Q: I’m currently reading ‘Back to the Truth’ and I can see you have presented a holistic view of Advaita. But I am curious. In your journey, having investigated all these schools, which do you prefer? Which teachers or schools do you think are best or have been most helpful to you? Or if you could choose just one school, book or guru to study, which would it be? Also, what is your main spiritual practice? What aids have been most helpful to you?
Do you think that, reading books on Advaita becomes at a certain point not so helpful anymore; after you realize the only thing to truly do as ego is just self-enquiry and turning within?
A: I wrote ‘Back to the Truth’ nearly 20 years ago. I considered writing a second edition, in which quite a bit would change, but my publisher wasn’t interested. Instead, I began a series of books on ‘Confusions in Advaita Vedanta’. The scriptures (Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Brahmasutras) are the source of the teaching. Many modern ‘teachers’ are either unaware of this or simply do not bother to read them. Traditional teaching is the ONLY reliable, consistent, reasonable, proven method. This teaching was systematized by Adi Śaṅkara but, even here, many subsequent ‘traditional’ teachers have distorted, mistranslated or misrepresented him.
The best modern sources of the teaching are: Read any books by Swami Dayananda; listen to any talks by Swami Paramarthananda. This is the Vivaraṇa branch of Advaita and has a few problems but is the nearest to Śaṅkara.
Spiritual practices are for preparation of the mind only. Patañjali Yoga methods are good for this. But only Self-knowledge gives enlightenment; so reading/listening to correct teaching, followed by clarification of doubts and questions, is the only means for achieving this. Self-enquiry and ‘turning within’ (whatever they mean) are of no value. You are ALREADY Brahman; the problem is that you do not know it.
(The first of the ‘Confusions’ books, on ‘Knowledge, Experience and Enlightenment’ is published and available from Amazon.com or Indica Books in India.)
Q: Thank you for the reply, Dennis. It gave me a few more questions.
Question 1: I do like the traditional teachings myself. But how do you know that the scriptures are a proven practice? As opposed to Buddhism where we have historical sources on his journey and experiences, as well as stories of how he trained devotees on the path.
Whereas the Vedas are just scriptures of truth by sages, but without really a personal story of how they reached that truth. Is it because of people you have personally met that have walked the traditional Advaita path and became enlightened that you say “it is a proven practice”?
Question 2: How do you feel Ramana Maharshi fits into all this? He got realization without scriptures and promotes self-enquiry. He didn’t give much importance to the Vedas either. What flaws do you think are in his teachings? Also what are your thoughts on Michael James – do you feel his interpretations of Advaita or Ramana are accurate?
Question 3: To clarify self-enquiry: it is to investigate this sense of ‘I’ that is ego/brahman. By doing so, we find that the ego thought does not exist and so Self abides. That is how I see it and I think how Ramana did.
This is not very different from the śravaṇa, manana and nididhyāsana practice that you promote. Because to realize the teaching ‘I am Brahman’, one needs to let go of ego, which is the first thought. And how do you let go of ego except by investigating it and I?
Also as seeming ego, the deepest thing it can do is to be aware of itself as seeming subject. The ego can’t use its intellect or awareness to objectify and see Brahman, because Brahman is not an object/subject. But ego, by looking at itself and thus just being, merges into Brahman.
So in a sense, if the traditional teachings are merely saying to look and realize that there is no ego, and that you are Brahman, then it is not very different from self-enquiry. That is also saying to look at ‘I’, ignore everything else, ego is not there, now what do you see? It’s Brahman.
What would you have to say about this comparison?
A: You clearly have quite a bit of prior knowledge of Advaita and, if I may say so, some definite ideas about what is ‘right’. My Q&A ‘service’ is primarily for answering specific questions from seekers, not about engaging in prolonged discussions. The questions you are asking are covered in the first two volumes of ‘Confusions’ – and I take around 200,000 words to answer them in detail. Obviously, I cannot summarize all of that in a few paragraphs.
VERY briefly, the scriptural teaching is ‘proven’ by the sampradāya-s that are still going strong after quite a few centuries. Ramana has been around rather less time. His teaching is valuable but was aimed at individuals with specific problems and limited understanding. It also now mostly exists in translations and transcription by those who understood rather less than Ramana himself. I’m afraid that there is quite a lot of criticism of Michael James’ written material in my next book (see below).
Teaching needs to be given by someone who understands the original texts, knows Sanskrit, and is a good teacher. All of the stuff about ego, letting go, merging etc. is misleading and unhelpful. ‘Self-enquiry’ has to be guided by a qualified teacher (ideally in person but at least via written or spoken material) – you cannot do it on your own.
Q: If this is so then how do I find a teacher? Do you know any sages who can give me Sampradaya?
Also, this would then mean the final salvation is totally up to fate/karma if one were to meet a sage or not?
A: My next book is on precisely this topic – another 100,000 words, I’m afraid! It’s called ‘SELF SEEKING: Finding a Modern Teacher of Advaita’. It lists, and ‘assesses’ over 250 current ‘teachers’ who speak of Advaita or non-duality and recommends books under all of the ‘teaching style’ headings. Part of the description for the publisher was:
*****
Provides detailed guidance to seekers who are looking for a teacher and/or books on Advaita philosophy.
It explains the general ‘path’ that such a seeker would follow, covering amongst other things:
• what their own ‘starting condition’ should be;
• what practices are and are not relevant;
• what they should expect from a teacher;
• what enlightenment is (and isn’t);
• what professed conditions are and are not correct;
• what to expect if they attain it.
*****
I’ve checked and returned their copy-edited manuscript. Realistically, though, it will not be in the shops until next year some time. I did a massive amount of research on existing ‘teachers’ and I reckon 80% + of them are effectively a waste of your time. It is possible to conclude that many appear to be just in it for easy money. If you are near to an Arsha Vidya or Chinmaya ‘outlet’, that would definitely be worth investigating. Otherwise, as I said earlier, read Swami D and listen to Swami P. If you cannot find mp3-s of Swami P, you can get transcriptions of the talks here. Try to stick with the easier texts first, though. Do not dive straight into the Brahmasutras for example, which took him over 7 years to teach. You have to accept that, unless you are very lucky, you are unlikely to meet a good teacher in person.
If you have read my books, you will know that I personally do not accept the existence of free-will. Things happen and your genes and upbringing/education determine how you respond. What I have said here may influence your next move…
Q: Just to clarify: the sampradāya for you has to be a direct teaching from a living guru in person? Or can it be listening to recorded talks like on YouTube or books from a living guru? And can it come from a dead guru?
A: It’s a question of degree. A living teacher is obviously best. As I said, you have to be very careful with books. If they were written and checked by the teacher, in the same language as the reader, then you can be reasonably sure that it reflects the understanding of that teacher. But this is rarely the case. And there is an equally serious problem with manana – you cannot ask the book questions for clarification. (It was Swami Chinmayananda who pointed this out.)
*** Keep an eye on the site for further announcements about the ‘Self Seeking’ book. It is in the publishing loop now but is unlikely to be available to purchase until around the first half of 2025. ***