[Advaita-l] vanaprastha in community

[Michael Shepherd]

Sunilji,

Thank you for your prompt response. In practice, does the  vanaprasthi
remain in the family home, but 'retired' -- like a Western gentleman in his
'study' room ?

Michael

-----Original Message-----
From: advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
[mailto:advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org]On Behalf Of Sunil
Bhattacharjya
Sent: 14 June 2009 12:54
To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta
Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] vanaprastha in community



Dear Michaelji,
 
Vanaprastha is the  stage of retirement from the household responsibilities
and is  the stage of trying to understand the spiritual aspects of whatever
Vaidic karma  one has been doing   as a householder, studying the sacred
texts, having spiritual discussions with the Guru and the other
Vanaprasthis.  Vanaprasthis do not have to give up the fire rituals etc.
Only in the next stage of  Sanyasha that one gives up  the  family  and the
samsara  as well as the fire rituals and  one  cannot stay in one place for
long.
 
Regards,
 
Sunil K. Bhattacharjya

--- On Sun, 6/14/09, Michael Shepherd <michael at shepherd87.fsnet.co.uk>
wrote:


From: Michael Shepherd <michael at shepherd87.fsnet.co.uk>
Subject: [Advaita-l] vanaprastha in community
To: "advaita vedanta" <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
Date: Sunday, June 14, 2009, 4:17 AM


Months without questions, and now two at once !

Q: does the tradition speak of  vanaprastha as entirely to do with personal
moksha; or is there a wider view of it ? i.e. does the prescribed
dissociation with institutions or organizations, still have a spiritual or
social connection with the community ?

The idea of vanaprastha as social isolation feels to me as lacking something
vital..

I hope this question makes some sense..

Michael



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