Orthodoxy is path of
ignorance. orthodoxy has no no Vedic sanction because it makes one indulge in all sorts of non-vedic worship and rituals. An ignorant worships
mechanically perform the prescribed sacrifices without any thought as to why he is doing them.
That is why Ish Upanishads says: - such people no wonder they grope in the dark. They are
doomed unless someday the truth dawns on them that to save themselves they must
seek Self-knowledge.
And also it says :- Worse,
however, is the situation of those who worship vidya. The word vidya ¸ usually
means "knowledge', but here it is used to mean "gods and goddesses'.
Some people worship gods and goddesses so that they may someday attain the same
status. They may get their desire fulfilled, but this will only delay their
liberation. That is why the Upanisad says that they will be in deeper darkness.
Scholars say that the
path of avidya [performing aganihotra and other sacrifices] and the path of
vidya [worshipping gods and goddesses] produce different results. Wise men
confirm this. [X]
Vidya and avidya both
are hindrances to Self-knowledge, but vidya is even worse than avidya. The word
vidya is used here in a special sense; here it means worshipping gods and
goddesses. By worshipping gods and goddesses you will go after death to the
world of gods and goddesses. But will that help you? The time you spend there
is wasted, because if you were not there you could have spent that time moving
forward towards Self-knowledge, which is your goal. In the world of gods and
goddesses you cannot do that, and thus you go deeper and deeper into darkness.
Avidya is karma and
therefore a hindrance. You perform avidya - i.e., you perform Agnihotra and
other sacrifices. This is a roundabout way of purifying the mind, and it is
also groping in the dark. But it may not have as heavy a toll on your time and
energy as the other.
In pursuit of truth the ultimate truth has to be proved, not
assumed. Pundits who take scriptures for granted are not Gnanis.
Pundits teach that all is your-self, but none of them can show
that this is so, none has analyzed it scientifically, and none can prove it.
Rational proof is needed, so that one arrive at knowing truth i.e. wisdom;
punditry is mere dogma, parrotism, repetition of what they read in scripture. Scriptures are not yardstick and scriptural truth is not proof. Pundits take scriptures as authority. Authoritarianism merely assumes as true what
another says, but what has yet to be proved.
Pundits have to test truth in this world not in the next
world. There is no proof other than
blind belief based on the scriptures, belief is not truth. So, doctrines are not the means to realize
the ultimate truth. There is no need to follow them.
Gaudapada says: - the merciful
Veda teaches karma and upaasana to people of lower and middling intellect,
while jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.
For those who are incapable of inquiring and not
yet ready for Self-Knowledge, the worship and glorifying of god and gurus is
recommended.
Even, Mundaka Upanishad:- The rituals and the sacrifices described in the Vedas deal with lower
knowledge. The sages ignored these rituals and went in search of higher
knowledge. ... Such rituals are unsafe rafts for crossing The sea of samsara,
of birth and death. Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross The sea of
samsara on these poor rafts. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise In their
own esteem, these deluded men Proud of their vain learning go round and round
Like the blind led by the blind.
So they clearly indicate rituals and theories
are not meant for those who are searching for the higher knowledge or
wisdom. The path of wisdom is the only
means.
All the orthodox Advaitins indulge and
immersed themselves in ritualistic oriented life style and follow the path of
karma and upasana which is meant for lower and middling intellect and not for realizing the Advaitic
truth. Many chose these orthodox scholars
as their gurus. But these gurus are good to learn the conceptual Advaita meant
for those orthodox who believe their conduct oriented life style leads to
Moksha or liberation. But religious based
Advaita is not the means to acquire Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Those
who are seeking truth have to do their own homework in order to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.
