[Advaita-l] Sankara on sannyAsa for Steadiness in GYAna (was Re: Jivanmukti - Jnana plus Sannyasa pt 5)

[Jaldhar H. Vyas]

On Sun, 18 Oct 2009, Sunil Bhattacharjya wrote:

> Dear friends,
>
> We have arrived at a critical position.  Can I put the problem as 
> follows. Of course, I request the Vedantic scholars to say if I have put 
> the problem properly. It is as follows:
>
> The Parivrajaka alone gives up fire and thus he gives up the Vedic 
> rituals and this means he gives up the mortal world and does not aim for 
> the Swarga either and his only aim is the Moksha.

A clarification here.  The shastras always talk about renouncing the fire 
because agnihotra is the archetype of karmas.  But everything concerning 
agnihotra is applicable mutatis mutandis to sandhya, or working in a 
factory, or any other type of action.

> In other words he rejects both this mortal and the heaven but seeks that 
> which pervades both, ie. the Brahman.

He rejects more than heaven but all purposeful goals (of which attaining 
heaven is the archetype.)

> It seems Lord  Buddha got an inspiration for his 
> middle path from such a stand of Baudhayana.

The Buddhists want extinction.  They do not want liberation like Astikas 
because they do not believe there is any state to be liberated to.

> If this is so then can any 
> of the other three ashramas, who performs the Vedic rituals through 
> fire, transcend Swarga  and get Moksha.
>

Once again let me stress that any intentional action is an impediment to 
moksha not just "Vedic rituals."

> As regards Janaka, it may then be considered as an exception to the 
> above position.
>

Public figures like Janaka may continue to appear to practice karma as an 
example to others.  Furthermore an emperor with a vast number of 
ministers, soldiers, and servants at his disposal might not actually have 
that much "work" to do.


-- 
Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar at braincells.com>