Last word on the Buddhism-advaita issue (Hopefully!)

[Vidyasankar Sundaresan]

>      one such as the Buddhist may object, "There are internal
>      contradictions in the Veda and, as such, it is unacceptable." What
>      superficially  appear to be contradictions are actually not so.
>      They can be fully resolved by means of proper, interpretive logic.
>      ... (page 44)

As always, Sri Sringeri Mahasannidhanam easily leads one to the crux of the
issue. The Vedantin attempts to resolve the apparent contradiction in the
Veda. The other holds up the apparent contradiction as real and rejects the
Veda.

> Further, as HH Shri Abhinava Vidyateertha points out, the Veda
> usually has a qualification attached to a sacrifice. "If you
> desire such and such a thing, then do such and such a sacrifice/rite."
> So the conclusion is: If you don't have the desire for the thing
> indicated, there is no need to undertake the prescribed sacrifice.

Indeed. This grounding of action in desire is a fundamental insight of
advaita vedAnta that has often been ignored. This is something that Sankara
and his successors repeatedly point out. Most objections raised against
advaita by well-meaning orthodox people overlook this basic issue.

Vidyasankar