[Advaita-l] Goshti (was: Reply to Sri Vidyamanya Tirtha's observations)

[Sujal Upadhyay]

What I think is that this is a Jnana Sabha :) In my short stay with AV-L, I
have Observed that the answers are given very seriously.

Q and A are always encouraged and not discussions and not pontifications :)

For me, this also has been a type of emotional outlet, as the one who can
stay with himself  24 x 7 would obviously not be here.

In this way, AV-L serves a lot of purpose and helps one clear doubts due to
the presence of sincere knowledgeable members. A little here and there or a
little de-railing is human nature.

But efforts should always be focused on Self Purification and this list is
supplementary to our main path.

Also note that rules and ideals of Treta Yuga cannot be applied in Kali
Yuga.

there cannot be Rama Rajya. Even Krishna had to break rules and ideals laid
down by Rama, as it was necessary. Then came Chanakya.

So questioning purity and comparing it with vedic rishi-s is not fair, as
mind has grown weak, but at the same time, mind should not be left loose,
else it will make you run here and there, is living in bare necessities or
with minimum requirements and keeping one in check is also imp. Sure
sanyasins are our role models and hence a black spot in white cloth is
easily visible.

Technology is available, it is up to us use it or not and if use it, to
what extend. We should not become habituated by it. This was my point.

Aum

OM

Sujal Upadhyay

"To disconnect from the self and to become Aware of anything else is
nothing but unhappiness" - Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi

He who has faith has all
He who lacks faith, lacks all
It is the faith int he name of lord that works wonders
FAITH IS LIFE, DOUBT IS DEATH - Sri Ramakrishna


On Tue, Dec 17, 2013 at 11:42 AM, Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar at braincells.com>wrote:

> An older post I had been meaning to reply to.
>
> On Thu, 28 Nov 2013, Venkata sriram P wrote:
>
>>
>> The mahAbhArata udyOga parva says:
>>
>> AlasyaM madamOhO cha chApalaM gOSTirEva cha
>> stabdhatA chAbhimAnitvaM tathA(a)tyAgitvamEva cha
>> EtE vai sapta dOshAH syuH sadA vidyArthinAM matAH
>>
>> I believe we are all in vidyArthi dasha and the above sloka
>> is applicable for us too.
>>
>> The above sloka lists out 7 doshAs which the students should religiously
>> avoid.
>>
>> 1) AlasyaM
>> 2) mada
>> 3) mOha
>> 4) chApalya
>> 5) gOSTi
>> 6) stabdhata
>> 7) abhimAna
>>
>> Among the above, the 5th point is "gOSTi" which means that
>> forming a group / network and engaging in discussions and
>> chit-chatting.
>>
>> So, the real mumukshu / jignAsu who is well-versed with the
>> above dharma sUkshmAs would not join yahoo forums
>> for satsanghs and discussions.  He would look for a gurukulam
>> elsewhere.
>>
>>
> I do not think that the shloka is trying to criticize goshti in the sense
> of satsanga.  What is the brahamsutra except a meeting of the views of
> different acharyas, some of which are accepted and some rejected?  Rather
> it is listing distractions which prevent single-minded focus.  Goshti is
> bad only in the sense that one cannot achieve jnana by comittee.  If one is
> relying on anything other than viveka then it is only time-passing. But if
> one seeks other views out in an effort to understand that is eminently
> practical.
>
> As for Internet forums, while I feel justified in being proud of what
> advaita-l has achieved I will be the first to say it is only an aid to
> sadhana not a replacement for proper, rigorous sadhana.
>
> --
> Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar at braincells.com>
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