[Advaita-l] Comments of an ISCKON follower

[Rajaram Venkataramani]

On Monday, March 19, 2012, Sunil Bhattacharjya <
sunil_bhattacharjya at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Dear Shyamji,
>
> Lord Krishna is the Apara-Brahman and he Himself is the Para-Brahman in
the Nrguna state. The Lord Krishna advised that surrendering to Him is the
easier way than to contemplate on the Nirguna Brahman. He is Akshara and he
is  He all the time. Therefore one should not distinguish between the
Apara-Brahman and the Para-Brahman. For him the creation is not different
from him. That is why a Jani-bhakta like Sridharaswami or Madhusoodana
Saraswati can realize the oneness with the Lord. With Bhakti alone without
the Jnana one cannot have that direct Mukti. Of course the option of
Krama-Mukti does remain available to the bhakta who has yet to attain the
Jnana..
>
> As regards Sayujya mukti let us consider the statement in the Ramayana,
which you must  be aware is considered equal to Veda (as Ramayana itself
declares). Lord Ram offered Sayujya Mukti to Hanuman and on Sayujya mukti
one does not have any individual body left. How can then sayujya mukti be
anything other than complete dissolution of individuality. Othyer types of
Mukti are not real mukti as it is known that even after attaining sarupya
Mukti ravana had to take birth albeit it happened due to acurse. That shows
that in all  forms of Mukti other than the SayujyaMukti one is vulnerable
to taking birth. With all respects to Sri CandraSekhara BhAratI SvAminaH
has anybody ever asked him for such clarification?

Sayujya is oneness with Avyakta. The other four are with Hiranyagarbha, the
world of gods. Advaita Siddhi is realization of Inner Self/Ishwara/Brahman.

The Lord manifests a form in our minds that has the characteristics of
elements that we can relate to. He does that Himself through His own Maya (
Paramaya ). If we think His form is different from Him, then like
Hiranyagarbha, it will be apara Brahman. But if we don't see the effect as
different from the cause viz Him, then then there won't be any difference.
If we see that the Lord limits Himself, then we will think that He is
parinama nithya like the changing cycle of samsara. But if we see that the
Lord remains in His supreme state through these manifestations that are
objects of our mind and senses, then we will see Him as kutastha nithya.