Yoga & Advaita Vedanta

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Max Harris [max_harris]

Saturday, August 21, 1999 7:38 PM

advaitin

RE: Yoga & Advaita Vedanta

 

"Max Harris" <max_harris

 

On Mon, 16 Aug 1999, K Kathirasan posed some interesting questions

about the relationship between Patanjali-type yoga and Advaita

Vedanta. Anyone care to offer some light?

>1. Is the way and goal of Patanjali's Yoga and Advaita Vedanta the same?

 

Harsha: The ways might be a little different, and to the extent that goals

can be talked about in this context, the goal is the same. Kaivalya (from

Patanjali) implies Complete Aloneness. Self is One without a second.

Aloneness can also be interpreted as All-One-Ness. Sri Ramana himself has

said in an answer to a question that Tantra also leads to Self-Realization.

>2. Is Samadhi (Nirvikalpa) the goal of Advaita Vedanta?

 

Harsha: The concept of goals is not exactly a good fit in the philosophy of

Advaita Vedanta. To the extent that goals can be spoken of in the field of

relativity, Nirvikalpa Samadhi in a way, may be considered both the means

and the goal. Sri Ramana has distinguished between Kevala Nirvikalpa Samadhi

and Sahaj Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Kevala Nirvikalpa is temporary in which the

mind is consciously absorbed in the Self but sprouts back. Ramana Maharshi

points out that although the Self is self evident, It is Recognized as the

Supreme Clarity and as Sat-Chit-Ananda, in Nirvikalpa Samadhi, as the medium

of mind is absent. Here the Self Sees It Self By It Self and Through It

Self. When the vasanas (latent tendencies are weakened) and the Self

spontaneously and effortlessly shines forth in all states of consciousness

and all states of existence are known to exist in the Self only, that is

Sahaj Samadhi as the mind has completely resolved itself. This is Supreme

Silence. The notion of goal or no goal, yoga or vedanta, bondage or

liberation can have no meaning here.

 

>3. Did Sri Sankara refute the philosophy of yoga?

 

Harsha: I am not a scholar but hold the view that Advaita Vedanta is not

inconsistent with the practices of Yoga.