[Advaita-l] [advaitin] Time

[Michael Shepherd]

Maheshji,
While unable to offer much on this subject, I look forward keenly to what
may emerge..

The clues offered by the various darshana are few but thought-provoking :
all agree to a degree, that space and time disappear with maya.. Jainism
holds that the function of time is to reveal existence in the present,
change, movement, and duration ; Vaisesikasutra, listing nine substances,
adds to earth, water, air, fire and ether,akasha -- time, space, and the
soul..
So in the absence of instruction, we should use our divine viveka... and ask
: since moksha is the aim for the advaitin, how do space and time stand as
agents of the threefold grace of Brahman, guru, and jnanatman ?
At first sight -- sadhana seems to need time more than space, in one's
Himalayan cave ! But if one accepts from other darshana, that akarsha is the
vehicle of sound, then sadhana needs that sound as much or more than a
measure of time !

But I think that we have to discriminate -- if we can -- from unity and
moksha and the threefold grace, alone, to answer the question for ourself..

That's my two pi..

Michael

-----Original Message-----
From: advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
[mailto:advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org]On Behalf Of Mahesh
Ursekar
Sent: 26 March 2009 16:18
To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta
Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] [advaitin] Time



Pranams!

First off, I wish to apologize for starting this thread on two groups. I
seem to have read somewhere that this is not good practice. I merely posted
to this group since I did not receive any reply to my posting on Yahoo. So,
to make amends, I will only reply to postings on this group since this group
seems more active on the topic.

So, my posting on yahoo is reproduced below again (I only read Sri
Sadananda's posting there and this was a direct reply to the same):

"Pranams!

I would like reply to your points in some detail but prefer to hold on for a
while till I get more clarity on this issue by expounding the reason for my
question:

While I understand that time belongs to the vyAvarhAric satta, I was
wondering if the Sruti, or Sankara make any specific mention about the
*nature* of time. It seemed odd to me that of the trio space-time-causality
that define our world, space & causality find considerable mention, but I
have not come across a single place that Time has been mentioned
specifically.

Even if vyAvahAra is to be transcended in the final calling, Time forms a
very important component of it, especially in meditation & on
self-realization. So, leaving it unspoken of seems a bit odd.

So, in short, my question is "is there any discussion of the nature of time
by any of the Advaitic philosophers"? Or is its nature is to be inferred
from what is said otherwise. Or maybe, at the end of the day, it is not part
of philosophy but physics.

Thanks & Pranams, Mahesh

PS> A rather smart person who I asked this question said, AkAsa really means
space-time (since space & time are intricately entwined ala Einsten! :-)).

On Wed, Mar 25, 2009 at 5:02 PM, kuntimaddi sadananda <
kuntimaddisada at yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> Shree Mahesh - PraNAms
>
> Since you posted this in both advaitin and advaita-l lists, I am
responding
> for both.
>
> First, some aspect of time was discussed in my knowledge series.
>
> Time is gap between two sequential events according to Einstein. According
> to Vedantic interpretation, time is gap between two experiences - hence
mind
> supported by consciousness comes in- In deep sleep state where the mind is
> folded, the concept of time and space all get folded until the mind is
> awake.
>
> Biological time is there even in deep sleep and that exists at Iswara
level
> - There the total mind is involved again supported by conscious entity-
> creation-sustenance-dissolution requires continuous modification and
> continuity is a concept of time. Hence both time and space at global level
> belong to vyavahaara level - at jiiva level or praatibhaasika level - at
the
> level of experience - at individual mind level.
> Shankara says in Dakshinamuurthy sloka:
> maayaa kalpita desha kaala kalanaa vaicitra citriikRitam ..
> Both time and space are  creation of maaya - which is there but not there
> if one goes into deeper analysis.
>
> Hari Om!
> Sadananda
>
>
> --- On Tue, 3/24/09, maheshursekar <maheshursekar@ yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> Pranams!
>
> Can anyone tell me how is 'Time' conceived of in Adviata Vedanta?
>
> Thanks & Pranams, Mahesh
>
>
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