[Advaita-l] Need resources

[Kuntimaddi Sadananda]

Kartikji- PraNams

 

Imust say that with due respect, the statements of Swamiji are somewhatconfusing. 

 

Forme, the concept of God is straightforward - as Shankara puts it - abhinnanimitta upaadana kaaraNam for the perceived world of plurality - theinseparable intelligent and material cause for the universe. 

 

Theuniverse that we perceive or experience appears to be vast, with infinitegalaxies and galaxies. A scientist sitting on a corner of this tiny earth coulddeduce the universal laws that are applicable across the whole vast universe,implying that it is a perfect ordered system and not a random creation. 

 

Theuniversal validity of the law of Karma and the cause-effect relations furtherimply that the universe is a perfect ordered system. From thermodynamics, workhas to be done to create and maintain the order of any system. Hence there isan intelligence behind this order. Space being infinite, that intelligencecannot be inside the universe since everything inside the universe is created.It cannot be outside the universe since that outside also needs to be createdfor its existence. Hence only choice is that intelligence cannot be differentfrom the universe - echoing the above statement of Shree Shankara.

 

Hence,as long as one perceive the universe, the creation and creator, and theperceiver and perceived cannot but exist. 

 

Byanalyzing the human experience of three states of consciousness, waking, dream,and deep-sleep states, Vedanta arrives at the fundamental truth that you are Brahmanexpressing the triad - jeeva-jagat and Iswara too. But that 'you are' has to becorrectly understood. That is the essence of Vedanta teaching. 

 

HenceIswara and the jeeva and the jagat are as real as perceiving body, mind, andintellect.

 

Thecognitive understanding that one arrives at by shravana, manana andnidhidyaasana is 'I am the absolute truth -the substantive of the triad -jeeva- jagat and Iswara.

 

Whenthat understanding sinks in - one also realizes that the perceived world is theexpression of Iswara's Vibhuti only – or cognitively, it is my own vibhuti.

 

However,as long as one is alive with BMI, the recognition of the triad and thereverential attitude to that creator becomes natural for a realized soul. Thisis demonstrated clearly by Shankara as he composed many beautiful slokas onevery conceptualized God-form familiar to the Hindus. These sloaks help ininculcating a reverential attitude to that Iswara whose glory is expressedeverywhere, including in every living organism.  

 

Ido not see any further need to complicate the issue as long as one understands Shankara'sstatement given above. 

 

HariOm!

 

Sadananda


    On Saturday, April 16, 2022, 01:06:55 AM EDT, Kartik Vashishta via Advaita-l <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:  
 
 OM
OM NAMAH SIVANANDAYA

Revered Self,

Sadar Pranam,

I wish you comfort and peace.

I'm trying to understand some of blessed Sri Sri Swami Krishnananda Ji's
works:

From: https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/disc/disc_137.html

"Philosophical disquisitions often have the tendency to hold the opinion
that the idea of God is, after all, an idea, and an idea need not be a
reality. This is a very critical point which one has to face in deeper
analysis of human situations. Can an idea be identified with existence, or
does an idea merely remain an idea isolated from what we can regard as true
existence? There is a peculiar mystery behind the very idea of perfection
arising in our minds. The mystery is this, which we have to analyse further
with a little bit of caution and subtlety of thought. The idea that the
idea of God may be an idea is also an idea. So, we are not sure as to where
we are standing."
<snip>
"The notion of God will be accepted to be a simple notion and, therefore,
we need not acquiesce in the attribution of any reality or existence to
this idea or notion of the existence of God or perfection. Accepted. But
the refusal to accept the presence of any reality or the element of
existence in the idea or notion of God is an idea which will not again
agree that it also should be identified with a mere idea minus existence.
This is a very great subtle point that is hidden behind the workings of our
minds.

A denial of a thing does not wish to be denied itself. If that denial is
denied, its value goes, and it ceases to be a denial. So the idea that the
idea of God cannot be equated with existence cannot be an idea merely,
minus existence. It has to have some existence, some reality. Otherwise, we
run into an infinite regress of arguments where we do not come to any
conclusion at all. And this inconclusive way of arguing is called logical
fallacy. It is not logic at all. It is not argument. It is not any
acceptable statement. The insistence on the preceding idea, namely the idea
of the refusal to accept the idea of God as identical with reality or
existence, is a proof that the idea of God is identical with the existence
of God."

Not being able to understand. Please suggest some resources
(books/discourses/your take/etc.
In gratitude,

Pranam,

OM
Kartik Vashishta
OM