Advaita Vision

Advaita for the 21st Century

Necessity of karma kanda

Posted on January 30, 2015 by amartingarcia

According to Shankara, the entire Veda is important in that, till the seeker reaches the stage of pursuing the higher knowledge (jñana kanda) the duties enjoined in the other parts (karma kanda) are necessary for him. Otherwise, the Veda would not teach them. So, a spiritual seeker has to undertake scriptural study.

The path of action (karma yoga), states Shankara, is the ‘means to the supreme bliss indirectly’ in that it prepares the mind of the spiritual aspirant for knowledge, and thereby makes him competent for adopting the path of knowledge (jnana yoga), which is the direct path to liberation. Man cannot abstain from action, and as action binds man by resulting in karma… it is essential to know how to act without accruing further karma. This is the secret of action, called naiskarmya in the Gita… true renunciation is a mental disposition wherein the mind becomes serene without the distractions of the world.

(Spiritual Path). The Roots of Vedanta – Selections from Shankara’s Writings, p. 326

Vedanta the Solution – Part 13

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Dennis

VEDĀNTA the solution to our fundamental problem by D. Venugopal

Part 13 discusses the qualifications of uparati, titikShA and shraddhA.

There is a complete Contents List, to which links are added as each new part appears.

Vedanta the Solution – Part 12

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Dennis

VEDĀNTA the solution to our fundamental problem by D. Venugopal

Part 12 discusses the qualifications of vairAgya, shama and dama.

There is a complete Contents List, to which links are added as each new part appears.

Vedanta the Solution – Part 11

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Dennis

VEDĀNTA the solution to our fundamental problem by D. Venugopal

Part 11 discusses the qualifications required for commencing Self-inquiry.

There is a complete Contents List, to which links are added as each new part appears.

Vedanta the Solution – Part 10

Posted on August 23, 2014 by Dennis

VEDĀNTA the solution to our fundamental problem by D. Venugopal

Part 10 looks at how pramANa-s work and why Vedanta acts as a pramANa for Self-knowledge.

There is a complete Contents List, to which links are added as each new part appears.

Vedanta the Solution – Part 9

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Dennis

VEDĀNTA the solution to our fundamental problem by D. Venugopal

Part 9 explains how only the Vedas provide knowledge of the Self.

There is a complete Contents List, to which links are added as each new part appears.

Vedanta the Solution – Part 8

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Dennis

VEDĀNTA the solution to our fundamental problem by D. Venugopal

Part 8 looks at the role of the Vedas in providing knowledge of the Self.

There is a complete Contents List, to which links are added as each new part appears.

Revision of ‘Review of article on Shankara’ – Part 5

Posted on April 30, 2014 by amartingarcia

A tarka (reasoning, argumentation) is required for the analysis of anubhava, as both SSS and RB (the author) agree – consistent with Shankara’s position. That is, language and thought, needless to say, have a role to play, chiefly for exposition and analysis.

However, after two long, dense paragraphs RB contends: “If the tarka required to examine anubhava is itself completely dependent on ´sruti, then by no means is anubhava the ‘kingpin’ of pram¯an.as.”

Prior to this, SSS was quoted as maintaining that “for this unique tarka all universal anubhavas or experiences (intuitive experiences) themselves are the support.” The author states that this affirmation involves circular argumentation, and that to say that Shankara interprets the Vedas as being consistent with anubhava is wrong, the truth being the other way around, anubhava is consistent with the Vedas: “it should be clear that according to Sure´svar¯ac¯arya, the direct realization is directly from just ´sruti itself, thus satisfying the criteria for it to be a pram¯an.a…. The direct realization of the self is from ´sruti alone.” Continue reading →