[Advaita-l] The Problem of markaTa-sannyAsa (was Re: Commentary on Ramana's Forty Verses)

[Akilesh Ayyar]

Namaste,

Yes, thank you. I don't accept Vidyaranya's distinctions on this point.
Anyhow, they certainly don't bear on Sri Ramana's positions.
ᐧ
ᐧ

On Thu, Jun 17, 2021 at 3:07 PM S Jayanarayanan via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

>  Akilesh Ayyar ayyar at akilesh.com wrote:
>
> > Show me where in his written works it is said that one MUST take to
> > monkhood and give up the householder life. Not once does he say that.
>
> This has been discussed in a thread about a couple of years ago:
>
> https://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/2019-April/051927.html
>
> -------------
>
> Samnyasa and Sankara's position?
>
> Akilesh Ayyar ayyar at akilesh.com wrote:
>
> > Namaste,
> >
> > I am wondering what Sankara's position on the necessity of samnyasa for
> > seekers and/or jnanis.
> >
> > My impression is that the traditional understanding is that he does
> require
> > it at least of seekers.
> >
> > However, I have read that he suggests that grihasthas and other
> > non-samnyasins can achieve moksha, which contradicts that idea.
> >
>
> There are broadly speaking four kinds of sannyAsa:
>
> 1) markaTa-sannyAsa or "Monkey-like" renunciation:
>  This so-called "sannyAsa" is taken up without vairAgya, and is denounced
> by the Wise. e.g. Arjuna's attempt (dissuaded by Krishna).
>
> 2) vividiShA-sannyAsa or "Seeker's" renunciation:
>  The standard sannyAsa that is taken up by those who have vairAgya and
> yearn to know the Self.
>
> 4) vidvat-sannyAsa or "Knower's" renunciation:
>  This is a highly esteemed sannyAsa automatically assumed by one who has
> already known the Self as a gRRihastha or brahmachArin,
>  in order to attain *STEADINESS* (niShThA) in the Self! e.g. yAGYavalkya.
>
> 4) Atura-sannyAsa or "Deathbed" renunciation:
>  A dying man who wishes to take his last breath as a sannyAsin.
>
> Here's a more elaborate explanation regarding the illustrious third kind
> above:
>
>
> https://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/2009-February/021329.html
>
>  BrahmaGYAna and jIvanmukti - 7 (Summary)
>  Feb 19, 2009
>
> -------------
>
> Basically, Arjuna was trying to take up the "Monkey" type of renunciation,
> the "BAD" kind of sannyAsa, which has to be avoided at all costs. Better to
> continue doing one's Karma than to give up Karma altogether and then
> entertain desires!
>
> Ramana Bhagavan also repeatedly discouraged people to take up sannyAsa
> just to sit in a corner and think about worldly pleasures, which is really
> toxic, to say the least!
>
> However, the sannyAsa that is taken up either for Self-knowledge or after
> Self-knowledge, is definitely superior to niShkAma-Karma.
>
> Thanks,
> Kartik
>
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