[Advaita-l] Queries to learn and transform

[Jaldhar H. Vyas]

On Sun, 26 Sep 2004 RSGirish at aol.com wrote:

> Hi,
>
> As its said in Advaita, there are 2 levels - vyavahara and  paramartha.
> I have a few question on transition of a normal human being.
>
> Are all human beings born and are at vyavahara, or is it that a normal  human
> being by means of his understanding or perception of good/bad or trying to
> understand the world get into this Level.
>

We can say at the very beginning most beings are just animals. i.e.  it
can react to stimulus and do what it needs to in order to survive and
that's it.  While such beings are as much Brahman as the wisest sage they
can never realize it because they lack self-awareness.

> What qualities both in thoughts and behaviour would be changed to get into
> this level?
>

The sense that there is an "other" and there are limits to selfhood.
While such beings are also as much Brahman as the wisest sage they can
never realize it because their attachment to false notions renders them
unable to see Brahman for what it truly is.


> Once in this level. what behaviour or transition should a human being  now go
> through to get to the next level? How should and will he/she make this
> happen.
>

The knowledge that both the non-apprehension of selfhood and the limited
idea of selfhood are based on misconceptions and the self is really one,
continuous, and infinite.

> When some one claims he has realised the Brahman, how what are his
> qualities/behaviour?
>

He is utterly indifferent towards the world of multiplicity not because he
hates it or looks down on it but it is totally meaningless for him.


-- 
Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar at braincells.com>