ADVAITA-L Digest - 29 Jan 1999 to 1 Feb 1999 (#1999-23)

[Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)]

Giridhar wrote:

> >Date:    Mon, 1 Feb 1999 12:39:17 -0500
> >From:    "Vaidya N. Sundaram" <sundaram at ECN.PURDUE.EDU>
> >Subject: Re: vivekachUdAmani
> >
> >On Fri, 29 Jan 1999, Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar) wrote:
> >
> >> In Yoga, they say that when Shakti Joins
> >> Shiva at Sahasarara, this union results in liberation, and at death of the
> >> body the Prana exits through the Sahasarara resulting in Maha Samadhi. The
> >> exit through the Sahasarara is meant to be a sign of the final Mukti.
> >> However, on the path of Jnana, the pranas do not exit but are absorbed into
> >> the Heart that is the Self. How do we reconcile these two seemingly
> >> divergent explanations?
> >
> >namaskAram:
> >  I do not know much about the Yogic references to Maha Samadhi you
> >make, so my answer will not be complete.
>
> Having learnt/practiced Kundalini yoga and then atma vichara for a while,
> it is my feeling that the explanations are not divergent but depends on
> how one defines mukti.
>
> According to yoga, when prana leaves thro' sahasarara, then one goes to
> Brahmaloka, never to return to "mortal" existence and is liberated from
> the cycle of births and deaths. Advaita does not disagree with the concept
> of Brahmaloka etc. (see Madhusudana sarasvati's commentary relating to
> attaining Brahmaloka through bhakti alone).
>
> However, the real advaitic stance is more logical and stringent.
> Mukti is something that is "attained" right now. It is only a "rediscovering"
> of the Self by the removal of (avidya, dvaita. There is nothing to attain,
> only the avidya has to leave.
>
> My experience, based on my Guru's words, is this : "Exercises" like
> Kundalini yoga, kriya yoga etc etc. are all _very_ useful till a stage,
> when adequate concentration and chitta shuddhi is attained. Later, all
> these practices have to be essentially looked upon as "unreal" and the
> mind turned inward to realize the Self by atma vichara. Essentially,
> all these yogic practices are useful till one has the "maturity" to look upon
> all the lokas (including this one) as unreal and concentrate on the Real.
>
> AUM shaantiH
>
> gm
>

Harsha: Yes. From the perspective of the Self, all the lokas are equally unreal.
Sri Ramana pointed out that people adopt different spiritual practices according
to their inclination and it helps to bring purity of mind and peace. A peaceful
and contented mind is easy prey to Grace.

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