[Advaita-l] waking, dreaming, sleeping, as mutually supportive

Michael Shepherd michael at shepherd87.fsnet.co.uk
Thu Oct 22 07:47:47 CDT 2009


J.O.K.E. Anbu -- a reference to the old tradition/belief/Christian
missionary propaganda/ that all foreigners rank as sudras, therefore etc.
Return to your musings :)

Michael

-----Original Message-----
From: advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
[mailto:advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org]On Behalf Of Anbu
sivam2
Sent: 22 October 2009 12:57
To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta
Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] waking, dreaming, sleeping, as mutually
supportive



Quote: "...I'm not saying this to set off another round of belabouring these
foreign sudras...:

Why claim the sudhrahood?  Does this not betray a false stance of being a
'victim'?

The secularists with their claim of 'equality' were the ones who belabour
the Hindus with their inimical idea of  'discrimination' and putting down
the sudhras.  Such self-depiction of oneself as sudhra reveals the
secularist disapproval of our varnasrama dharma which is one of the
fundamentals of Hinduism.

I have in my musings, held that the varnas are universal and on that basis
would have conceded non-practicing brahminhood (a brahmin not following his
varna dharma).  But clearly there seems better advantage in claiming
different dehaathma buddhi of being a foreign sudhra!

On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 6:36 AM, Michael Shepherd <
michael at shepherd87.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

> Dear Vishyji,
>
> I'm on this website list for the sake of truth -- so I don't want to say
> something which gets attacked as the misinterpretations of some covert
> Christian missionary,,,:)
>
> In my understanding (pause for laughter) bhakta as the way of devotion
> allows for a delightful play, as the gopis with Krishna, between oneself
> and
> the 'Lord'. This has given rise to a literature which talks -- expecially
> in
> Sufism and other mystical traditions -- of the Lord setting 'tests' to
> tease
> us into greater love...
>
> The jnani tradition would simply see this as karma and reward -- almost or
> entirely mechanical in its operation.
>
> I myself don't have any problem -- as Shankara in his delightful prayer to
> Giriga for instance, if indeed it is his -- with being aware of both
> traditions simultaneously as part of chitshakti lila...
>
> However, I'm not saying this to set off another round of belabouring these
> foreign sudras...:)
>
> Michael
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> [mailto:advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org]On Behalf Of Vishy
> Sent: 22 October 2009 05:41
> To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta
> Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] waking, dreaming, sleeping, as mutually
> supportive
>
>
>
> Dear Michealji
>
> Can you be bit more elobarate on rebirth post please
>
>
> Pranams
> Vishy
>
> --- On Wed, 21/10/09, Michael Shepherd <michael at shepherd87.fsnet.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>
> From: Michael Shepherd <michael at shepherd87.fsnet.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] waking, dreaming, sleeping, as mutually
supportive
> To: "A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta"
> <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
> Date: Wednesday, 21 October, 2009, 8:58 PM
>
>
> Srinivas ji,
>
> Thanks for that. I'm trying to find whether 'dream' or taijasa can be
> redefined legitimately as 'mental actiivity' and thus incorporate not only
> nightly 'dreaming' and envisioning, but also the envisioning of poets and
> writers -- and by extension, the very Veda and Upanishads and Mahabharata
> etc, as created 'visions of truth'.
>
> And that, without offending the pandits...!
>
> Michael
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> [mailto:advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org]On Behalf Of
> Shrinivas Gadkari
> Sent: 21 October 2009 10:49
> To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> Subject: [Advaita-l] waking, dreaming, sleeping, as mutually supportive
>
>
>
> Namaste,
>
> Here is my understanding in brief:
>
> Sleep is the base state. This is the state of akSara puruSa.
> From sleep ones "wakes" up into either "dream" state or "awake"
> state. Both these constitute the state of kSara puruSa.
>
> As you have rightly pointed out "dream" state plays an
> important part in sAdhanA.
> Outward description of of any upAsanA highlights the inter-play
> between "dream" and "awake" state.
>
> You might want to inquire if "sleep" state has a role in sAdhanA.
> (mahA viSNu sleeping on a snake may be some indirect reference
> on this front.)
> And then what about fourth state.
>
> I am not aware of any scripture which talks openly and explicitly on
> these issues.
>
> Other than mANDukya other text that treats this topic somewhat
> more deeply is the last chapter of chandogya (prajApati's intruction to
> indra). Some material can also be found in yAjnavalkya discourse to
> janaka in bRhadAraNyaka (4th chapter - I think).
>
> Regards,
> Shrinivas
>
>
>
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