Guest guest Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Namaste Kasim, > I think you hold the view that the unmanifest Supreme Brahman is the > origin of all other forms. Maharshi Vasishtha held that view and taught it to Lord Rama. Vasishtha's teachings to Rama were later repeated by Maharshi Valmiki to Maharshi Bharadwaja. They are captured in a classic called "Yoga Vaasishtham". For any sincere seeker of the Highest Truth who is attracted to Adwaita, "Yoga Vaasishtham" is a must-read book. > Something can be spiritual and still have form. But spiritual form is > not perceivable to our material eyes. > I wonder what you think of this. Whether you are talking about a form made of gross matter (e.g. a human being) or a form made only of subtle ethereal matter (e.g. a god), it has some "attributes" (gunas). Attributes are attributes, whether gross or subtle. They are limiting. A form with attributes can be perceived by the mind (through the senses of the gross body in the former case and through the subtle perception in the latter) while mind is still mind. It is only the formless reality that cannot be perceived by the mind while it is a mind. Only when mind ceases does the duality of the world cease and the reality that is not limited by any attributes is revealed. So, my definition of a form is not what is "perceivable to our material eyes". It is what can be perceived by the mind through senses or subtle perception, in its various levels of existence. My definition of formless reality is that which is revealed when mind ceases to exist. > It may be useful for you to read more deeply into the ISKCON > philosphy. I can provide links to the Caitanya Caritamrta, Srimad > Bhagvatam, Bhagvad Gita if you are interested. Hindu philosophy as outlined by Upanishads is a very vast and complex one. When Kali Yuga started, it seems to me like some great souls were born on this earth to simplify and slightly re-adjust the teachings of Upanishads to make them more palatable and understandable to the masses. A simplified and systematic religion that people can appreciate is perhaps better in Kali Yuga than a complicated philosophy that seems self-contradictory and alienates people. Thus, I respect the works of several great souls and consider each work to be an important one, but I am clear about my own path. As far as Bhagavad Gita is concerned, it is the highest teaching of the Absolute Reality. The commentary on Bhagavad Gita by Jnaneshwar (a great saint from Maharashtra) is the one that I like the most. It is unabashedly Adwaitic (non-dualistic). I cannot reconcile most other commentaries with the teachings of Upanishads and the teachings of Maharshi Vasishtha to Lord Rama. However, Jnaneshwar's interpretation fits perfectly with the rest. A literal English translation of the Marathi commentary (containing the original Sanskrit verses also) is available at http://www.amazon.com/Jnaneshwars-Gita-Jnaneshwari-Swami-Kripananda/dp/0911307648/sr=8-1/qid=1171905959/ref=sr_1_1/105-8466969-7236409?ie=UTF8 & s=books * * * I humbly suggest that you should follow the path that you feel comfortable with. We need not convince each other. Whether you follow Dwaita or Adwaita, the first steps are the same.If you follow the teachings of your gurus sincerely, you will get there. The final goal is almost the same. For one who lives in USA, Delhi and Agra are almost the same distance. First get to India and then you can figure out whether to go to Delhi or Agra. The journey to India it a long one. Similarly, whether you want the highest dwaitic experience or the adwaitic (non-)experience, the distance between them is quite small compared to the distance a normal person has to either! May the light of Brahman shine within, Narasimha -------------------------------Homam manual and audio: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org------------------------------- - Kasim Friday, February 16, 2007 9:55 AM Supreme Brahman Dear NarasimhaThank you for accepting me on your new group.I try to make sure that I have access to your writings and recordings, as I find them very interesting.I did want to pick your brain on something.I think you hold the view that the unmanifest Supreme Brahman is the origin of all other forms.I am from the ISKCON understanding. I am just wondering if you knew the following:ISKCONs belief is that the Supreme Brahman certainly exists but it is the effulgence from Lord Krsna. Just like the sunshine comes from the sun globe. It is argued that the origin must be full of form. As we can perceive things that originate from the origin as having form. Therefore the origin cannot be any less than what originates from it. Something can be spiritual and still have form. But spiritual form is not perceivable to our material eyes.I wonder what you think of this.It may be useful for you to read more deeply into the ISKCON philosphy. I can provide links to the Caitanya Caritamrta, Srimad Bhagvatam, Bhagvad Gita if you are interested.Yours benevolentlyKasim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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