[Advaita-l] Shortest Sentence in English is a Mahaa Vaakya?

[Srivathsa Rao]

Subramanian sir,
                                What I was asking is...Aham brahmansmi is a
mahavakhya which directly says I am brahman or athman is
brahman......Similarly I am asking is there any mahavakhya which directly
says that this world is illusion or jagath mithya?



On Mon, Mar 16, 2015 at 12:43 PM, RAMESH RAMANAN via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> Pranams to Venkatesh Murthyji,
> i agree with Sreenivasa Murthygaru when he says that the sign itself is
> not the destination, but only a pointer to a destination. That is why, Sri
> Ramana dissuaded his disciples from repeating or chanting soham, shivoham,
> etc., as mantras, instead of pursuing self-enquiry as a discipline. He
> advised many of his disciples to spare just enough time for self-enquiry,
> as much as they devote to prayer and meditation and promised them that a
> diligent and ceaseless practice of self-enquiry would definitely repay
> one's time spend on it. But your view of considering 'i am' as a Mahavakya
> is quite interesting. I enjoyed reading your post on the subject. Sri
> Krishna says in Verse 22 of Chapter 10 of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita:"I am
> the Consciousness or Intelligence Principle among human beings." Now, when
> you analyze this carefully, we find that inside our human bodies, we are
> the consciousness, as we are not the body, mind, intellect or senses.
> Therefore, as Sri Krishna says that he is the consciousness in human beings
> and as logically, there can not be two consciousnesses in a single human
> body, we are absolutely identical with  Sri Krishna, according to this
> verse. Therefore, though the topic of issue of self-enquiry or atma Vichara
> is not a new one (many Upanishads do touch upon self-enquiry), we are
> indebted to Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharishi for expounding it in such great
> detail, as the same was hidden in aphorisms and in Sanskrit Literature, not
> easily accessible to all of us.
> Just some view of mine.
>
> Pranams,
> Ramesh Ramanan.
>
>      On Monday, 16 March 2015, 12:18, Venkatesh Murthy via Advaita-l <
> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>
>
>  Namaste
> On Mon, Mar 16, 2015 at 11:45 AM, sreenivasa murthy <
> narayana145 at yahoo.co.in
> > wrote:
>
> >
> >    One can accept it as a mahavakya. But what is the use? It will add
> > some more weight to the already carrying burden in the mind. That is
> > all. Does mere acceptance of a mahavakya confer upon him Atmajnaa? Until
> > and unless one becomes AvRuttacakShuH he cannot cognize the vastu
> > viz.,one's true svarUpa and thereby he will never get Atmajnana. A
> > mumukshu's sadhana should be directing his attention to that which exists
> > prior to the appearance of the varna, word, phrase and sentences.
> > Do you agree?
> >
>
> I agree words and sentences will not themselves give Atma Jnana because
> Upanisad also says 'Yato Vacho Nivartante Aprapya Manasa Saha' the Atmaa
> cannot be described in words and understood by mind. But Mahaa Vaakyas can
> point to Atmaa.
>
> Like you see a sign in the road. If you follow the sign it will take you
> destination. But the sign is not the destination. By seeing that sign you
> cannot say you have reached destination. Similarly the Mahaa Vaakyas should
> be Heard, Reflected and Meditated. Then you will get Atma Jnana. Following
> the Sravana, Manana and Nididhyasana of Mahaa Vaakyas will give Atma Jnana.
>
> I agree also simply listening to Mahaa Vaakyas and repeating like it Mantra
> will not be useful. Reflection and Meditation are very necessary. Without
> them there will not be Atma Jnana.
>
> In Advaita tradition the Mahaa Vaakyas are playing an important role. The
> senior Swamiji will give Mahaa Vaakya Upadesha to junior Swamiji. The
> Brahma Jnana will be from Sravana Manana Nididhyaasana of the Mahaa Vaakya
> only. Because of this the Swamijis become Jeevan Muktas.
>
>
>
>
> > With warm and respectful regards,
> > Sreenivasa Murthy
> >
>
>
> >
> >  ------------------------------
> >  *From:* Venkatesh Murthy via Advaita-l <
> > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
> > *To:* A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta <
> > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
> > *Sent:* Monday, 16 March 2015 10:23 AM
> > *Subject:* [Advaita-l] Shortest Sentence in English is a Mahaa Vaakya?
> >
> > Namaste
> >
> > I got a Whatsapp message from a friend. The shortest sentence in English
> is
> > 'I am'. Looking at it I feel it has a Advaita message in it. If you say
> 'I
> > am a man', 'I am the son of So and So', 'I am tall', 'I am short', 'I am
> > fat', 'I am slim', 'I am intelligent', 'I am stupid', 'I am young', 'I am
> > old', 'I am fair', 'I am dark', 'I am rich', 'I am poor' and so on it is
> > all because of MAAYAA only. None of the sentences are TRUE.
> >
> > But the sentence 'I am' is TRUE. It is only saying I Exist. It is never
> > False.
> >
> > What is a Mahaa Vaakya? It must be pointing to the Paaramaarthika Satya
> but
> > not Vyaavahaarika Satya. The Upanisad Mahaa Vaakyas are all meeting this
> > requirement. That is Aham Brahmaasmi, Tat Tvam Asi, Ayam Atmaa Brahma and
> > Prajnaanam Brahma are all meeting the requirement. They are all pointing
> to
> > Brahman the Advaita Reality. The shortest sentence 'I am' is also
> pointing
> > to Paaramaarthika Satya Sat. Sat is Pure Existence.
> >
> > Can we accept  'I am' is a Mahaa Vaakya in English?
> >
> > --
> > Regards
> >
> > -Venkatesh
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>
>
> --
> Regards
>
> -Venkatesh
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