Fwd: introduction

[M Suresh]

Ravi wrote:

> influence these gunas.  There are so many teachings on the subject "How to
> control the mind".  Most say "You control the mind".  Whos is this "You" they
> are referring ?  I think they dont even know.  The individual body named Nagy
> can not control the mind.  The mind controls Nagy which ofcourse is natural.

  Since we are beyond the mind, I think we can control the mind. Of course the
  thought of controlling the mind is a mental thought, but its source is
  from the self, sat-chit-ananda. But it looks like controlling of the mind is
  the same as the mind subsiding on its own.

>  Mind constantly seeks its source but the environment it is placed prevents
> and obscures the source.  If sttva guna predominates and prevails the search
> becomes easy and the mind unites and becomes one with the source: SAT CHIT
> ANANDA.

  I would like to add that though sattva guna is the most preferred, Tamas is
  the only guna among the three from which one would like to get out or
 transcend
  it. One is hardly aware of the presence of the other two gunas, and so becomes
  unknowingly bound by them.

-Suresh.
>From ADVAITA-L at TAMU.EDU Wed Aug 21 16:46:13 1996
Message-Id: <WED.21.AUG.1996.164613.0500.ADVAITAL at TAMU.EDU>
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 16:46:13 -0500
Reply-To: "Advaita (non-duality) with reverence" <ADVAITA-L at TAMU.EDU>
To: "Advaita (non-duality) with reverence" <ADVAITA-L at TAMU.EDU>
From: Ramakrishnan Balasubramanian <rbalasub at ECN.PURDUE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Spiritual Erudition
Comments: To: ADVAITA-L at TAMU.EDU
In-Reply-To: <199608201725.MAA22069 at pasture.ecn.purdue.edu> from "Automatic
        digest processor" at Aug 20, 96 12:01:06 pm
Content-Type: text

Vidya wrote:

> However, we must remember that as a system of philosophy, the Vedanta
> performs another function also, viz. one of scriptural exegesis.
> Those of us who come from the tradition of Brahminical interpretation of
> the scriptures cannot help but analyze and interpret, in an effort to
> understand the non-dual basis of all the universe, including the
> scripture. In the process, a lot of attention is paid to details that
> looks as if it is nitpicking, but I believe that such nitpicking helps

I'd like to offer my thoughts on this. While study of books etc can be
dismissed very easily it should be remembered that not every one can sit and
meditate 15 hours every day. Studying philosophy would also help in
concentration. It is the study without proper attention to developing
meditation, which is condemned, not study per se. If Ramana had condemned
studying itself, why did he translate so many books into Tamil for his
devotees? In fact when some one remarked that it was good that he hadn't
studied, since they would've got a scholar and not a jnaani, he remarked that
his studies were probably completed in his previous births. Further many of
Ramana's foremost disciples were scholars of great repute. It is also a well
known fact that Ramana used to lecture for hours on end on the finer points of
Tamil Grammar in the poems by Shaivite saints. People are usually unaware of
these things and think that Ramana condemned study per se.

So pointing to the example of Ramana and asking people to "imitate" him is quite
incorrect, IMO. The best thing would be to study without any desire for fame.
When time comes the studying will cease by itself.

Ramakrishnan.
--
Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant (May faulty logic
undermine your entire philosophy)           -- strong Vulcan curse
                  http://yake.ecn.purdue.edu/~rbalasub/