[Advaita-l] [advaitin] “Vighneshwara is the Jagat-karana Brahman” - says Shri Sarvajnatma Muni ji

[Sudhanshu Shekhar]

Hare Krishna Jaldhar prabhu ji,

What you are saying is a fact and I don't dispute it.  But what should ones
> reaction to that fact be?  Take the rainbow for example.  So beautiful!
> People consider it Indra dhanush, take pictures and post them on
> instagram etc.  Actually it is an illusion caused by the refraction of light
> through water droplets.  Even once you know this...isn't a rainbow
> beautiful?
>

In this context, I would like to cite a couple of verses (2.40 and 2.41)
from Shri GangOttarI kshetra mAhAtmyam by Shri Swami Tapovan Maharaj:

सौन्दर्यं ब्रह्मणो रूपं प्रकृत्यामनुवर्तते।
प्रकृतेर्नास्ति सौन्दर्यं स्व स्वरूपात्मको गुणः।।

सत्यानाञ्च महासत्यं चेतनानाञ्च चेतनम्।
ब्रह्म विद्धि जगद्बीजं सुन्दराणाञ्च सुन्दरम्।।

If we see, it is said clearly that saundarya, beauty, which is seen in
prakriti basically belongs to Brahman and not to the prakriti. So, while
the form of indra-dhanush or the form of prakriti is verily an illusion,
the saundarya isn't of prakriti but of Brahman. This saundarya is also the
swarUpa of Brahman, like satyatva, jnAnatva and Anandatva. How exactly it
needs to be defined can be discussed. But the point is, saundarya is
Brahma-swarUpa.

Looking at the variety of mystical experiences in the religions and cultures
> of the world it seems to me they are of two basic types.  One is a total
> feeling of diminishment.  One becomes acutely aware of ones complete and
> utter insignificance.  The other is a feeling of expansion. One thinks
> there is nothing that is not the self. I would argue that the
> experience of the Rshis is of the second sort.
>

I understand what you are saying. I too side with second view. However, the
mechanism needs to be clear. When we say that there is nothing which is not
myself, it is same as saying "whatever is seen, including the I, is
non-existent. It just appears as a mirage". This is what is
bAdha-sAmAnAdhikaraNya. Seen (including I) is not, only myself is.

And beauty, eternity, existence, consciousness, bliss are all my very
swarUpa. My very being.

Regards.
Sudhanshu Shekhar.