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

[Sunil Bhattacharjya]

I have taken the fire rituals as the example as it is mandatory for the Brahmnas of the three Ashramas but this is not to the exclusion of the other karmas, and though the other karmas have not been mentioned.

As regards the Statement The Buddhists want extinction.  They do not want liberation like
Astikas because they do not believe there is any state to be liberated
to. again we are in a difficult situation. In "Prajnaparamita", which is considered the Bible of the Mahayana and it shorter versions the "Diamond- sutra" and the "Heart- Sutra" it is said that the liberation is to get out of the five skandhas (which are the Buddhist version of the five koshas) and to have the non-separate state but not non-existent. Nagarjuna also says that "Shunya" is not Non-existence.

Regards,

Sunil K. Bhattacharjya

--- On Sun, 10/18/09, Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar at braincells.com> wrote:

From: Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar at braincells.com>
Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] Sankara on sannyAsa for Steadiness in GYAna (was Re: Jivanmukti - Jnana plus Sannyasa pt 5)
To: "A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta" <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
Date: Sunday, October 18, 2009, 10:10 PM

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>
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