[Advaita-l] Paul Hacker on Avidya in Brahma Sutras

[Michael Chandra Cohen]

Pranam Sri Chandramouli,

One of things I've learned from this paper is the degree that
Sureswaracharya differs from Bhasyakara. That opposes SSS's position of
Sankara and Sureswara siddhanta parampara - I invite comments from SSS
devotees.

Though I have not consulted the Vartika reference to "apparent existence
(bhAvarUpa)" it seems to me one reference doesn't make a case to contradict
Hacker's conclusion when there is substantial support otherwise. Below is
SSS on the Vartika reference.

" Wherever in the Vartika there is a reference to  Ignorance as a material
cause, this is predicated of Ignorance considered as having assumed its
form as the non-conscious Un¬ manifest Principle. It is not a reference to
it in its own characteristic nature as confusion. For the whole conception
of cause arid effect is only mentioned in the Vdrtika at all to show that
it is created by Ignorance. From the standpoint of practical experience, on
the other hand, causality can be ac¬ cepted wherever it is found. (SSS,
Method of the Vedanta, p335 "

You may also wish to peruse the text below by a close student of SSS on
this topic:
http://www.adhyatmaprakasha.org/php/english/english_books_toc.php?book_id=048&type=english&book_title=Teaching+of+Brahman+through+the+Attributions+of+Avidya+and+Maya

On Wed, May 18, 2022 at 8:38 AM H S Chandramouli via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> Namaste.
>
> On Tue, May 17, 2022 at 8:16 PM Michael Chandra Cohen via Advaita-l <
> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>
> <<  However, this is a recent study that better informs this thread of
> discussion. I think it is a worthy support for some of SSS's contentions
> and I implore all forum members to give it some thought.
> best regards.
>
>
> https://www.academia.edu/79198170/The_Reliability_of_Hacker_s_Criteria_for_Determining_%C5%9Aa%E1%B9%85kara_s_Authorship
> >>,
>
> The article deals principally with authorship of various prakarana granthas
> attributed to Sri Bhagavatpada. I presume this is in response to my post
> citing references to such works which contradict contention of Hacker
>
> <<    For instance,  Hacker states,
>
> "If follows from what has been discussed up to this point that S. does not
> materialize avidyA. As a result the adjective jada, which is constantly
> added to avidyA from PadmapAda onward ... is missing in S. Moreover, the
> epithet *bhavarupa, *which can be found in Advaita texts from JnAnottama
> onward, is missing"  >>
>
> Sri SSS himself, while dismissing authorship claims of most of such works
> generally attributed to Sri Bhagavatpada, readily admits that Upadesha
> Sahasri is indeed the work of Sri Bhagavatpada. In holding this view, he
> draws upon the fact that this work is repeatedly cited by Swami
> Sureswaracharya in his own works. And Sri SSS is by his own admission an
> ardent follower of Swami Sureswaracharya.
>
> Swami Sureswaracharya contends in BUBV 1-4-442 that ajnAna derives its
> status of apparent existence (bhAvarUpa)  from the सद्वस्तु (sadvastu ).
>
> <<  मिथ्याज्ञानस्य  वस्तुत्वं  येनैव  स्यात्सदात्मना II  अज्ञानस्यापि
> तेनैष
> सत्यत्वं  केन  वार्यते ?  II  >>
>
> <<  mithyAj~nAnasya  vastutvaM  yenaiva  syAtsadAtmanA II  aj~nAnasyApi
> tenaiSha  satyatvaM  kena  vAryate ?  II  >>
>
> In support of this, Swami Sureswaracharya refers to and cites the Upadesha
> Sahasri verse 18-46 as BUBV 1-4-443 wherein he adds in the fourth pAda that
> such a view is as espoused by his predecessors, meaning Sri Bhagavatpada.
> The first three pAdAs are a repeat of verse 18-46 of Upadesha Sahasri.
>
> <<  रज्जुसर्पो  यधा  रज्ज्वा  सात्मकः  प्राग्विवेकतः I  अवस्तुसन्नपि  ह्येष
> इति पूजैरपीरितम्  II  >>
>
> <<  rajjusarpo  yadhA  rajjvA  sAtmakaH  prAgvivekataH I  avastusannapi
> hyeSha  iti pUjairapIritam  II  >>
>
>
>
> Undoubtedly, Hacker got his data wrong in concluding that
>
> <<  "If follows from what has been discussed up to this point that S. does
> not
> materialize avidyA. As a result the adjective jada, which is constantly
> added to avidyA from PadmapAda onward ... is missing in S. Moreover, the
> epithet *bhavarupa, *which can be found in Advaita texts from JnAnottama
> onward, is missing"  >>
>
> Presumably his subsequent observations are heavily influenced by this wrong
> starting point.
> Regards
>
> On Tue, May 17, 2022 at 8:16 PM Michael Chandra Cohen via Advaita-l <
> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>
> > Namaste and pranam to all who responded to my initial post. I am having
> > server issues and am otherwise overwhelmed with formulating suitably
> > thoughtful replies.
> >
> > However, this is a recent study that better informs this thread of
> > discussion. I think it is a worthy support for some of SSS's contentions
> > and I implore all forum members to give it some thought.
> > best regards.
> >
> >
> >
> https://www.academia.edu/79198170/The_Reliability_of_Hacker_s_Criteria_for_Determining_%C5%9Aa%E1%B9%85kara_s_Authorship
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