[Advaita-l] How can one claim to know Brahman?

[praveen.r.bhat at exgate.tek.com]

praNAm all,

Sorry, while also being glad, I can't keep off the topic :)

Maheshji wrote:
> An observation to reinforce Sanjay's point:
> The word Upanishad in Sanskrit literally means 'sitting in close
> proximity'  so I guess our seers knew that close association with a
> Guru was inescapable for understanding this knowledge.

Agreed. But since most of the expressed views by Sanjay and you are
traditional in this new age forum, may I also add that the study of vedAnta,
IMHO, is *traditionally* not done without an initiation into sanyAsa? In
such a case, taking any of the *other* steps (one being probably better than
the other), is still not *true (read, traditional) study of vedAnta*!
(Others, please feel free to bash me up on limited understanding :)

Maheshji wrote:
> One other observation - Sanjay says:
>> If we do not have the luck of learning from a teacher, the luck is to be
>> created. 

> While completely true, some sort of self effort in search of a Guru is
> a must but one must not forget the dictum - you do not find a Guru,
> the Guru finds you...or in other words, when you are ready, the Guru
> will find you.

Both ways is true... Guru being God, he takes a hundred steps towards you
(only) when you take a step towards him.

jai bajrangabali,
--praveeN