishna >

Friday, September 27, 2002 2:37 AM

[sri Ramakrishna] Monism vs Non-dualism

 

 

>

> Response on the Use of " Monism instead of Non-Dualism "

> by Swami Vivekananda.

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~Reply from Atlanta Centre ~~~~~~~~

>

> I think that in the intellectual circles Swamiji met with in the eastern

> United States--academicians like Wm. James, Josiah Royce et al.

> " monism " was the buzz-word. It was in contrast to pluralism, which

> was just then becoming current. Isn't it likely that Swamiji wanted to

> use the words these people would understand best? The subtle but

> important distinction between " Monism and Non-dualism was perfectly

> well known to him and could never have been far from his mind.

>

> Yogeshananda

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

>

>

>

>

> Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah

> Vivekananda Centre London

> http://www.vivekananda.co.uk

>

>