Wednesday, November 2, 2011

What are the obstacles in Sri,Sankara’s teaching? Where the scholars are going wrong? How to overcome all the obstacles in the path of truth ? in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.



Everything in non-duality refers to consciousness, because everything (three states)is created out of single stuff, which is formless soul or consciousness, the innermost self.   On the standpoint of soul or consciousness there is nothing exists other then the soul.  Thus everything, which is formless consciousness, is perfectly perfect.

 People who view and judge on the standpoint of the physical self or waking entity or ego will not understand this because they see diversity as reality. They think ‘I’ is self and body is illusion, whereas, the body and the ‘I’, both are part of the illusion.  

 They think whatever exists within the waking experience that is, man and his experience of the world is perfectly perfect reality.  There are so many obstacles if one tries to reach non-dual destination through Advaita because of   add-ons and adulteration. Therefore, Advaita is roundabout way to reach the non-dual destination. Since, the scholars are sentimentally and emotionally involved with Advaita philosophy which is based on the Vedas they will not be able to grasp the non dual truth, without bifurcating the religion, scriptures and god glorification.  


That is why Sri, Sankara says in VivekaChudamani   :-
58. Loud speech consisting of a shower of words, the skill in expounding the Scriptures, and likewise erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the scholar, but are no good for Liberation.


59. The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.


60. The Scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest which merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.


61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae) and medicines to such a one?


62. A disease does not leave off if one simply utter the name of the medicine, without taking it; (similarly) without direct realisation one cannot be liberated by the mere utterance of the word Brahman.


There is nothing more rational, more intelligible and more un-dogmatic insights of Sri, Sankara, is to drop all the theistic non-duality or Advaita which is meant for those who are incapable and not receptive to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.


If one merely theorizes, tries to understand through his intellect and there contended he cannot become a Gnani but he becomes a scholar or pundit.   Seeker of truth must make what he has understood and assimilated has to be  realized, to get firm conviction of the non- dualistic truth or ultimate truth or Brahman,   than only it is possible for him to transcend all the limitations of the experience of form, time and space.    


The existence beyond limitations of form, time and space is known as Moksha or Nirvana. Spiritual freedom or self-realization is the goal of every seeker of truth. 

Upanishads Nikhilananda

Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. [Ch II-5 P-14]


 Only Deeper self-search helps the seeker to remove all the obstacles in pursuit of truth.  They are so many scholars in India who mastered Advaitic philosophy.  It is impossible to acquire self-knowledge in the present form of Advaitic philosophy. Because their preaching is based on non-duality and practices is based on duality. Rational way is the only way.  

Katha Upanishad:
  This Ataman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Ataman reveals Its own form. [Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20]

It is very difficult to talk to people about Advaita because everyone thinks he is scholar and authority on Advaita. This- I know business is dangerous.  And whatever his reached conclusion is second hand stuff.

Second-hand knowledge of the self gathered from books or gurus can never emancipate a man until its truth is rightly investigated and applied; only direct realisation will do that. Realise yourself, turning the mind inward.Tripura Rahasya, 18: 89


The essence of Advitha is:

"DVI" means two. DVI" connotes dual existence and "ADVAITA" the non-dual, which of these two is non existence? People think that there is God and that the jivas--souls-- like them form the second, other then them. There is no such duality at all. "Brahman” is the only reality and there is nothing other then this Absolute Supreme Being. That Brahman through Maya or the multiplying power of illusion appears as many Jivas. But this is just the play of Brahman, even as an actor in a drama remains unchanged throughout although Brahman   plays different roles. The seemingly obvious duality between Brahman and Jiva does not actually exist because both are one and the same Atman. If only one transcend this phenomenal illusion and experience of duality with Brahman, he would then be not the individual souls with all his little failings but one with it--the Absolute, infinite Reality. This is the tenet of Advaith philosophy thought by great master Sri,Sankara.

One has to  think deeply and reason,  than only is it possible to overcome the illusion with all its diversity. Seeker has to find out :-  What are the obstacles in Sri,Sankara’s teaching?   Where the scholars are going wrong? How to overcome all the obstacles in the path of truth ?  in order to realize the ultimate truth  or Brahman.