[Advaita-l] Re : Karma and Reincarnation (Chandrashekar)

[kuntimaddi sadananda]

Shree Chandrashekar - PraNAms.

The four types are specified as general categories.  Human minds can
fall within those with different shades.  All humans have various
degrees of these mental moods.  If I say this is red color and the other
is blue - there are shades in between, but broadly one can examine the
predominant guNas. 

Even in a given human, the moods change from getting up to going to
sleep. In the morning after one has predominately sAtvic and hence
meditation and studies are recommended at that time.  As the sun goes
up, one has more rajasic vAsanas and one becomes very active and as the
sun goes down tamasic vasanas takes over as one gets tired and sleepy.

But indiviual tendencies determine if one is extrovert or interovert or
just lazy all the time.
 
Hope I am clear.  

Hari OM!
Sadananda

--- "Rammohan, Chandrashekar" <Chandrashekar.Rammohan at Arbella.com>
wrote:

> 
> Dear Sri SadanandaJi,
> 
> Pranaams,
> 
> While you have categorized the 4 varnas based on the Gunas, I have a
> doubt
> regarding other combination of Vasanas. 
> 
> How will you categorise a person who is predominantly with only
> Rajasic
> Vasanas.
> 
> How will you categorise a person who is a combination of Satvic and
> Tamasic
> Vasanas.
> 
> Will there be some people who belong to this category also. ?
> 
> Regds
> 
> Chandrashekar
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> [mailto:advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org] On Behalf Of
> advaita-l-request at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 1:00 PM
> To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> Subject: Advaita-l Digest, Vol 39, Issue 9
> 
> 
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> Today's Topics:
> 
>    1. Karma and Reincarnation (Sridhar Babu)
>    2. karma kanda (S.N. Sastri)
>    3. Re: What can we do? (Taina Kilpiainen)
>    4. A humble request (S.N. Sastri)
>    5. Re: A humble request (Anbu sivam2)
>    6. Understanding (Viswanathan N)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 07:24:24 +0530 (IST)
> From: "Sridhar Babu" <sridhar at amritapuri.amrita.edu>
> Subject: [Advaita-l] Karma and Reincarnation
> To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> Message-ID:
> 	<4352.203.197.150.195.1152755664.squirrel at mail.amrita.ac.in>
> Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
> 
>                          || Aum Sri Gurubhyo Namah ||
>                                || Hari: Aum ||
> 
> Aum Namah Sivaya Advaitins
> 
> These two question and answer messages were truly giving light on the
> Karma
> and Reincarnation which is, of course, the most intricate noose from
> which
> only Sathguru can help released.
> 
> >
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 10:30:49 -0700 (PDT)
> > From: kuntimaddi sadananda <kuntimaddisada at yahoo.com>
> > Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] Karma and Reincarnation - Birth as a
> Brahmin
> 
> > Padmaji - My PraNAms.
> >
> > First Vedanta does not endorse any accidents in life. All are 
> > incidences, the causes for which could be unseen or adRiShTa, for us
> 
> > with limited vision.
> >
> > The law of karma is impartial and operates until jiiva realizes his 
> > true state.  Death is not the end of the life and birth is not the 
> > beginning of the life either. The law of cause and effect is valid 
> > from birth to death and therefore does not just disappear before
> birth 
> > or after death. Hence Vedanta says your birth is the result of your 
> > past actions.  We are borne in a particular family, as male or
> female, 
> > in an environment dictated by our purva janma vaasanas.
> >
> > If we have sAtvic vasanas we will be borne in an environment for the
> 
> > further evolution of these. A Brahman is one who has predominately 
> > sAtvic vasanas - not just the one who is born in Brahman's parents.
> >
> > A xatriya is one who has predominately rajasic with sAtvic vAsanas
> as 
> > second.
> >
> > A Vaisya is one with rajasic and tamasic vasanas.
> >
> > And a Sudra is one with predominately tamasic vasanas.
> >
> > These are mental make up of individuals - hence based on guNa which 
> > then propels one to act according to his guNa  his actions (karma) 
> > differs. This is the basis for classification of mental makeup. 
> This 
> > is extensively discussed in Vajrasuchi Upanishad.
> >
> > This classification is universal - and applies to all human beings
> who 
> > have mind and intellect to feel and to think.
> >
> > This classification is intended not to judge others, whether the
> other 
> > is Brahman or Sudra but to judge oneself to see what type of
> shadhana 
> > would help for one to progress.
> >
> > Marrying another that is compatible with one's vAsanas would help,
> but 
> > that is not guaranteed!
> >
> > Hence classification is not by birth.
> >
> > Although the birth in a given environment would help to evolve the 
> > particular guNas and therefore one's birth can be dictated by
> previous 
> > vasanas.
> >
> > Krishna answers to Arjuna question in Ch. 6 - what happens to the
> one 
> > who is on his way to evolution and dies suddenly?  Krishna answers 
> > that he will be born in the next life in an environment that is 
> > conducive for his rapid growth.  Hence nothing will be lost.
> >
> > Castes are developed latter on the basis of birth - but that is only
> 
> > secondary compared to the evolution of the mind and intellect.  As
> one 
> > evolves and developed saatvik vasanas and tunes his mind to Brahman,
> 
> > he becomes Brahmana by guNa and karma.
> >
> > Hope this answers your question.
> >
> >
> > Hari OM!
> > Sadananda
> 
> >> --- Anbu sivam2 <anbesivam2 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Dear Sri Sadananda,
> >>
> >> My wife has the following question.  Could you pl. help her.
> >>
> >> Pranaams,
> >> Anbu
> >>
> >> Dear Sri Sadananda,
> >>
> >> Many Pranaams to you.  I was reading a discussion thread  in 
> >> Kanchiforum.orgin which a person is saying that there is no 
> >> scriptural proof (either in Sruthi or Smrithi) to the effect that 
> >> poorva punya causes a person to be
> >> born as a Brahmana or a Kshathriya or a Vaisya or Sudhra.  Even
> though
> >> it
> >> was pointed that if it was not the case of a person's birth in a
> >> particular
> >> varna would be an accident and not caused (by poorva punya).  Such
> >> accidents
> >> are impermissible in the theory of cause and effect that constitute
> >> Karma
> >> and reincarnation.  However that gentleman seem to be insisting on
> >> proof
> >> from the scriptures.  The only person with a ocean of knowledge
> that I
> >> could
> >> turn to is you.  Could you please help me.
> >>
> >> Pranaams again,
> >> Padma
> >> _______________________________________________
> 
> 
>                         || Aum Shanthih Shanthih Shanthih ||
> 
> 
> *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.
> Sri Paada Sevayam
> sridhar
> 
>                      || Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavanthu ||
> 
> 
> 
>                          *************************
> 
>                   Oh! Mother of Truth, Thou be alone my Guide.
> 
>                                ***********
> 
> 
>
****************************************************************************
> *******************
> This email was sent using Amrita Mail.
>    "Maintained by IT Enabled Services"
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> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 11:39:19 +0530
> From: "S.N. Sastri" <sn.sastri at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Advaita-l] karma kanda
> To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> Message-ID:
> 	<7b890d4a0607122309o6fdd55e2ubb9f1992578a36f0 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed
> 
> "s v a" <a_satish03 at rediffmail.com>
> wrote on July 12, 2006:
> 
>       I also think, the Madhwa & other who call Shankara , buddha in
> disguise, is bcoz, Buddha like Shankara alwayas rejected, Karmakanda &
> Upalabdhivad, which Mimansakas & their hidden followers like MAdhwa &
> Ramanuja stand out for.
> --------------
> 
> Far from rejecting karma kanda, Sri Sankara stresses the need for the
> performance of rituals till one attains total purity of mind and
> becomes fit
> for the dawn of self-knowledge. The following are a few instances from
> his
> BhAshya:
> 
> *Br.up.4.4.22. BhAshya (S.B)-- The words 'study of the Vedas,
> sacrifices,
> charity and austerity' refer to all obligatory rites (nitya karma).
> Thus all
> the obligatory rites (that is all those other than kAmya karma) serve
> as
> means to liberation through the attainment of Self-knowledge. Hence we
> see
> that the ultimate purpose of the two parts of the Vedas, that dealing
> with
> rites and that dealing with Self-knowledge, is the same, (namely
> liberation). *
> 
> taitt.up.1.11.S.B-The Vedic rites help in the attainment of
> Self-knowledge
> by eradicating the accumulated sins.
> 
> taitt.up.1.11.S.B---- For the attainment of Self-knowledge, the *nitya
> karma
> *becomes the means only by eradicating the obstruction in the form of
> accumulated sins.
> 
> Br.up.4.5.15.S.B--  We have said that rites are for the unenlightened.
> As
> long as there is ignorance of the Self, there is need for the
> performance of
> rites which are intended to produce, attain, modify or purify. (These
> are
> the four kinds of results produced by action). Rites are the means to
> Self-knowledge through the purification of the mind.
> 
> taitt.up.1.11.S.B--- The rites laid down have to be performed for the
> attainment of Self- knowledge (because they purify the mind and make
> it fit
> for the rise of knowledge).
> 
> Sri Sankara further points out that there is no demarcation of rites
> as
> 'kAmya' or 'obligatory (nitya) in the Vedas themselves. He says in
> Br.up.1.3.1.S.B--- As the rites with material ends (*kAmya karma),
> *such as
> the new and full moon sacrifices, are enjoined on one who desires to
> attain
> heaven, etc, so are the regular and obligatory rites (*nitya *and
> *naimittika
> karma)* on one who has the root of all evils, namely ignorance, and
> the
> consequent defects of attachment and aversion, manifesting themselves
> as the
> quest for what is pleasant and avoidance of the unpleasant. Rites such
> as
> *agnihotra, chAturmAsya, paSubandha *and *somayAga *are not
> intrinsically
> either rites with material ends (*kAmya) *or obligatory rites
> (*nitya).*They
> come under the former category only when they are performed with
> desire for
> results such as heaven. (The same rites can also be performed without
> desire
> for the result, in which case they become *nishkAma karma *and have
> the
> effect of purifying the mind and making it fit for Self-knowledge). No
> rites
> are enjoined in the scriptures for one who has realized the true
> nature of
> the Self. Self-knowledge arises only on the obliteration of the very
> cause
> of rites. One who has realized that he is Brahman has no obligation to
> perform even the obligatory rites.
> 
>    Sri Sankara of course stresses that liberation results from
> knowledge
> alone. Karma is the remote means because it is necessary for
> purification of
> the mind.
> 
> S.N.Sastri
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 01:34:01 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Taina Kilpiainen <tutteli at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] What can we do?
> To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> Message-ID: <20060713083401.82138.qmail at web50708.mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
> 
> 
> 
> Why this world is so bad? There is much more badness
> than goodness and bad people have much better luck
> than good people.
> 
> This reflect all things in this world and
> terrorattacks are only visible top in these badness
> which have in everything.
> 
> Is it for Kali yuga time the world is thiskind extreme
> bad in novadays? We can look backward; How nazies
> destroyed people in concentration camps and they
> succeed in this very good and Hitler succeed to
> survive from attendats against him.
> 
> Big global business companies wrenchs people in
> developed countries etc and etc.
> 
> This was rather pessimist statement but I have found
> it everywhere, in all.
> 
> Of course I think this is also karmic thing. But
> however it feel so sad when goodness is so difficult
> to find from novaday's world.
> 
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
> http://mail.yahoo.com 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 16:26:04 +0530
> From: "S.N. Sastri" <sn.sastri at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Advaita-l] A humble request
> To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> Message-ID:
> 	<7b890d4a0607130356h48902f63l3b95ef95cbc193c at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> 
> A humble request to members.
> 
> I live in Chennai. I have not been able to access my website
> http://www.geocities.com/snsastri for the past ten days. Others in
> Chennai
> are also not able to access any of the free geocities sites. But
> people in
> USA are able to reach my site. I shall be very grateful if any of the
> members living in any part of India could kindly let me know whether
> he/she
> is able to reach my site or any other geocities website. If any member
> has
> any idea about the reason for these sites not being accessible to
> people in
> some places alone, such as Chennai, I shall be highly oliged for that
> information.
> 
> S.N.Sastri
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 08:30:10 -0500
> From: "Anbu sivam2" <anbesivam2 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] A humble request
> To: "A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta"
> 	<advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
> Message-ID:
> 	<f65008470607130630p7bee7790q33ce5a30f9dfee02 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> 
> Dear Sri Sastriji,
> 
> I was able to access your website.  I don't know why you couldn't.
> 
> Regards,
> Anbu
> 
> On 7/13/06, S.N. Sastri <sn.sastri at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > A humble request to members.
> >
> > I live in Chennai. I have not been able to access my website 
> > http://www.geocities.com/snsastri for the past ten days. Others in 
> > Chennai are also not able to access any of the free geocities sites.
> 
> > But people in USA are able to reach my site. I shall be very
> grateful 
> > if any of the members living in any part of India could kindly let
> me 
> > know whether he/she is able to reach my site or any other geocities 
> > website. If any member has any idea about the reason for these sites
> 
> > not being accessible to people in
> > some places alone, such as Chennai, I shall be highly oliged for
> that
> > information.
> >
> > S.N.Sastri
> > _______________________________________________
> > Archives: http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
> >
> > To unsubscribe or change your options: 
> > http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/advaita-l
> >
> > For assistance, contact:
> > listmaster at advaita-vedanta.org
> >
> >
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 08:08:40 +0100 (BST)
> From: Viswanathan N <vishy1962 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Advaita-l] Understanding
> To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta
> 	<advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
> Message-ID: <20060713070840.24929.qmail at web33815.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
> 
> Shri Sadanandaji /Sastriji and all learned
>    
>   I am not all that learned in scriptures or in the sanskrit itself to
> quote
> anything.
>   But Let me put my understanding of ' Truth' in layman' s language:
>    
>   All living /why everything in this existence are containers(c)  and
> the
> life  inside is the Content (C). The Content all over everywhere is
> one and
> same and the containers create the illusion of being different. Now
> let me
> put it in this way, atleast for humans:
>    
>   C = is the 'Brahman' and  othe c =  combination of
> body/mind/intellect and
> ego
>   C is formless and  has never born or ever die...it existed exist and
> exisit for ever where as the other c having form keeps changing forms
> which
> we call birth/death. 
>    
>   Vast majority of all keep their conciousness centered on c and that
> why
> all birth/death, pleasure/pain, love/hate dualities. Once you shift
> your
> identity /conciousness from c to C...you have reached teh home....YOU
> become
> That. (call this shift Moksha/Nirvana whatever....)
>    
>   This is what I understood as ' Advaita'....for making this shift
> happen
> first you have to gain the knowledge (Jnana) and keep contemplating
> (Meditattion/ Dhyana)on that..and than keep performing your duty to
> complete
> the obligations to the various elements of the society untill this
> body
> lasts (Karma yoga).
>    
>   So, I wonder why this Rituals/ Ritualistic practices....The purpose
> of
> Karmakhanda???? 
>    
>   Pl correct me and guide me , if I am wrong
>    
>   Pranams
>   Viswanath 
>    
>   
> 
> "S.N. Sastri" <sn.sastri at gmail.com> wrote:
>   "s v a" 
> wrote on July 12, 2006:
> 
> I also think, the Madhwa & other who call Shankara , buddha in
> disguise, is
> bcoz, Buddha like Shankara alwayas rejected, Karmakanda &
> Upalabdhivad,
> which Mimansakas & their hidden followers like MAdhwa & Ramanuja stand
> out
> for.
> --------------
> 
> Far from rejecting karma kanda, Sri Sankara stresses the need for the
> performance of rituals till one attains total purity of mind and
> becomes fit
> for the dawn of self-knowledge. The following are a few instances from
> his
> BhAshya:
> 
> *Br.up.4.4.22. BhAshya (S.B)-- The words 'study of the Vedas,
> sacrifices,
> charity and austerity' refer to all obligatory rites (nitya karma).
> Thus all
> the obligatory rites (that is all those other than kAmya karma) serve
> as
> means to liberation through the attainment of Self-knowledge. Hence we
> see
> that the ultimate purpose of the two parts of the Vedas, that dealing
> with
> rites and that dealing with Self-knowledge, is the same, (namely
> liberation). *
> 
> taitt.up.1.11.S.B-The Vedic rites help in the attainment of
> Self-knowledge
> by eradicating the accumulated sins.
> 
> taitt.up.1.11.S.B---- For the attainment of Self-knowledge, the *nitya
> karma
> *becomes the means only by eradicating the obstruction in the form of
> accumulated sins.
> 
> Br.up.4.5.15.S.B-- We have said that rites are for the unenlightened.
> As
> long as there is ignorance of the Self, there is need for the
> performance of
> rites which are intended to produce, attain, modify or purify. (These
> are
> the four kinds of results produced by action). Rites are the means to
> Self-knowledge through the purification of the mind.
> 
> taitt.up.1.11.S.B--- The rites laid down have to be performed for the
> attainment of Self- knowledge (because they purify the mind and make
> it fit
> for the rise of knowledge).
> 
> Sri Sankara further points out that there is no demarcation of rites
> as
> 'kAmya' or 'obligatory (nitya) in the Vedas themselves. He says in
> Br.up.1.3.1.S.B--- As the rites with material ends (*kAmya karma),
> *such as
> the new and full moon sacrifices, are enjoined on one who desires to
> attain
> heaven, etc, so are the regular and obligatory rites (*nitya *and
> *naimittika
> karma)* on one who has the root of all evils, namely ignorance, and
> the
> consequent defects of attachment and aversion, manifesting themselves
> as the
> quest for what is pleasant and avoidance of the unpleasant. Rites such
> as
> *agnihotra, chAturmAsya, paSubandha *and *somayAga *are not
> intrinsically
> either rites with material ends (*kAmya) *or obligatory rites
> (*nitya).*They
> come under the former category only when they are performed with
> desire for
> results such as heaven. (The same rites can also be performed without
> desire
> for the result, in which case they become *nishkAma karma *and have
> the
> effect of purifying the mind and making it fit for Self-knowledge). No
> rites
> are enjoined in the scriptures for one who has realized the true
> nature of
> the Self. Self-knowledge arises only on the obliteration of the very
> cause
> of rites. One who has realized that he is Brahman has no obligation to
> perform even the obligatory rites.
> 
> Sri Sankara of course stresses that liberation results from knowledge
> alone.
> Karma is the remote means because it is necessary for purification of
> the
> mind.
> 
> S.N.Sastri
> _______________________________________________
> Archives: http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
> 
> To unsubscribe or change your options:
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> 
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> 
> 
> 
>  				
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> ------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> 
> 
> End of Advaita-l Digest, Vol 39, Issue 9
> ****************************************
> 
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> 
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