Caitanyachandra
-
Content Count
181 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by Caitanyachandra
-
-
-
interesting the list from 00's was accurate.
-
[This message has been edited by Caitanyachandra (edited 10-01-2001).]
-
a
[This message has been edited by Caitanyachandra (edited 10-01-2001).]
-
go go Gooh!
-
http://www.iskcon.org/main/twohk/prabhu.htm
Srila Prabhupada took birth in this world on the day
after Krishna's appearance day, in Calcutta, 1896.
His life history from his earliest days to his passing
away in 1977 is vividly described in his authorized
biography, the Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta.
In Calcutta, 1922, Srila Prabhupada first met his
spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakur, who immediately asked him, "You are an
intelligent young man. Why don't you preach the
message of Lord Caitanya in English?" This request
was to be the driving force in Srila Prabhupada's life.
Although Srila Prabhupada then
accepted his spiritual master within
his heart, it was in 1932 that he
became Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's
officially initiated disciple.
Meanwhile, Srila Prabhupada had
started a successful pharmaceutical
business to maintain his family.
In 1936, Srila Prabhupada wrote to his spiritual
master, who was then passing his last days on the
planet. In the letter Prabhupada asked, "Is there any
particular service I can do?" Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
said in his reply, "I am fully confident that you can
explain in English our thoughts and arguments. ...I
have every hope that you can turn yourself into a very
good English preacher." Srila Prabhupada knew this
was to be his life's mission, and he began to prepare
himself.
In 1944, during the Second World War, when paper
was scarce and people were not very wealthy
materially or spiritually, Srila Prabhupada began his
magazine, Back to Godhead, which is still being
published today. To pay for the printing, he would
collect donations. To publish the issues (then in
newspaper format), he would write, edit, and do the
layout. To sell them, he would go out himself.
In 1950, he left his home and family and dedicated
his life to preaching. In 1959, he took the order of
sannyasa -- full renunciation from material life. Soon
afterward he wrote three volumes of the
Srimad-Bhagavatam, finishing the first of twelve
cantos. Again he wrote, edited, proofread, bought the
paper, and got the books printed and bound. After
delivery, he sold the books through bookstores and
agents in the larger cities of India.
Now he had these three books in English. Feeling
the weight of his spiritual master's order and knowing
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's assurance that His holy
name would be heard in every town and village
throughout the world, Srila Prabhupada was
determined to go to America somehow or other and
preach. He was convinced that if the Americans
would take up Krishna consciousness, all the other
countries in the world would follow.
Begging passage on the Jaladuta, a cargo carrier of
the Scindia Steamship Corporation, and traveling 35
painful days across the ocean (he had two heart
attacks on the journey), Srila Prabhupada arrived in
New York City. He later related, "I didn't know where
to turn, left or right." After a difficult six months, living
here and there, he rented a small storefront on 26
Second Avenue in New York's Lower East Side, not
the best neighborhood by any estimation. It was here
that some sincere searchers for spiritual knowledge
gathered and gradually found shelter at the lotus feet
of Srila Prabhupada, whom they affectionately called,
"Swamiji."
Soon Srila Prabhupada gathered
the most interested of these
searchers and brought them to
Tompkins Square Park, where they
held the first outdoor chanting
session (sankirtan) outside India.
Onlookers were amazed, and the
boys who had gone with him were feeling the ecstasy
of chanting. Soon there were regular chanting
parties, and the first devotees became initiated by
Srila Prabhupada. In July of 1966, Srila Prabhupada
officially incorporated The International Society for
Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and began to
develop his infrastructure for spreading the message
of Krishna throughout the world. Srila Prabhupada
revived his Back to Godhead magazine, which the
newly-initiated devotees distributed on the streets.
Regularly Srila Prabhupada would hold chanting
sessions and give lectures to the eager groups of
people who would come to his storefront. Always he
would distribute prasadam, and soon he started the
first Sunday feasts.
After the New York devotees became more steady in
their spiritual practice, Srila Prabhupada went to San
Francisco to establish ISKCON on the West Coast of
the USA. Many hippies joined his movement and
spread spiritual love and peace throughout the
community. Srila Prabhupada sent his disciples to
preach in other parts of the world and establish
Krishna Conscious centers. They first started
preaching in London, then later in Berlin, India, and
many cities throughout the USA.
Srila Prabhupada passed away from this world in
1977. After preaching for 11 years in the West, he
had created 108 centers worldwide, written 51
volumes of transcendental literature (described
below), traveled around the world eight times and
initiated 5,000 disciples. He had created the world's
largest publisher of Vedic literature (The
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust), a scientific preaching
academy (The Bhaktivedanta Institute), and many
other trusts to insure the continuity of ISKCON.
-
What is the purpose and meaning of ISKCON? Why does it exist? Who created it...
It is common knowledge that ISKCON does not have a bona-fide disciplic parampara. What's next for this maze of mirrors and fire?
-
it was a good read chapz.
[This message has been edited by Caitanyachandra (edited 10-01-2001).]
-
Putting someone against a white board could reflect more light which resembles a intended --interpretation of an aura. Too much white can damage the eyes.
For the bodily aura. It might be the superimposition of light from the body + brain electromagnetic radiation + (bodily raditation - light from the body) = AURA?
I don't know now.
-
done.
[This message has been edited by Caitanyachandra (edited 10-17-2001).]
-
How can you see auras?
I would like to know that...
-
There are millions of infinite qualities to The Lord however there are 2 that set him apart from everything.
-
Description of Thought Process and Materializing of Earth
Samkhya and Vedanta
Out of six classical systems of studies of Indian thought (Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and
Vedanta), Samkhya forms one of the most important philosophical currents. It is based on two distinct principles,
namely 1) Purusha, and 2) Prakriti. This dualism forms the basis of this philosophy. Secondly, Samkhya is precise,
rational, and logical, and therefore does not deem it necessary to invoke the concept of God for explaining the
manifest and non-manifest multifarious nature: the individual self and the objective universe. Samkhya nicely
propounds the theory of the possibility and the need to realize our true Self so that the bondage of ignorance is
broken and the individual self may attain liberation. Patanjali in his system of Yoga further elucidates the method
and means to unite our lower self with the true Self.
It is to the credit of sage Kapila (of ancient India, circa 3500 BCE) that saw the elaboration of this system, and
thereby he established the basis for all subsequent philosophical deliberations. Therefore, Kapila Muni is truly called
"Father of Philosophy".
Prakriti
Through the concept of Prakriti Samkhya deduced the evolution of objective universe in its infinite diversity. This
Prakriti is the all pervasive but complex primal substance, which is transformed into multifarious nature. The primal
entity is not perceived in its original form, for then it is in a state of equilibrium, and as such non-modified. This
eternal and infinite principle is insentient and consists of three interdependent and interchangeable elements
called the gunas. These are sattva, rajas, and tamas. These gunas are not the qualities but the constituent parts of
Prakriti. They give complexity to the Mula (original) Prakriti.
Under the inscrutable influence of Purusha, which is inactive and passive, but sentient (and also infinite and
eternal), Prakriti loses its equilibrium. As a consequence of this, the equilibrium is disturbed and the whole universe
of unlimited permutations and combinations comes into existence. The first modification of primordial nature is
called Mahat or Cosmic Intelligence. It further involutes into two forces, 1) Akasha, the primal matter, and 2) Prana,
the primal energy. Akasha forms the material basis and prana the energy basis of creation. Out of the interaction
of akasha and prana are formed five subtle elements, crudely translated as ether, fire, air, water, and earth. These
are the constituents of all the material existence in the universe. As can be seen, even mahat is material consisting
of three gunas, and so also the prana.
Nothing can exist without the combination of these three gunas. Mind, intellect, ego, sense organs, sense objects,
trees, plants, animal world, in short everything evolves from the various combination of these three gunas. In some
of these the sattva predominates, in others the rajas or the tamas. Depending upon the preponderance of a
particular guna in such a combination, the object acquires its peculiarities. Fir instance, while the mind and
intellect have predominance of sattva, a clod of earth is full of tamas! Sattva is helpful in illumining the true nature
of the thing, tamas in its extreme obscures the reality, rajas acts at the intermediate level, and it causes distorted
perception and gives false perception of it. Sattva is pure and shining, rajas is active and passionate, while tamas
is dull and lazy.
Purusha
Samkhya philosophy should not be construed to mean naturalistic science; and its conception of the second
principle as Purusha removes such a misconception. While Prakriti is insentient, Purusha is the sentient being. It is the
principle of awareness. Because of its close association with the Prakriti it is possible to gain experience. Organs of
perception are responsible for bringing sensory stimuli to the mind, but it s only because of proximity of Purusha to
the internal organ -antahkarana- one can gain the experience. One more important consideration according to
Samkhya is that Purusha are many.
The process in brief can be described as follows:
Spirit or Purusha is the principle for the sake of which nature evolves. Experience is explained on the basis of a
certain association of spirit with nature. Matter is merely the medium for spirit to manifest itself; matter is not the
source of consciousness. Mind intellect complex (or internal organ, the Antahkarana) is refined, subtle matter
predominantly consisting of sattva guna that acts as the main locus of union between Prakriti and Purusha
resulting in possibility of an experience, and thereby knowledge.
Every thought, desire, i.e. mental process by way of internal or external stimulus brings about modifications in chitta
- the mind-stuff. Like a stone thrown in a lake it produces ripples in the chitta. Immediately the mind reacts, it sends
the message to the Buddhi or the intellect, which determines the nature of the impulse and decides the course of
action. Thus, intellect acts as the deterministic faculty. Buddhi presents the whole series of modifications to the
Purusha, which experiences the change in the chitta, but is not affected in the least in the process. It is like a
colorless prism appearing red when a red flower is placed beside it! Thus internal organ or mind-stuff is the main
conduit for knowledge. However, the ego-function confuses the situation by identifying the Purusha with the
matter.
The Purpose
But what is the purpose of all these changes in the nature! Is there any? How and why this evolution from gross to
subtle and back, and these changes can be interpreted in relation to the goal? The question comes to mind: Is
the cosmic revolution purposeful?
Answers to these questions form the basis of various philosophical thoughts in the history of time and place. The
westerners and Charvakas of India believed that such changes are meant for the sense enjoyment, from grosser
indulgence to refined intellectual deliberations. Eat, drink, and be merry was the slogan of ancient materialist
Charvakas. But the Indians didn't object to their whims, for, true religious democratic tradition, respect for every
belief, was the main pillar of Indian culture.
Anyway, coming to our point of answering the question of purpose, aim or goal, of the changes in the nature,
Samkhya maintains that changes are for the 'benefit' of the soul. The Purusha gradually realizes that changes in
the nature do not affect it; and a day comes when it becomes free from all the bondages of identification with
the and mind. It realizes that it is eternal Free and omniscient. This freedom of soul is the aim and destiny of every
human endeavor.
The missing link in modern materialist science is the absence of any conception of primal sentient Self or
Consciousness or Purusha. (Throughout the article, the terms Self or Consciousness or Purusha are used
interchangeably.)
*
Differences with Advaita Vedanta:
The ancient Samkhya and Vedanta philosophies discuss various aspects of origin of universe and evolutionary
rationality of creation. The whole argumentative approach of various Indian belief systems, in some way or the
other, is based on these philosophies.
We have seen that Samkhya maintains two independent Realities and infinite numbers of Purusha! Moreover,
both the entities are taken to assume infinite and eternal existence. Vedanta does not accept two infinites and
multiplicity of Souls.
Vedanta maintains that Brahman is the only Immaterial Existence; and being non-material and simple, It has to be
all pervading and the only One Reality. The problem arises, then, about explaining this 'multifarious existence
including our identity!' The simple and apparently clever answer to this question is:
'When one perceives this universe as real, the explanation based on Maya theory should suit the person. A time
will come when one shall reach the state of higher consciousness when this multifarious reality will vanish, and the
person will perceive the same universe as no other than Brahman, (or Atman, or Self, or God).'
Before everything there exists Reality as Absolute Consciousness. The 'Will' to become many is the beginning of
manifest universe. The Will evolves as Illusion: the Maya. 'Absolute Consciousness, Brahman, willed to become
many', this is Maya. Maya is the cosmic illusion that creates ignorance and veils the vision of the Only Reality. Due
to the power of Maya, the Same Oneness is perceived as manifold universe.
Basically Absolute Consciousness was never modified, is not modified, and cannot be modified. This is the basis of
Advaita Vedanta. Based on their experiences the 'seers' or 'rishis' of ancient ages came to the conclusion that the
entire manifest universe is the expression of illusory qualities of One Substance -the Absolute Universal
Consciousness:
Swami Vivekananda has had honesty to praise the sage Kapila and his exposition of Samkhya philosophy as, "(If
we take into consideration Advaita Vedanta), then our argument will be that the Samkhya is not a perfect
generalization, ...and yet all glory really belongs to the Samkhya. It is very easy to give a finishing touch to a
building when it is constructed
-
Description of Thought Process and Materializing of Earth
Samkhya and Vedanta
Out of six classical systems of studies of Indian thought (Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and
Vedanta), Samkhya forms one of the most important philosophical currents. It is based on two distinct principles,
namely 1) Purusha, and 2) Prakriti. This dualism forms the basis of this philosophy. Secondly, Samkhya is precise,
rational, and logical, and therefore does not deem it necessary to invoke the concept of God for explaining the
manifest and non-manifest multifarious nature: the individual self and the objective universe. Samkhya nicely
propounds the theory of the possibility and the need to realize our true Self so that the bondage of ignorance is
broken and the individual self may attain liberation. Patanjali in his system of Yoga further elucidates the method
and means to unite our lower self with the true Self.
It is to the credit of sage Kapila (of ancient India, circa 3500 BCE) that saw the elaboration of this system, and
thereby he established the basis for all subsequent philosophical deliberations. Therefore, Kapila Muni is truly called
"Father of Philosophy".
Prakriti
Through the concept of Prakriti Samkhya deduced the evolution of objective universe in its infinite diversity. This
Prakriti is the all pervasive but complex primal substance, which is transformed into multifarious nature. The primal
entity is not perceived in its original form, for then it is in a state of equilibrium, and as such non-modified. This
eternal and infinite principle is insentient and consists of three interdependent and interchangeable elements
called the gunas. These are sattva, rajas, and tamas. These gunas are not the qualities but the constituent parts of
Prakriti. They give complexity to the Mula (original) Prakriti.
Under the inscrutable influence of Purusha, which is inactive and passive, but sentient (and also infinite and
eternal), Prakriti loses its equilibrium. As a consequence of this, the equilibrium is disturbed and the whole universe
of unlimited permutations and combinations comes into existence. The first modification of primordial nature is
called Mahat or Cosmic Intelligence. It further involutes into two forces, 1) Akasha, the primal matter, and 2) Prana,
the primal energy. Akasha forms the material basis and prana the energy basis of creation. Out of the interaction
of akasha and prana are formed five subtle elements, crudely translated as ether, fire, air, water, and earth. These
are the constituents of all the material existence in the universe. As can be seen, even mahat is material consisting
of three gunas, and so also the prana.
Nothing can exist without the combination of these three gunas. Mind, intellect, ego, sense organs, sense objects,
trees, plants, animal world, in short everything evolves from the various combination of these three gunas. In some
of these the sattva predominates, in others the rajas or the tamas. Depending upon the preponderance of a
particular guna in such a combination, the object acquires its peculiarities. Fir instance, while the mind and
intellect have predominance of sattva, a clod of earth is full of tamas! Sattva is helpful in illumining the true nature
of the thing, tamas in its extreme obscures the reality, rajas acts at the intermediate level, and it causes distorted
perception and gives false perception of it. Sattva is pure and shining, rajas is active and passionate, while tamas
is dull and lazy.
Purusha
Samkhya philosophy should not be construed to mean naturalistic science; and its conception of the second
principle as Purusha removes such a misconception. While Prakriti is insentient, Purusha is the sentient being. It is the
principle of awareness. Because of its close association with the Prakriti it is possible to gain experience. Organs of
perception are responsible for bringing sensory stimuli to the mind, but it s only because of proximity of Purusha to
the internal organ -antahkarana- one can gain the experience. One more important consideration according to
Samkhya is that Purusha are many.
The process in brief can be described as follows:
Spirit or Purusha is the principle for the sake of which nature evolves. Experience is explained on the basis of a
certain association of spirit with nature. Matter is merely the medium for spirit to manifest itself; matter is not the
source of consciousness. Mind intellect complex (or internal organ, the Antahkarana) is refined, subtle matter
predominantly consisting of sattva guna that acts as the main locus of union between Prakriti and Purusha
resulting in possibility of an experience, and thereby knowledge.
Every thought, desire, i.e. mental process by way of internal or external stimulus brings about modifications in chitta
- the mind-stuff. Like a stone thrown in a lake it produces ripples in the chitta. Immediately the mind reacts, it sends
the message to the Buddhi or the intellect, which determines the nature of the impulse and decides the course of
action. Thus, intellect acts as the deterministic faculty. Buddhi presents the whole series of modifications to the
Purusha, which experiences the change in the chitta, but is not affected in the least in the process. It is like a
colorless prism appearing red when a red flower is placed beside it! Thus internal organ or mind-stuff is the main
conduit for knowledge. However, the ego-function confuses the situation by identifying the Purusha with the
matter.
The Purpose
But what is the purpose of all these changes in the nature! Is there any? How and why this evolution from gross to
subtle and back, and these changes can be interpreted in relation to the goal? The question comes to mind: Is
the cosmic revolution purposeful?
Answers to these questions form the basis of various philosophical thoughts in the history of time and place. The
westerners and Charvakas of India believed that such changes are meant for the sense enjoyment, from grosser
indulgence to refined intellectual deliberations. Eat, drink, and be merry was the slogan of ancient materialist
Charvakas. But the Indians didn't object to their whims, for, true religious democratic tradition, respect for every
belief, was the main pillar of Indian culture.
Anyway, coming to our point of answering the question of purpose, aim or goal, of the changes in the nature,
Samkhya maintains that changes are for the 'benefit' of the soul. The Purusha gradually realizes that changes in
the nature do not affect it; and a day comes when it becomes free from all the bondages of identification with
the and mind. It realizes that it is eternal Free and omniscient. This freedom of soul is the aim and destiny of every
human endeavor.
The missing link in modern materialist science is the absence of any conception of primal sentient Self or
Consciousness or Purusha. (Throughout the article, the terms Self or Consciousness or Purusha are used
interchangeably.)
*
Differences with Advaita Vedanta:
The ancient Samkhya and Vedanta philosophies discuss various aspects of origin of universe and evolutionary
rationality of creation. The whole argumentative approach of various Indian belief systems, in some way or the
other, is based on these philosophies.
We have seen that Samkhya maintains two independent Realities and infinite numbers of Purusha! Moreover,
both the entities are taken to assume infinite and eternal existence. Vedanta does not accept two infinites and
multiplicity of Souls.
Vedanta maintains that Brahman is the only Immaterial Existence; and being non-material and simple, It has to be
all pervading and the only One Reality. The problem arises, then, about explaining this 'multifarious existence
including our identity!' The simple and apparently clever answer to this question is:
'When one perceives this universe as real, the explanation based on Maya theory should suit the person. A time
will come when one shall reach the state of higher consciousness when this multifarious reality will vanish, and the
person will perceive the same universe as no other than Brahman, (or Atman, or Self, or God).'
Before everything there exists Reality as Absolute Consciousness. The 'Will' to become many is the beginning of
manifest universe. The Will evolves as Illusion: the Maya. 'Absolute Consciousness, Brahman, willed to become
many', this is Maya. Maya is the cosmic illusion that creates ignorance and veils the vision of the Only Reality. Due
to the power of Maya, the Same Oneness is perceived as manifold universe.
Basically Absolute Consciousness was never modified, is not modified, and cannot be modified. This is the basis of
Advaita Vedanta. Based on their experiences the 'seers' or 'rishis' of ancient ages came to the conclusion that the
entire manifest universe is the expression of illusory qualities of One Substance -the Absolute Universal
Consciousness:
Swami Vivekananda has had honesty to praise the sage Kapila and his exposition of Samkhya philosophy as, "(If
we take into consideration Advaita Vedanta), then our argument will be that the Samkhya is not a perfect
generalization, ...and yet all glory really belongs to the Samkhya. It is very easy to give a finishing touch to a
building when it is constructed
-
Description of Thought Process and Materializing of Earth
Samkhya and Vedanta
Out of six classical systems of studies of Indian thought (Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and
Vedanta), Samkhya forms one of the most important philosophical currents. It is based on two distinct principles,
namely 1) Purusha, and 2) Prakriti. This dualism forms the basis of this philosophy. Secondly, Samkhya is precise,
rational, and logical, and therefore does not deem it necessary to invoke the concept of God for explaining the
manifest and non-manifest multifarious nature: the individual self and the objective universe. Samkhya nicely
propounds the theory of the possibility and the need to realize our true Self so that the bondage of ignorance is
broken and the individual self may attain liberation. Patanjali in his system of Yoga further elucidates the method
and means to unite our lower self with the true Self.
It is to the credit of sage Kapila (of ancient India, circa 3500 BCE) that saw the elaboration of this system, and
thereby he established the basis for all subsequent philosophical deliberations. Therefore, Kapila Muni is truly called
"Father of Philosophy".
Prakriti
Through the concept of Prakriti Samkhya deduced the evolution of objective universe in its infinite diversity. This
Prakriti is the all pervasive but complex primal substance, which is transformed into multifarious nature. The primal
entity is not perceived in its original form, for then it is in a state of equilibrium, and as such non-modified. This
eternal and infinite principle is insentient and consists of three interdependent and interchangeable elements
called the gunas. These are sattva, rajas, and tamas. These gunas are not the qualities but the constituent parts of
Prakriti. They give complexity to the Mula (original) Prakriti.
Under the inscrutable influence of Purusha, which is inactive and passive, but sentient (and also infinite and
eternal), Prakriti loses its equilibrium. As a consequence of this, the equilibrium is disturbed and the whole universe
of unlimited permutations and combinations comes into existence. The first modification of primordial nature is
called Mahat or Cosmic Intelligence. It further involutes into two forces, 1) Akasha, the primal matter, and 2) Prana,
the primal energy. Akasha forms the material basis and prana the energy basis of creation. Out of the interaction
of akasha and prana are formed five subtle elements, crudely translated as ether, fire, air, water, and earth. These
are the constituents of all the material existence in the universe. As can be seen, even mahat is material consisting
of three gunas, and so also the prana.
Nothing can exist without the combination of these three gunas. Mind, intellect, ego, sense organs, sense objects,
trees, plants, animal world, in short everything evolves from the various combination of these three gunas. In some
of these the sattva predominates, in others the rajas or the tamas. Depending upon the preponderance of a
particular guna in such a combination, the object acquires its peculiarities. Fir instance, while the mind and
intellect have predominance of sattva, a clod of earth is full of tamas! Sattva is helpful in illumining the true nature
of the thing, tamas in its extreme obscures the reality, rajas acts at the intermediate level, and it causes distorted
perception and gives false perception of it. Sattva is pure and shining, rajas is active and passionate, while tamas
is dull and lazy.
Purusha
Samkhya philosophy should not be construed to mean naturalistic science; and its conception of the second
principle as Purusha removes such a misconception. While Prakriti is insentient, Purusha is the sentient being. It is the
principle of awareness. Because of its close association with the Prakriti it is possible to gain experience. Organs of
perception are responsible for bringing sensory stimuli to the mind, but it s only because of proximity of Purusha to
the internal organ -antahkarana- one can gain the experience. One more important consideration according to
Samkhya is that Purusha are many.
The process in brief can be described as follows:
Spirit or Purusha is the principle for the sake of which nature evolves. Experience is explained on the basis of a
certain association of spirit with nature. Matter is merely the medium for spirit to manifest itself; matter is not the
source of consciousness. Mind intellect complex (or internal organ, the Antahkarana) is refined, subtle matter
predominantly consisting of sattva guna that acts as the main locus of union between Prakriti and Purusha
resulting in possibility of an experience, and thereby knowledge.
Every thought, desire, i.e. mental process by way of internal or external stimulus brings about modifications in chitta
- the mind-stuff. Like a stone thrown in a lake it produces ripples in the chitta. Immediately the mind reacts, it sends
the message to the Buddhi or the intellect, which determines the nature of the impulse and decides the course of
action. Thus, intellect acts as the deterministic faculty. Buddhi presents the whole series of modifications to the
Purusha, which experiences the change in the chitta, but is not affected in the least in the process. It is like a
colorless prism appearing red when a red flower is placed beside it! Thus internal organ or mind-stuff is the main
conduit for knowledge. However, the ego-function confuses the situation by identifying the Purusha with the
matter.
The Purpose
But what is the purpose of all these changes in the nature! Is there any? How and why this evolution from gross to
subtle and back, and these changes can be interpreted in relation to the goal? The question comes to mind: Is
the cosmic revolution purposeful?
Answers to these questions form the basis of various philosophical thoughts in the history of time and place. The
westerners and Charvakas of India believed that such changes are meant for the sense enjoyment, from grosser
indulgence to refined intellectual deliberations. Eat, drink, and be merry was the slogan of ancient materialist
Charvakas. But the Indians didn't object to their whims, for, true religious democratic tradition, respect for every
belief, was the main pillar of Indian culture.
Anyway, coming to our point of answering the question of purpose, aim or goal, of the changes in the nature,
Samkhya maintains that changes are for the 'benefit' of the soul. The Purusha gradually realizes that changes in
the nature do not affect it; and a day comes when it becomes free from all the bondages of identification with
the and mind. It realizes that it is eternal Free and omniscient. This freedom of soul is the aim and destiny of every
human endeavor.
The missing link in modern materialist science is the absence of any conception of primal sentient Self or
Consciousness or Purusha. (Throughout the article, the terms Self or Consciousness or Purusha are used
interchangeably.)
*
Differences with Advaita Vedanta:
The ancient Samkhya and Vedanta philosophies discuss various aspects of origin of universe and evolutionary
rationality of creation. The whole argumentative approach of various Indian belief systems, in some way or the
other, is based on these philosophies.
We have seen that Samkhya maintains two independent Realities and infinite numbers of Purusha! Moreover,
both the entities are taken to assume infinite and eternal existence. Vedanta does not accept two infinites and
multiplicity of Souls.
Vedanta maintains that Brahman is the only Immaterial Existence; and being non-material and simple, It has to be
all pervading and the only One Reality. The problem arises, then, about explaining this 'multifarious existence
including our identity!' The simple and apparently clever answer to this question is:
'When one perceives this universe as real, the explanation based on Maya theory should suit the person. A time
will come when one shall reach the state of higher consciousness when this multifarious reality will vanish, and the
person will perceive the same universe as no other than Brahman, (or Atman, or Self, or God).'
Before everything there exists Reality as Absolute Consciousness. The 'Will' to become many is the beginning of
manifest universe. The Will evolves as Illusion: the Maya. 'Absolute Consciousness, Brahman, willed to become
many', this is Maya. Maya is the cosmic illusion that creates ignorance and veils the vision of the Only Reality. Due
to the power of Maya, the Same Oneness is perceived as manifold universe.
Basically Absolute Consciousness was never modified, is not modified, and cannot be modified. This is the basis of
Advaita Vedanta. Based on their experiences the 'seers' or 'rishis' of ancient ages came to the conclusion that the
entire manifest universe is the expression of illusory qualities of One Substance -the Absolute Universal
Consciousness:
Swami Vivekananda has had honesty to praise the sage Kapila and his exposition of Samkhya philosophy as, "(If
we take into consideration Advaita Vedanta), then our argument will be that the Samkhya is not a perfect
generalization, ...and yet all glory really belongs to the Samkhya. It is very easy to give a finishing touch to a
building when it is constructed
-
Leonhard Euler
Calvinist
physicist; mathematician; differential and
integral calculus and algebra
where does this guy get 'his history?
what a l00ser.
-
Interesting study list for scholars.
-
Einstein would be in bottom fifty. His influence is completely taken out LI.
Thank relative time for that.
-
ADD to the list or create your own list...
I'll put a concocted one:
1. Sri Krsna
1. Sri Adi Sankar Acarya.
2. Jeev Goswami.
3. Jesus Christ (non-existent)
4. Darwin
5. Clinton
6. etc...
-
Intersting list here. Moohammed is put at #1 for founding Zorastrainistic ISLAM. NEWTON IS PUT AT #2 for theory of universal gravitation and motional laws (note he was not the first to discover gravitity by any means)!
http://www.adherents.com/adh_influ.html
1
Muhammad
Islam
Prophet of Islam; conqueror of Arabia; Hart
recognized that ranking Muhammad first might be
controversial, but felt that, from a secular historian's
perspective, this was the correct choice because
Muhammad is the only man to have been both a
founder of a major world religion and a major
military/political leader.
2
Isaac Newton
Anglican (rejected Trinitarianism;
believed in the Arianism of
the Primitive Church) *
physicist; theory of universal gravitation;
laws of motion
3
Jesus Christ *
Judaism; Christianity
founder of Christianity
4
Buddha
Hinduism; Buddhism
founder of Buddhism
5
Confucius
Confucianism
founder of Confucianism
6
St. Paul
Judaism; Christianity
proselytizer of Christianity
7
Ts'ai Lun
Chinese traditional religion
inventor of paper
8
Johann Gutenberg
Catholic
developed movable type; printed Bibles
9
Christopher
Columbus
Catholic
explorer; led Europe to Americas
10
Albert Einstein
Jewish *
physicist; relativity; Einsteinian physics
11
Louis Pasteur
Catholic
scientist; pasteurization
12
Galileo Galilei
Catholic *
astronomer; accurately described
heliocentric solar system
13
Aristotle
Platonism / Greek philosophy
influential Greek philosopher
14
Euclid
Platonism / Greek philosophy
mathematician; Euclidian geometry
15
Moses
Judaism
major prophet of Judaism
16
Charles Darwin
Anglican (nominal)
biologist; described Darwinian evolution,
which had theological impact on many
religions
17
Shih Huang Ti
Chinese traditional religion
Chinese emperor
18
Augustus Caesar
Roman state paganism
ruler
19
Nicolaus
Copernicus
Catholic (priest)
astronomer; taught heliocentricity
20
Antoine Laurent
Lavoisier
Catholic *
father of modern chemistry; philosopher;
economist
21
Constantine the
Great
Roman state paganism; Christianity
Roman emperor who made Christianity the
state religion
22
James Watt
nonreligious *
developed steam engine
23
Michael Faraday
Sandemanian
physicist; chemist; discovery of
magneto-electricity
24
James Clerk
Maxwell
Presbyterian; Anglican; Baptist *
physicist; electromagnetic spectrum
25
Martin Luther
Catholic; Lutheran
founder of Protestantism and
Lutheranism
26
George Washington
Episcopalian; Deist
first president of United States
27
Karl Marx
Jewish; Christian;
Atheist; Marxism/Communism *
founder of Communism
28
Orville and Wilbur
Wright
Protestant (nominal?) *
inventors of airplane
29
Genghis Khan
Mongolian shamanism
Mongol conqueror
30
Adam Smith
Liberal Protestant
economist; expositor of capitalism; religious
philosopher
31
Edward de Vere
Christianity *
literature; also wrote 6 volumes about
philosophy and religion; William
Shakespeare?
32
John Dalton
Quaker
chemist; physicist; atomic theory; law of
partial pressures (Dalton's law)
33
Alexander the
Great
Greek state paganism
conqueror
34
Napoleon
Bonaparte
Catholic (nominal) *
French conqueror
35
Thomas Edison
Congregationalist; agnostic *
inventor of light bulb, phonograph, etc.
36
Antony van
Leeuwenhoek
Calvinist *
microscopes; studied microscopic life
37
William T.G.
Morton
??
pioneer in anesthesiology
38
Guglielmo Marconi
Catholic and Anglican *
inventor of radio
39
Adolf Hitler
Catholic; Nazism
conqueror; led Axis Powers in WWII
40
Plato
Platonism / Greek philosophy
founder of Platonism
41
Oliver Cromwell
Puritan (Protestant)
British political and military leader
42
Alexander Graham
Bell
Unitarian-Universalist
inventor of telephone
43
Alexander Fleming
Catholic
penicillin; advances in bacteriology,
immunology and chemotherapy
44
John Locke
raised Puritan (Anglican);
Liberal Christian
philosopher and liberal theologian
45
Ludwig van
Beethoven
Catholic
composer
46
Werner Heisenberg
*
discovered the principle of uncertainty
47
Louis Daguerre
??
an inventor/pioneer of photography
48
Simon Bolivar
Catholic (nominal); Atheist *
National hero of Venezuela, Colombia,
Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia
49
Rene Descartes *
Catholic
Rationalist philosopher and mathematician
50
Michelangelo
Catholic
painter; sculptor
51
Pope Urban II
Catholic
called for First Crusade
52
'Umar ibn
al-Khattab
Islam
Second Caliph; expanded Muslim empire
53
Asoka
Buddhism
king of India who converted to and spread
Buddhism
54
St. Augustine
Christianity
Early Christian theologian
55
William Harvey
Anglican (nominal) *
discovered the circulation of the blood
56
Ernest Rutherford
??
physicist; pioneer of subatomic physics
57
John Calvin
Protestant; Calvinism
Protestant reformer; founder of Calvinism
58
Gregor Mendel
Catholic (monk)
Mendelian genetics
59
Max Planck
Protestant *
physicist; thermodynamics
60
Joseph Lister
Quaker
principal discoverer of antiseptics which
greatly reduced surgical mortality
61
Nikolaus August
Otto
??
built first four-stroke internal combustion
engine
62
Francisco Pizarro
Catholic
Spanish conqueror in South America;
defeated Incas
63
Hernando Cortes
Catholic
conquered Mexico for Spain
64
Thomas Jefferson
Episcopalian; Deist; Unitarian *
3rd president of United States
65
Queen Isabella I
Catholic
Spanish ruler
66
Joseph Stalin
Russian Orthodox; Atheist; Marxism
revolutionary and ruler of USSR
67
Julius Caesar
Roman state paganism
Roman emperor
68
William the
Conqueror
Catholic
laid foundation of modern England
69
Sigmund Freud
Jewish (non-practicing); Atheist *
Freudian psychology/psychoanalysis
founder of Freudian school of psychology;
psychoanalysis
70
Edward Jenner
Christianity *
discoverer of the vaccination for smallpox
71
Wilhelm Conrad
Roentgen
??
discovered X-rays
72
Johann Sebastian
Bach
Lutheran; Catholic
composer
73
Lao Tzu
Taoism
founder of Taoism
74
Voltaire
raised in Jansenism;
later Deist *
writer and philosopher; wrote Candide
75
Johannes Kepler
Lutheran *
astronomer; planetary motions
76
Enrico Fermi
Catholic *
initiated the atomic age; father of atom
bomb
77
Leonhard Euler
Calvinist
physicist; mathematician; differential and
integral calculus and algebra
78
Jean-Jacques
Rousseau
born Protestant;
converted as a teen to Catholic;
later Deist
French deistic philosopher and author
79
Nicoli Machiavelli
Catholic
wrote The Prince (influential political
treatise)
80
Thomas Malthus
Anglican (cleric)
economist; wrote Essay on the Principle of
Population
81
John F. Kennedy
Catholic
president of United States
82
Gregory Pincus
Jewish *
endocrinologist; developed birth-control pill
83
Mani
Manicheanism
founder of Manicheanism, once a world
religion which rivaled Christianity in
strength
84
Lenin
Jewish (1/4); Russian Orthodox;
Atheist; Marxism/Communism
Russian ruler
85
Sui Wen Ti
Chinese traditional religion
unified China
86
Vasco da Gama
Catholic
navigator; discovered route from Europe to
India around Cape Hood
87
Cyrus the Great
Zoroastrianism
founder of Persian empire
88
Peter the Great
Russian Orthodox
forged Russia into a great European nation
89
Mao Zedong
Atheist; Communism; Maoism
founder of Maoism, Chinese form of
Communism
90
Francis Bacon
Anglican *
philosopher; delineated inductive scientific
method
-
test
[This message has been edited by Caitanyachandra (edited 03-16-2002).]
-
Disciples of prabhupada like to here his good pasttimes. Not bad ones like that if it even happened.
-
I cannot believe SHE requests that I be removed from these forum. RIDICULOUS
-
You need to go valaya. You have implied beef and steaks on these forums and forms now.
Later.
Advanced Computing
in World Review
Posted · Report reply
IBM Builds World's Fastest Supercomputer
to Simulate Nuclear Testing for U.S. Energy Department
Poughkeepsie, N.Y., June 29, 2000. IBM today announced that the company has built the world's fastestsupercomputer--capable of 12 trillion calculations per second--more than three times faster than the most powerful
computer in existence today. Known as ASCI White, the RS/6000 SP supercomputer covers an area the size of two
basketball courts and will be used by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program to help ensure the safety and
reliability of the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile without real-world testing.
In testing just completed at IBM facilities in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., ASCI White demonstrated a record
computational capability of 12.3 teraflops (trillions of operations/second)--exceeding the performance
requirements of IBM's pioneering contract with the DOE by 23%. The system is scheduled to be fully installed at
the DOE's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California by the end of the year. The Laboratory is
operated for DOE by the University of California.
ASCI White marks a breakthrough in computing. At 12.3 teraflops, the IBM-designed RS/6000 SP system is the
first computer to exceed the double-digit teraflop speed barrier, a feat once thought impossible by computer
scientists. It will be used by the DOE to develop complex 3D simulation tools for use in supporting nuclear
stockpile stewardship efforts.
The system, developed by IBM under the DOE's ASCI (Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative) Partnership, is
powered by 8,192 copper microprocessors, and contains six trillion bytes (TB) of memory with more than 160 TB
of IBM disk storage capacity--enough to hold six times the entire book collection of the Library of Congress.
Delivery of the ASCI White system from IBM facilities in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to DOE's Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory in Livermore, California will require 28 tractor trailer trucks.
"This is a significant achievement," said Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson. "Once this system is fully installed it
will be an important tool for stockpile stewardship."
"This level of computing power has never been achieved anywhere. It will open new horizons in scientific
computing, as we approach our goal to simulate the aging and operation of a nuclear weapon," according to David
M. Cooper, Associate Director for Computations and CIO at Lawrence Livermore. "This is the second time in our
partnership with IBM that they have exceeded contract performance specifications in the delivery of a major
supercomputer system."
"The completion of the ASCI White system is a significant milestone for the Department of Energy and for the
science of computer simulation," said Nicholas Donofrio, IBM Senior Vice President and Group Executive,
Technology and Manufacturing. "The selection of IBM and the RS/6000 SP for a project of this scope and national
urgency is a reflection of our unique ability to provide large scale computational power to solve the most
demanding business and scientific applications--what we call "'Deep Computing'."
The DOE's Stockpile Stewardship ASCI project was developed in response to a directive from President Clinton. It
integrates the efforts of the three DOE national laboratories: Livermore, Los Alamos, and Sandia. The ASCI
project calls for a series of supercomputers--1, 3, 10, 30 and 100 teraflops in size--to be built over a period of
several years.
http://www.llnl.gov/asci/news/white_news.html