Light of Brahman...to Bharat (Sanjayji's health)

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Namaste Sri Bharat,

> Mahatma that - By giving up the desire of knowing Brahman, one knows it.

 

True, but that alone is not sufficient. For most people who are not anywhere close to knowing Brahman, that desire is actually a good thing to possess. For the time being, anyway.

 

> No, Sri Narasimha, it does not mean the same. Brahma Vidya means that you> question the existence of the layers and understand that they aren't there.

 

We slightly differ in our definition of Brahma Vidya. There is a lot of knowledge that can be learnt from books - such as Vedanta, Upanishats etc - that makes one question the existence of the layers and try to convince oneself that they aren't there. All that knowledge takes one towards Brahma Vidya, but it is not Brahma Vidya. To me, Brahma Vidya is the knowledge that one obtains after experiencing - not just reading or thinking - that the layers are not there. That is why Upanishat says that Brahma Vidya cannot be learnt from books or from teachers and can only be experienced.

> It also means that whatever you might think is blocking the light, is not> there. It also means the concept of within and without isn't there.

> > I do not wish or mean to give you a sermon on the same. Your study of Yoga> Vashishtha will reveal the above to you sooner or later.

You are going fully non-dual here and totally ignoring duality. As I pointed out previously, I, Narasimha Rao, would not have addressed you, Bharat, and sent an email over the internet, if duality was fiction and did not exist. I speak in dualistic terminology because we are living and communicating in the world of duality.

 

Even a great rishi who may be in nirvikalpa samadhi for months in perfect non-duality will start experiencing duality the moment he comes down from samadhi to start interacting with this material world again. Only a great rishi in sahaja samadhi can live in this world and yet remain in non-duality in all the three states (awake, asleep and dreaming). Otherwise, it is not possible to remain in non-duality in all the three states. Sahaja samadhi is a rarity even among the greatest of Yogis.

 

> Your study of Yoga Vashishtha will reveal the above to you sooner or later.> My best wishes for the same

 

Thank you!

* * *

 

Anyway, thank you for a nice philosophical discussion. While we are on the topic of duality, non-duality etc, I want to share an analogy that was given by my spiritual guru to illustrate the difference between Dwaita and Adwaita. This analogy can help one understand and appreciate the difference between various philosophies. It explains how all seemingly contradictory philosophies are correct in their own right and try to capture the reality at various levels.

 

Imagine God to be a bright star in the sky. When you see from a distance, God seems tiny and you conclude that there is only one God. If you start moving towards God, you realize as you get closer that the star is in reality a huge diamond with 330 million faces. Each face is several miles long and wide and has various attributes (gunas). One face may be red and hot and another may be blue and cold etc. So, as you get closer to the diamond, you have to pick one face to get close to.

 

Now, when you get too close to a face, the whole world will seem to have the attributes of that face. For example, if you get too close to a face that is cold and blue, then the whole world will feel cold and blue to you. In other words, the God you are getting close to is the Supreme god of the world and fills the entire world as you experience it.

 

This is the ultimate goal in sadhana for one adhering to Dwaita siddhanta (duality). For them, getting close to ishta devata and securing a place near the feet is the highest goal.

 

For some, there is a next stage: As you get closer and closer to the face you picked, you finally merge with it! This is the ultimate goal in sadhana for one adhering to Visishtaadwaita.

 

To Advaitis, this communion with a Saguna ("with attributes") form of God is not the final goal. The final goal is to break through the face and jump into the inside of the diamond. As you break through the face of the diamond into which you merge and jump into the interior of the diamond, you no longer perceive the faces of the diamond or the world outside. There are no longer any objects or attributes. The experiencer, experienced and experience all merge into one.

 

Some people are quite dogmatic about these philosophies and unnecessarily fight over them. It is kind of like arguing whether a 100,000 mile marathon is worthier or a 100,100 mile marathon or a 100,200 mile marathon. It is far more important to simply enter one of the three and finish the marathon entered successfully. Anyone who successfully finishes any of the three marathons deserves our highest respects.

 

Also, they can be stages in the same path. They don't necessarily have to be contending paths.

 

For most people, Dwaita philosophy is perhaps the best starting point anyway.

 

Ok, I will end my rambling now. But I love the above analogy. It is simple and yet so thoughtful. As you ponder more on it, you will realize how meaningful it is. So I wanted to share it with you all.

 

May the light of Brahman shine within,

Narasimha

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> Namaskaar Sri Narasimha> > Yes, the light of Brahman is always shining. Do we only have to make a wish> for something that IS NOT? Can't we just wish for (or simply appreciate)> something that IS?> > Wish is something for that isn't or to keep something that is (in case of> fear of losing the desirable). Brahman IS and ISN'T going to go away. So a> wish is not possible for the same. There is a beautiful statement by a> Mahatma that - By giving up the desire of knowing Brahman, one knows it.> > Well, is Brahma Vidya going to dawn upon us from outside or from within?> Isn't it already within us? Do we search for it somewhere outside of us or> do we simply unravel layers of manifested existence and layers of> accumulated samskaras within ourselves to uncover the Brahma Vidya that is> already within, but obscured by all those layers? When the layers are> unravelled and the light of Brahman illuminates every part of our existence,> isn't that synonymous to the "dawning of Brahma Vidya"? If not, what else is> meant by the dawning of Brahma Vidya?> > No, Sri Narasimha, it does not mean the same. Brahma Vidya means that you> question the existence of the layers and understand that they aren't there.> It also means that whatever you might think is blocking the light, is not> there. It also means the concept of within and without isn't there.> > I do not wish or mean to give you a sermon on the same. Your study of Yoga> Vashishtha will reveal the above to you sooner or later.> > My best wishes for the same> Thanks and Regards> Bharat> > > On 4/11/06, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote:> >> > Namaskar Sri Bharat,> >> > > Just one thought that I have been wanting to convey to you: The light of> > > Brahman is always shining. In its light, we "see" thoughts, actions,> > etc.> > > When it is not shining?> >> > Yes, the light of Brahman is always shining. Do we only have to make a> > wish for something that IS NOT? Can't we just wish for (or simply> > appreciate) something that IS?> >> > Actually, there is an important point: Though the light of Brahman is> > shining fully in the innermost core of our existence, the other layers of> > our existence may be blocking that light. I agree that what we see, hear,> > think etc is all due to the light of Brahman only. All our experiences are> > indeed illuminated by the light of Brahman. However, it is only a small part> > of the light that illuminates our mundane experiences. When the light of> > Brahman fully illuminates every part of our manifested existence, I am no> > longer Narasimha Rao and you are no longer Bharat. We both are one and the> > same and encompass the entire universe. We don't need to be communicating> > through emails.> >> > > So the statement "May the light of Brahman shine> > > within" becomes irrelevant. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to use -> > "May> > > Brahma Vidya dawns upon each"? or similar.> >> > Well, is Brahma Vidya going to dawn upon us from outside or from within?> > Isn't it already within us? Do we search for it somewhere outside of us or> > do we simply unravel layers of manifested existence and layers of> > accumulated samskaras within ourselves to uncover the Brahma Vidya that is> > already within, but obscured by all those layers? When the layers are> > unravelled and the light of Brahman illuminates every part of our existence,> > isn't that synonymous to the "dawning of Brahma Vidya"? If not, what else is> > meant by the dawning of Brahma Vidya?> >> > Sorry for a non-astrological mail, but, if I remember right, sohamsa list> > was originally meant for spiritual discussions as well.> >> > May the light of Brahman shine within,> > Narasimha> >> > > Namaskaar Sri Narasimha> > >> > > Very nice remarks about Prasada Buddhi and the way they have been> > conveyed> > > to your Jyotisha Guru. Non-acceptance is the cause of stress.> > >> > > Just one thought that I have been wanting to convey to you: The light of> > > Brahman is always shining. In its light, we "see" thoughts, actions,> > etc.> > > When it is not shining? So the statement "May the light of Brahman> > shine> > > within" becomes irrelevant. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to use -> > "May> > > Brahma Vidya dawns upon each"? or similar.> > >> > > Thanks and Regards> > > Bharat> > > On 4/6/06, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr@> wrote:> > > >> > > > Namaste friends,> > > >> > > > There has been a discussion on Sanjay's health. Here are my two cents.> > > >> > > > Sanjay is running Cancer's dasa as per Paryaya dasa of D-6. Cancer is> > the> > > > 8th house and contains Moon and roga pada (A6) as well.> > > >> > > > The results of Moon in marana karaka sthana are given in the middle> > > > one-third. That itself was not such a good period, barring some parts.> > > > However, the final one-third (2003-2007) gives the results of 8th> > house and> > > > A6 fully and THAT is the worst period. With the planet involved being> > Moon,> > > > no wonder it is blood pressure.> > > >> > > > I am glad there is some improvement lately, but Sanjay should remain> > > > careful until Aug 2007. I see the problematic period ending only then.> > > >> > > > Sanjay should be extra careful during 2006 May 18-June 8 and just take> > > > everything easy.> > > >> > > > * * *> > > >> > > > In general, everyone should strive to enter the state where there are> > > > absolutely no expectations and there is only detached effort. Then> > alone can> > > > one overcome stress. If we have a specific goal or expectation and our> > > > efforts are motivated by it, it MAY lead to stress. Nay, it often DOES> > lead> > > > to stress. On the other hand, if we start believing that there is no> > > > one-to-one relationship between our current efforts (karma) and> > results> > > > (phala) and hence engage in actions (karma) - not motivated by logical> > > > analysis based on an specific expectations, but based solely on the> > inner> > > > guidance - without any motivation and accept all fruits (phala)> > without> > > > prejudice, there is no scope for stress. Such attitude releases amrita> > - the> > > > nectar of divinity - within.> > > >> > > > The main problem of living beings is their mind. But, curiously, it is> > the> > > > solution too.> > > >> > > > Sorry if this sounds like sermonizing. It wasn't meant to. Just my two> > > > cents of random thoughts...please ignore if they make no sense.> > > >> > > > May the light of Brahman shine within, Narasimha> > > > -------------------------------> > > > Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net> > > > Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org> > > > Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org> > > > -------------------------------