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Dwaitic Practice in Adwaitic Realization

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Namaste all,

 

I see that there is a discussion on Adwaita on sohamsa. Unfortunately, I can't write much due to paucity of time. But I will write one quick thought.

 

Dwaita can be a useful tool in experiencing Adwaita, like I said previously. Merely saying that everything that exists is pure consciousness is one thing and "experiencing" that it is so is quite another. The former can be achieved by reading books and brain-washing oneself. The latter is far more difficult. It is difficult because of layers of conditioning that mind has gone through. Unless all the layers are slowly removed, mind does not fully realize that it is nothing but pure consciousness. In this difficult process, Dwaitic practices can help.

 

I consider "Yoga Vasishtham" the greatest masterpiece on Adwaita. It is a conversation between Lord Rama and Maharshi Vasishtha from Treta Yuga. Though the basic idea advanced by Maharshi Vasishtha in that book is Adwaita, there are examples he gives where Adwaitic realization is achieved through a Dwaitic practice.

 

For example, Vasishtha describes that Prahlada was immersed in great devotion to Vishnu and worshipped Vishnu as an external deity. That is Dwaita. Later, he himself "becomes" Vishnu in the course of time. That is a Visishtadwaitic experience. Next, he simply merges into supreme consciousness of this universe and remains in nirvikalpa samadhi for thousand or so years. Thus, a pure Adwaitic experience can come after a Visishtadwaitic experience and that can come after sincere Dwaitic practice. There is no contradiction here. Each approach represents Truth, but at various levels.

 

When I gave the "star in the sky" analogy to explain the 3 approaches, this is exactly the sequence I was referring to. Though Dwaitic practices are not necessary for an Adwaitic realization and experience, they can be helpful.

 

 

 

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

-------------------------------

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Namaskaar Sri NarasimhaDwaita is a belief that " I " and the lord are separate and can never be one. When one worships the lord believing the above, it is Dwaita, however when one worships the lord that " I " and the Lord are only separated by avidya on my part, then it is advaitic worship, though you continue to be in dwandhas. It is your understanding and shraddha that carries you, despite all odds. Experience denotes an " object " and a " subject " . The very word experience means two. Therefore, any experience shall be dwaita. Realization isn't an experience. Neither is it connected to Kundalini. Kundalini and chakra opening may be a by product. An experience also denotes a cause for the experience but for Realization there isn't a cause. Mithya does not have a reality in itself, other than Brahman. It is our wrong identification to the individual self that gives rise to the problem. To break this wrong identification, knowledge is needed. Knowledge of the Self is not the knowledge of physics, chemistry, etc. Knowledge of the Self is that which burns the ignorance in seconds provided you are ready. Provided you surrender completely. Provided you have immense faith in the words of the Shruti. All is known when Knowledge of the Self is known. Like a Zen Master said " Eye sight happens in a flash, but opening your eyes may take a lifetime " . When you say, it is most difficult and all koshas have to burn. Is it not the mind influenced by mithya talking? Beware! Mind does not let you have that faith. It keeps saying in one's mind " How can I the jiva be brahman? " , " How can this be possible? " , Some people go to the extent of saying that " Aham Brahma asmi " is the most egoistic statement. Ways of the mind are many. So what needs to be enquired? The enquirer needs to be enquired. When these words are understood, is it not practical? Is it mere philosophy? Yes, it is best to consider dwaita, vishishta advaita and advaita as related to our identification. Our identification with the body gives rise to dwaita, identification with the mind gives rise to Vishishtha Advaita and identification with the Self (the Real Self) gives rise to Advaita. I apologize if my words hurt anyone, they are only for Sri Narasimha. If " he " is hurt, I'd be happy. :)Thanks and RegardsBharat On 5/16/06,

Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote:

 

 

Namaste all,

 

I see that there is a discussion on Adwaita on sohamsa. Unfortunately, I can't write much due to paucity of time. But I will write one quick thought.

 

Dwaita can be a useful tool in experiencing Adwaita, like I said previously. Merely saying that everything that exists is pure consciousness is one thing and " experiencing " that it is so is quite another. The former can be achieved by reading books and brain-washing oneself. The latter is far more difficult. It is difficult because of layers of conditioning that mind has gone through. Unless all the layers are slowly removed, mind does not fully realize that it is nothing but pure consciousness. In this difficult process, Dwaitic practices can help.

 

I consider " Yoga Vasishtham " the greatest masterpiece on Adwaita. It is a conversation between Lord Rama and Maharshi Vasishtha from Treta Yuga. Though the basic idea advanced by Maharshi Vasishtha in that book is Adwaita, there are examples he gives where Adwaitic realization is achieved through a Dwaitic practice.

 

For example, Vasishtha describes that Prahlada was immersed in great devotion to Vishnu and worshipped Vishnu as an external deity. That is Dwaita. Later, he himself " becomes " Vishnu in the course of time. That is a Visishtadwaitic experience. Next, he simply merges into supreme consciousness of this universe and remains in nirvikalpa samadhi for thousand or so years. Thus, a pure Adwaitic experience can come after a Visishtadwaitic experience and that can come after sincere Dwaitic practice. There is no contradiction here. Each approach represents Truth, but at various levels.

 

When I gave the " star in the sky " analogy to explain the 3 approaches, this is exactly the sequence I was referring to. Though Dwaitic practices are not necessary for an Adwaitic realization and experience, they can be helpful.

 

 

 

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

-------------------------------

 

 

*tat savitur varenyam*

 

 

 

 

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Namaste Bharat,

 

> I apologize if my words hurt anyone, they are only for Sri Narasimha. If> "he" is hurt, I'd be happy. :)

 

I absolutely do not see why anything you wrote should "hurt" me. Were you expecting a particular sentence to "hurt" me? Which one and why?

 

> Like a Zen Master said "Eye sight happens in a flash, but opening your eyes> may take a lifetime". When you say, it is most difficult and all koshas have> to burn. Is it not the mind influenced by mithya talking? Beware!

Of course, it is the mind influenced by mithya that is talking and the minds influenced by mithya that are listening. In fact, what I wrote is for minds influenced by mithya only.

 

If your mind is stationed in pure atman and is fully un-perturbed by mithya, you will be better off ignoring what I write. There may be others who can derive a small benefit and that is why I write.

 

BTW, mind is Brahman too. The so-called mithya that influences mind in Brahman too!

 

> Yes, it is best to consider dwaita, vishishta advaita and advaita as related> to our identification. Our identification with the body gives rise to> dwaita, identification with the mind gives rise to Vishishtha Advaita and> identification with the Self (the Real Self) gives rise to Advaita.

Hmm. I sincerely hope you reconsider what you wrote above and withdraw it! Your mapping does not stand any reasonable scrutiny.

 

 

 

 

> Experience denotes an "object" and a "subject". The very word experience> means two. Therefore, any experience shall be dwaita. Realization isn't an> experience.

 

Is Adwaita the absence of object/subject? Or is it seeing the same Brahman in various subjects and various objects?

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

-------------------------------

> Namaskaar Sri Narasimha> > Dwaita is a belief that "I" and the lord are separate and can never be one.> When one worships the lord believing the above, it is Dwaita, however when> one worships the lord that "I" and the Lord are only separated by avidya on> my part, then it is advaitic worship, though you continue to be in dwandhas.> It is your understanding and shraddha that carries you, despite all odds.> > Experience denotes an "object" and a "subject". The very word experience> means two. Therefore, any experience shall be dwaita. Realization isn't an> experience. Neither is it connected to Kundalini. Kundalini and chakra> opening may be a by product. An experience also denotes a cause for the> experience but for Realization there isn't a cause.> > Mithya does not have a reality in itself, other than Brahman. It is our> wrong identification to the individual self that gives rise to the problem.> To break this wrong identification, knowledge is needed. Knowledge of the> Self is not the knowledge of physics, chemistry, etc. Knowledge of the Self> is that which burns the ignorance in seconds provided you are ready.> Provided you surrender completely. Provided you have immense faith in the> words of the Shruti. All is known when Knowledge of the Self is known.> > Like a Zen Master said "Eye sight happens in a flash, but opening your eyes> may take a lifetime". When you say, it is most difficult and all koshas have> to burn. Is it not the mind influenced by mithya talking? Beware!> > Mind does not let you have that faith. It keeps saying in one's mind "How> can I the jiva be brahman?", "How can this be possible?", Some people go to> the extent of saying that "Aham Brahma asmi" is the most egoistic statement.> Ways of the mind are many.> > So what needs to be enquired? The enquirer needs to be enquired. When these> words are understood, is it not practical? Is it mere philosophy?> > Yes, it is best to consider dwaita, vishishta advaita and advaita as related> to our identification. Our identification with the body gives rise to> dwaita, identification with the mind gives rise to Vishishtha Advaita and> identification with the Self (the Real Self) gives rise to Advaita.> > I apologize if my words hurt anyone, they are only for Sri Narasimha. If> "he" is hurt, I'd be happy. :)> > Thanks and Regards> Bharat> > > On 5/16/06, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote:> >> > Namaste all,> >> > I see that there is a discussion on Adwaita on sohamsa. Unfortunately, I> > can't write much due to paucity of time. But I will write one quick thought.> >> > Dwaita can be a useful tool in experiencing Adwaita, like I said> > previously. Merely saying that everything that exists is pure consciousness> > is one thing and "experiencing" that it is so is quite another. The former> > can be achieved by reading books and brain-washing oneself. The latter is> > far more difficult. It is difficult because of layers of conditioning that> > mind has gone through. Unless all the layers are slowly removed, mind does> > not fully realize that it is nothing but pure consciousness. In this> > difficult process, Dwaitic practices can help.> >> > I consider "Yoga Vasishtham" the greatest masterpiece on Adwaita. It is a> > conversation between Lord Rama and Maharshi Vasishtha from Treta Yuga.> > Though the basic idea advanced by Maharshi Vasishtha in that book is> > Adwaita, there are examples he gives where Adwaitic realization is achieved> > through a Dwaitic practice.> >> > For example, Vasishtha describes that Prahlada was immersed in great> > devotion to Vishnu and worshipped Vishnu as an external deity. That is> > Dwaita. Later, he himself "becomes" Vishnu in the course of time. That is a> > Visishtadwaitic experience. Next, he simply merges into supreme> > consciousness of this universe and remains in nirvikalpa samadhi for> > thousand or so years. Thus, a pure Adwaitic experience can come after a> > Visishtadwaitic experience and that can come after sincere Dwaitic practice.> > There is no contradiction here. Each approach represents Truth, but at> > various levels.> >> > When I gave the "star in the sky" analogy to explain the 3 approaches,> > this is exactly the sequence I was referring to. Though Dwaitic practices> > are not necessary for an Adwaitic realization and experience, they can be> > helpful.> >> > 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> > -------------------------------

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