[Advaita-l] What exactly is karma saNyAsa??

[Nithin Sridhar]

Dear Srirudra,

This same Q was posted in my blog also below my article. Let me paste my
answer-

When a person is trying to understand the world and God from Vyavaharika
dasha, then we can see Brahman as both inhabiting the world and also is
above the world. Hence, Isha Upanishad describes Brahman in the same verse
as “Paryaagaat” and “Paribhuh”.

In the verse 5, this is made clear when it is stated “tat antarasya
sarvasya tadu sarvasya baahyataha/it is inside of everything and outside of
everything also”. This is how Brahman should be understood by a person who
is still in Samsara. The very next two verses describe how a Jnani
perceives the Reality. A Jnani says his Atman alone in all objects and all
objects in his Atman. For, such a Jnani in whom all objects have become his
Atman, no dualities exist, Oneness alone remain.

Hence, as you rightly pointed out, from the Absolute/Paramarthika Dasha,
Brahman alone exist, neither creation nor dissolution exist. Hence, when it
is said world is manifested by Brahman, it is not “creation” of a real
entity. Instead it an appearance, similar to a magic elephant conjured by a
magician.

Now, to your Q, what is the need for such a manifestation? From the
absolute standpoint, this Question is of no value because Brahman the very
“Existence”, he is devoid of any duality and is “Everything”. Hence, he
does not need anything else to achieve. People perform actions to achieve a
goal. But, Brahman who is devoid of actions, and is Self-Existent is devoid
of any desires or goals. For this reason, this apparent manifestation of
Universe is neither to achieve some goal nor as an
entertainment/sport/Krida. For, Brahman is Ananda/Bliss itself and hence he
requires no “Krida”. So, the only answer that remains is- “It is the very
nature of Brahman to manifest as Universe”. It is his play- a Lila.

So, because this Manifestation is only his Lila/play, no question of need
or use arise.
_________________________________________


Let me further add that-

When, Jagat is explained as "Mithyam", Mithya does not mean Non-Existence
like the son of barren woman. It means being temporary and without
Independent Existence apart from Brahman. The existence of Jagat is similar
to Snake that is mistake for a rope or a magic elephant conjured by a
magician. In other words, as long as we are in Samsara, this Universe is
Real to us. Hence it is called as Vyavaharika Satya. Instead of rejecting
the whole Universe, one must recognize that it is Brahman who inhabits the
Universe as its Atman. The world of names and forms are golden ornaments.
Just as Gold is real nature of both gold ring and necklace so also beneath
all names and forms, Brahman alone exist. Understanding thus, one must
strive to Realize this first hand or "Aparoksha Jnana". Only at the dawn of
Jnana that, all dualities, all Maya ceases to exist.

Hence, any explanations about Nirguna or Saguna we find in Scriptures are
used only for the purpose of Instructions.


Regards,

Nithin



On Sat, Nov 16, 2013 at 8:12 PM, Srirudra <srirudra at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear Sri Nitin Sridhar
> You say that Nirguna Brahman and SagunaBrahman are one and the
> same.Further say that Nirguna Brahman appears by His own maya as
> SagunaBrahman.WhyHe should do it?I think
> In our ignorance only we think like that and we should strive to clear
> this cloud.Brahman is the only reality and whatever is seen/heard as
> manifested is unreal or mithya.R.Krishnamoorthy
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On 16-Nov-2013, at 3:38 pm, Nithin Sridhar <sridhar.nithin at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > It must also be kept in mind that, Saguna Brahman and Nirguna Brahman are
> > not "Two Brahmans". It is same Brahman who in Reality is Nirguna, appears
> > by his own Maya as Saguna Brahman. In other words, when Brahman is
> > understood in his Absolute state, he is called Nirguna and when Brahman
> is
> > understood in his aspect of manifestation, he is called as "Saguna
> Brahman".
> >
> > I would like to share these two pieces I wrote sometime ago-
> >
> > Nature of Brahman-
> >
> http://nithinsridhar.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/random-musings-part-4-nature-of-brahman-god/
> >
> > Notes on Para-Brahman-
> >
> http://nithinsridhar.wordpress.com/2013/09/26/random-musings-part-14-notes-on-para-brahman/
> >
> > Regards,
> > Nithin
> >
> >
> >
> >> On Sat, Nov 16, 2013 at 3:26 PM, Sujal Upadhyay <sujal.u at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> SV: So, same question as Sri.Rajaram asked -- why should a jnAni should
> >> listen
> >> unreal bhagavAn for the betterment of equally unreal ajnAni-s?
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >> SaguNa Brahman cease to exist only in Nirvikalp Samadhi. Even
> >> 'samadarshina' means to see Atman in everything. If we take darshan as
> 'to
> >> know', then to know everything is Atman. In this case too we 'see' or
> >> 'know', even though it is equality. We should not forget that when under
> >> ignorance we were guided by Ishvara through Guru. If Guru takes
> everything
> >> upon himself, then the ego arises. Hence even he does not take credit
> upon
> >> himself. Either he gives credit to God or to his Guru. Guru's Guru gives
> >> credit to his Guru and it goes on till we reach nArAyaNa or Shiva as Adi
> >> Guru. Our Guru Parampara begins with both of them.
> >>
> >> It is said that when in front of Guru, we have to be in dvaita bhAva.
> Hence
> >> under the command of Guru, who is embodiment of Ishvara, though in
> non-dual
> >> state, Jnani comes down from Nirvikalp samadhi for the good of all. If
> >> Jnani does not come down, then who is going to teach the ignorant? At
> one
> >> time, even Jnani was ignorant.
> >>
> >> However, it is said that Jnani can cast off his mortal coil at will, but
> >> always works as per divine plan.
> >>
> >> 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 Fri, Nov 15, 2013 at 10:12 PM, Srinath Vedagarbha
> >> <svedagarbha at gmail.com>wrote:
> >>
> >>>>> Will a jnani not know that even bhagavan is unreal and his svarupa is
> >>>>> brahman? Why should he listen to someone who doesn't exist?
> >>>
> >>>> The answer exists in the cited verse itself:  it is for the benefit of
> >> the
> >>>> ajnani-s.  He should not unsettle the belief of the samsarin-s who act
> >>>> based on their faith in the veda.
> >>>
> >>> Again, same question can be asked -- wouldn't a jnAni know other
> ajnAni-s
> >>> are equally  unreal just as bhagavAn (even though svarUpa of both
> >> bhagavAna
> >>> and ajnAni-s re brahman).
> >>>
> >>> So, same question as Sri.Rajaram asked -- why should a jnAni should
> >> listen
> >>> unreal bhagavAn for the betterment of equally unreal ajnAni-s?
> >>>
> >>> -SV
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