Guest guest Posted September 7, 1999 Report Share Posted September 7, 1999 Thank you for your thoughtful response Ramji. It is full of practical wisdom. I will take the liberty to forward it to . Namaste Harsha > > Ram Chandran [chandran] > Friday, September 03, 1999 2:53 PM > advaitin > Re: Maya, attachments, and the ordinary awareness > > > Ram Chandran <chandran > > Namaskar Harshaji: > > You have raised several fundamental questions regarding True Human > Nature and associated human dharma (karma). The presentation of your > thoughts is excellent and it brings new insights to the complex > phenomenon - self-awareness. I have added some additional points on the > basis of my understanding: > > The famous quotation from the Upanishads states the following guidelines > for living: "Life is a bridge, enjoy while living and don't build a > castle on it." The Hindu scriptures also suggest a path of life with > Self-awareness without disturbing the natural state of being. The > natural state of being does not imply any supernatural state of being > but just an ordinary human being with self-awareness. A careful study > of Bhagavad Gita can yield a set of guidelines to lead a human life > without misery and suffering. When we continue to live our life without > misery and suffering, that is our salvation. > > The human beings have the freedom to choose any job that they want to do > and once chosen, they have to fulfil their obligation with 100% > commitment without distortion. Once we decided to have a child, we have > chosen a number of associated jobs (duties) which includes - parent, > teacher, friend, etc.. First, we should be fully aware of these > additional obligations and any resistance to these additional > obligations introduce duality and plurality. Second, while performing > those duties, we don't want to mix-up our duties: As a parent, we love > our child and show compassion and kindness but as a teacher, our > obligation is to teach and not to show emotional attachment. We have a > ‘free-will' to have a child but the ‘fate' brings the additional > obligations that can't be denied. The term ‘Swadharma' doesn't mean > full freedom and only conditional freedom. The moment Arjun chose to be > a warrior, he is obligated to fight the war and kill his relatives and > friends who join the side of his enemy. > > Most of the time, to discard attachments, we seem to assume that the > objects are responsible for attachments. The drunkard believes that > the liquor is responsible for his/her problem and try to get rid of the > liquor bottles instead of changing his/her drinking habit. A Vedantic > Sadhana in this situation is not to hide the liquor bottles but to > develop an attitude that permanently erase the liquor Vasana. The > Vedantic Sadhana will become complete if the drunkard doesn't get the > urge to drink even when he/she works in a liquor store. > > Finally, there are no uniform rules that can satisfy all individuals > under all situations. Vedanta doesn't prescribe any ‘Sadhana' that can > fit individual needs to attain self-awareness whether it is ordinary or > extraordinary. Self-unfoldment requires individual efforts and it is > self-evolved. External guidance can help somebody and for others such > guidance can hinder progress. > > Regards, > > Ram Chandran > Burke, VA > > > > > "Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)" wrote: > > > > "Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)" <hluthar > > > > The question of discarding attachments and conditioning is > central to many > > spiritual paths. People speak of transformations, giving up of > conditioning > > etc., and attaining a finer and finer level of understanding > and quality of > > being. This is clearly a valid perspective and the paths of > Yoga are based > > on that. Even Advaitins emphasize practical aspects of > Sadhana............... > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 7, 1999 Report Share Posted September 7, 1999 > > Ram Chandran <chandran > > > > Namaskar Harshaji: > > The human beings have the freedom to choose any job that they want to do > > and once chosen, they have to fulfil their obligation with 100% > > commitment without distortion. Once we decided to have a child, we have > > chosen a number of associated jobs (duties) which includes - parent, > > teacher, friend, etc.. First, we should be fully aware of these > > additional obligations and any resistance to these additional > > obligations introduce duality and plurality. Second, while performing > > those duties, we don't want to mix-up our duties: As a parent, we love > > our child and show compassion and kindness but as a teacher, our > > obligation is to teach and not to show emotional attachment. We have a > > ‘free-will' to have a child but the ‘fate' brings the additional > > obligations that can't be denied. The term ‘Swadharma' doesn't mean > > full freedom and only conditional freedom. The moment Arjun chose to be > > a warrior, he is obligated to fight the war and kill his relatives and > > friends who join the side of his enemy. "The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or mixed, are good laws and good arms; and because there cannot be good laws where there are not good arms, and where there are good arms there must needs be good laws, I will omit speaking of the laws and speak of the arms." (Machiavelli) > > Most of the time, to discard attachments, we seem to assume that the > > objects are responsible for attachments. The drunkard believes that > > the liquor is responsible for his/her problem and try to get rid of the > > liquor bottles instead of changing his/her drinking habit. A Vedantic > > Sadhana in this situation is not to hide the liquor bottles but to > > develop an attitude that permanently erase the liquor Vasana. The > > Vedantic Sadhana will become complete if the drunkard doesn't get the > > urge to drink even when he/she works in a liquor store. Or if he has to make is booze himself and wait years of fermantation to taste is good wine he made. The liquor store i as a sharp arm, in the Machiavelli sense, for the drunkard, as is the nuclear weapon for a president. I like Konrad Lorenz perpective on this, on how the organism in evolution, finds ways to deal with those "arms" until they become as sweet as a step dance rather than like a war machine running under heavy laws. Words like that. Antoine > > Finally, there are no uniform rules that can satisfy all individuals > > under all situations. Vedanta doesn't prescribe any ‘Sadhana' that can > > fit individual needs to attain self-awareness whether it is ordinary or > > extraordinary. Self-unfoldment requires individual efforts and it is > > self-evolved. External guidance can help somebody and for others such > > guidance can hinder progress. > > > > Regards, > > > > Ram Chandran > > Burke, VA > > > > > > > > > > "Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)" wrote: > > > > > > "Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)" <hluthar > > > > > > The question of discarding attachments and conditioning is > > central to many > > > spiritual paths. People speak of transformations, giving up of > > conditioning > > > etc., and attaining a finer and finer level of understanding > > and quality of > > > being. This is clearly a valid perspective and the paths of > > Yoga are based > > > on that. Even Advaitins emphasize practical aspects of > > Sadhana............... -- Through the coming, going, and the balance of life The essential nature which illumines existence is the adorable one May all perceive through subtle intellect the brilliance of enlightenment. A translation of the Gayatri Mantra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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