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

[Venkatesh Murthy]

Namaste
On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 5:26 PM, sreenivasa murthy <narayana145 at yahoo.co.in>
wrote:

>
>      When Sri Shankara  wrote commentary to Bhagavadgita , he wrote
> certain teachings to suit the needs of the persons of that time. The same
> may not hold any water in the present times. What was possible during the
> times of Upanishads is also possible during the present times.  The social
> conditions, living conditions etc. have changed. It is absolutely
> necessary that the method of conveying the fundamental metaphysical truths
> should change  to suit the needs of the present day mumukshus. It is a
> matter of deep regret that the clinging to redundant ideologies and
> obsolete sampradayas.
>

>        There are hundreds of jnanis in this country who are gruhastas even
> to day. They are very silently living and imparting Atmavidya to sincere
> and genuine mumukshus .
>
Can you give some references in Sastra  saying Gruhasthas can become
Jnanis? Adi Sankara has strongly argued in his Bhashyas against mixing
Karma and Jnana. How can a GRUHASTHA performing Karma at the same time
practice Jnana like Meditation for a long time? The Guru Govinda Paada was
living in a cave when Adi Sankara went to him. Do you think a Gruhastha can
live in a cave alone for many months forgetting his wife and children?

If you say only some hours of Meditation are enough for Brahma
Saakshaatkaara and Gruhastha can manage that it is not correct. A very long
Meditation without breaks will have to be practiced. How can Gruhastha do
that and at the same time not stop his Nitya Karma and attention to family?
Gruhasthas can do Sravana and Manana and short  Nididhyasana meditation but
they can never do it for a long time.

There may be some examples like Janaka but they are very rare examples. In
this age it is not possible to follow him.

One more big gap in the Gruhastha argument. Why are Mathadhipatis for all
Mathas only Sanyasis? If hundreds of Gruhasthas can be Jnanis why they are
not appointed to Mathadhipati post?

>
> 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:* Tuesday, 17 March 2015 10:49 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [Advaita-l] Shortest Sentence in English is a Mahaa Vaakya?
>
> Namaste
>
> On Mon, Mar 16, 2015 at 5:19 PM, sreenivasa murthy <
> narayana145 at yahoo.co.in>
> wrote:
>
> > Is mahavakya upadesha has to be given only to sanyasins? Why ? Are not
> the
> > householders entitled for Atmajnana? The Vedic Rishis were not sanyasins.
> > Yajnavlkya Of Bruhadaranyaka Upanishad was a gRuhasta and he taught
> > Brahmavidya to Janaka who was a  a King. Ajatashatru who taught
> Brahmavidya
> > to Balaki was a king. Saunaka who was a gruhasta was taught paravidya by
> > Angiras. The very first mantra of Mundaka Upanishad states : "sa
> > brahmavidyAM sarvavidyApratiShThAm jyEShThaputrAya prAha ||"
> >
> > So  the Upanishadic tradition is that The Guru imparts Brahmavidya to a
> > shishya who approaches Guru with humility. That is the true and genuine
> > tradition. Brahmavidya is not the monopoly of sanyasins . Any man who has
> > that intense desire for mukti is entitled for Atmajnana.
> >
>
> The Gruhastha Householder and Brahmacharis can do Sravana and to some
> extent Manana of Mahaa Vaakyas but only Sanyasi can do the Nididhyasana.
> The Atma Jnana will come after Sravana, Manana and Nididhyasana or Dhyaana
> Yoga done for a long time.  Kindly read the Sankara Bhashya for Dhyana Yoga
> Chapter 6 in Gita. He says only Sanyasis can do Meditation on Self. Why?
> Because if a person is sitting in Dhyana for a long time who will do the
> Nitya Karmas like Sandhya and Agni Karya? Who will take care of his wife
> and children? Who will earn money to support family?
>
> Because of this Adi Sankara says Gruhasthas cannot take up Dhyana Yoga.
> They can do Nitya Karmas for mind purification. With purified mind they
> must renounce and become Sanyasis. Then they can take up Dhyaana Yoga.
> There will not be any disturbance in doing Dhyaana.
>
> ‘एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः’ (भ. गी. ६-१०)
> <
> http://advaitasharada.sringeri.net/php/format.php?bhashya=Gita&page=06&hval=%E2%80%98%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%83%E2%80%99%20%28%E0%A4%AD.%20%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80.%20%E0%A5%AC-%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6%29#BG_C06_V10
> >
> ‘ब्रह्मचारिव्रते
> स्थितः’ (भ. गी. ६-१४)
> <
> http://advaitasharada.sringeri.net/php/format.php?bhashya=Gita&page=06&hval=%E2%80%98%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%83%E2%80%99%20%28%E0%A4%AD.%20%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80.%20%E0%A5%AC-%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AA%29#BG_C06_V14
> >
> इति कर्मसंन्यासविधानात् ।
> न च अत्र ध्यानकाले स्त्रीसहायत्वाशङ्का, येन एकाकित्वं विधीयते । न च
> गृहस्थस्य
> ‘निराशीरपरिग्रहः’ इत्यादिवचनम् अनुकूलम् |
> The wife's help is not required for Dhyana because the Gita is saying‘एकाकी
> यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः’ (भ. गी. ६-१०)
> <
> http://advaitasharada.sringeri.net/php/format.php?bhashya=Gita&page=06&hval=%E2%80%98%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%83%E2%80%99%20%28%E0%A4%AD.%20%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80.%20%E0%A5%AC-%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6%29#BG_C06_V10
> >
> ‘ब्रह्मचारिव्रते
> स्थितः’ (भ. गी. ६-१४)
> <
> http://advaitasharada.sringeri.net/php/format.php?bhashya=Gita&page=06&hval=%E2%80%98%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%83%E2%80%99%20%28%E0%A4%AD.%20%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80.%20%E0%A5%AC-%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AA%29#BG_C06_V14
> >.
> He has to do Dhyaana Alone. It is not like a Vedic Karma taking help of his
> wife.He must be in Brahmacharya. Some people say even a Gruhastha can be
> Brahmachari if he is going to his wife in her Ritu Kaala only but not other
> times. But Sankara Bhaashya is saying Brahmachari Vrata means ब्रह्मचारिणो
> व्रतं ब्रह्मचर्यं गुरुशुश्रूषाभिक्षान्नभुक्त्यादि तस्मिन् स्थितः,
> तदनुष्ठाता भवेदित्यर्थः He must be doing service to Guru and eating Bhiksha
> Anna. He cannot be staying at home with wife and eating her cooked food. He
> must renounce all Karma and be a Sanyasi. ‘रहसि स्थितः एकाकी च’ इति
> विशेषणात् संन्यासं कृत्वा इत्यर्थः  Saying this the Lord is saying Sanyasa
> is a must for Dhyaana Yoga.  निराशीः वीततृष्णः अपरिग्रहः
> परिग्रहरहितश्चेत्यर्थः । संन्यासित्वेऽपि त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः सन्  He must
> not have any desires and property.
>
> The above restrictions cannot be met by Householders. Only a Sanyasi can
> practice Dhyaana Yoga on Atmaa and become Jeevan Mukta.
>
>
>
>
> >
> > 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 12:18 PM
> > *Subject:* Re: [Advaita-l] Shortest Sentence in English is a Mahaa
> Vaakya?
>
> >
> > 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
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Archives: http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
> > > http://blog.gmane.org/gmane.culture.religion.advaita
> > >
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>
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Regards
> >
> > -Venkatesh
> > _______________________________________________
> > Archives: http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
> > http://blog.gmane.org/gmane.culture.religion.advaita
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> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Regards
>
> -Venkatesh
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
Regards

-Venkatesh