Q.528 Confusions in Advaita

Posted on March 1, 2023 by Dennis Waite

Q: I am reading your book ” Confusions in Advaita Vedanta”.

I am from India, born in the Smarta Brahmin tradition of The revered Adi Shankara.
The purport of Adi Shankara as repeatedly explained by you is that no pramana or meditation except shabda pramana, teaching of scripture expounded by qualified teacher can give jnana. And this understanding happens in the process of listening once. Repetitions don’t help.

This caused both enthusiasm and later negativity in me. I have heard scriptures being expounded by Swami Dayananda, Swami Paramarthananda, Swami Brahmananda, Swami Parthasarathy, Sri Gangolli (translator of Swami Satchidananendra) etc. But no understanding or Jnana has resulted.

Am I doomed? Or Does it mean I was not qualified enough? More yoga sadhana required for purifying my mind? Of course there can be no doubt that the teachers were qualified. So fault is mine.

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The Enlightened Person

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Dennis

Here is an extract from the final chapter of James Swartz’s new book ‘The Essence of Enlightenment’. I haven’t read it all myself yet, but dipping into it at random shows that it is every bit as good as his ‘How to Attain Enlightenment’. It has, for me, his hallmark style of forthright, clear, informative writing, adhering to traditional teaching derived from scriptures and as interpreted by modern sampradAya-s. He has no qualms about bluntly (even brutally) exposing mistaken views but leaves the reader feeling uplifted, and with a much clearer understanding of even the most difficult topic.

Mandukya Upanishad – Part 5

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Dennis

Here is Part 5 – the concluding part – of a new, short series on the Mandukya Upanishad, from James Swartz. This post addresses the nature of turIya and contains a verse translation of the Upanishad.

Mandukya Upanishad – Part 4

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Dennis

Here is Part 4 of a new, short series (5 parts) on the Mandukya Upanishad, from James Swartz.

This post is not actually part of the Upanishad but provides a simple meditation technique for reaching ‘absolute silence’.

Mandukya Upanishad – part 3

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Dennis

Here is Part 3 of a new, short series (5 parts) on the Mandukya Upanishad, from James Swartz.

This part asks the question ‘Who am I?’, examines the nature of upAdhi-s and describes a practical technique for meditation.

(Sorry I have run out of frog photos…)

Mandukya Upanishad – part 2

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Dennis

Here is Part 2 of a new, short series (5 or 6 parts) on the Mandukya Upanishad, from James Swartz.

This part introduces us to the three ‘experiencing entities’ – the waker, dreamer and deep-sleeper and to the distinction between microcosmic and macrocosmic.

Mandukya Upanishad – part 1

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Dennis

Here is Part 1 of a new, short series (5 or 6 parts) on the Mandukya Upanishad, from James Swartz.

This first part talks about the means for obtaining knowledge and the meaning of the word ‘limitlessness’, using the snake and rope metaphor.

(In case you are wondering about the photo, the title of the Upanishad is sometimes claimed to be derived from the Sanskrit ‘maNDa’, meaning ‘a frog’.)

Panchadashi series

Posted on November 11, 2012 by Dennis

Some of you may remember that I was posting a series of posts, presenting a new translation and commentary by James Swartz on the Panchadasi. Apologies for the long delay since the last post.

James and I had begun this collaboration on turning his lecture notes into a new written commentary on the text. But we have realized that this would require long-term commitment and we are both too busy at present. Accordingly, this is being postponed indefinitely. Meanwhile, he has given his permission for us to serialize some of his other writing, beginning with his essay on the Mandukya Upanishad. So see the next post!

Panchadasi Part 2

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Dennis

A series of posts, presenting a new translation and commentary by James Swartz on the Panchadasi. This was presented by James as a week-long course during July 2012 and was very well received.

This is Part 2 and contains the teaching on the pa~nchikaraNa (‘quintuplication’ of the elements), macrocosm and microcosm, pa~ncha kosha (five sheaths) and the ‘elimination’ of these.

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