Advaitam i.e., non-duality - I Am That You Are That etc.

[Guest guest]

There are many (especially westerners) who read philosophical books about Ramana

Maharshi and others and conclude that they no longer need a SatGuru, because " If

i'm everything, then that's it right? I don't need anything else. I don't need

God! I'm done with God forever. I'm done with religion. Woohoo! I'm liberated!

I'm in moksha. I don't need pujas. I don't need rituals. I don't need songs.

I don't need bhakthi - I mean, its all me right? Why do I need all these

" crutches " ? I'm liberated now... " There are others who read these same books

and conclude that if " I am all that exists... then this is all that exists...

then God doesn't exist... " and end their quest there in a fit of ill-conceived

logic... there are still others who have interpreted the concept of " love

everyone " to mean " have free and uninhibited sex with everything in sight "

....again, the result of a delusional/half-baked understanding of the path, the

Truth, and the goal ...Know

that these are not *real* Advaitam. Know indeed you have liberated yourself

from nothing. You are very much bound, only more delusional than before, and

probably more dangerous than before as well being a completely 'liberated'

individual.

 

To such " neo-Advaitins " - You haven't understood a very simple thing.

 

The secret of Advaitam is not in realizing that " I Alone Exist! " (free license)

- The secret lies in understanding that " You Alone Exist, Lord. You Alone

Exist. " (total surrender). ;-)

 

This is why " jnanam " alone, ignoring bhakthi, is flawed. This is why Adi

Shankara (a key proponent of advaitam, or " non-duality " ) advised that " Bhaja

Govindam! Bhaja Govindam! ...Bhaja Govindam Mooodhamathe... " (Sing the Lord's

Name! Sing the Lord's Name! Sing the Lord's Name, Oh Fool!)

 

Advaitam isn't flawed - but that understanding of Advaitam that considers it to

be somehow " superior " to the teachings of others that include Bhakthi or Karma

is flawed. Jnanam is empty in the absence of bhakthi and karma, for one who

considers him(/her)self to be embodied. For one who is unaware of his(/her)

embodiment, where is the question of Jnanam, let alone Bhakthi or Karma? How

can a true Jnani envision a life without God? He would rather commit suicide

than to be separated from His God.

 

The advaitin who distinguishes advaita jnanam ( " true knowledge " or " knowledge of

Truth " ) from bhakthi or karma - is fit only for an insanatorium/asylum (ala

Nietzsche in his last days). As said many many times before, true Jnanis are

pragmatists and realists, ...their feet are firmly planted in reality. That is

why duty and attention to duty is equally important in the spiritual quest - it

keeps you planted/grounded and prevents people from " floating " around like

whack-jobs starting cults. Therein lies the secret to why we worship

MahaVishnu's feet - the sacred feet that were washed by even Brahma himself

(i.e., " Brahma kadigina padamulu " as the saying goes in telugu). MahaVishnu

( " Great " Vishnu) is known and greatly respected by the minor Gods for His

discernment and pragmatism; by praying to His feet, we ask that He plant our

feet firmly as well. It is this supreme discrimination and discernment that

makes him a formidable enemy as well. (One of

Sri Maha Vishnu's names in the Vishnu Sahasranama (1000 names of Vishnu) means

" One who cannot be defeated " or " One who cannot be overcome, but who overcomes

everything. " )

 

To focus our minds on those unshakeable Holy Feet ( " Brahma kadigina

padamulu... " )... is the *True* advaitam, and the only advaitam worth having.

 

....Father! (Appaji) Thy Will Be Done! Jaya Guru Datta! Jaya Guru Datta! Jaya

Guru Datta!

 

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Gurorangripadme ManaScenna Lagnam tata: kim! tata: kim! tata: kim! tata: kim!?

Sarva Kartha, Sarva Dhartha, Sarva Hartha, Mangalam!

Satchidananda, Satchidananda, Satchidananda Mangalam!