[Advaita-l] [advaitin] Veda-s & its apaurusheyatva

[Michael Shepherd]

Dear Sunilji,

Perhaps I am the wrong person to be seen as a 'representative' of anything.
As a child, I knew that the Lord was my best friend and knew more about me
than I knew myself; I grew up with the mystics, Christian, Sufi, Hindu, who
lived in the universal and to whom rebirth was not an issue; and I have
spent my adult life in the company of those whose first concern is truth and
who seek wisdom. Therefore we believe that Sanatana Dharma means what it
says, and doesn't come with a label 'Hindus only' or 'check the reading-list
before applying'.. We believe that Sanatana Dharma is to be recognised, and
lived.

So we come to Hinduism open-minded. We are very fortunate in the
practicality of our simple-mindedness. Don't label us. For we do not label
you.

Michael

-----Original Message-----
From: advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
[mailto:advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org]On Behalf Of Sunil
Bhattacharjya
Sent: 05 September 2009 14:11
To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta
Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] [advaitin] Veda-s & its apaurusheyatva



Dear Michaelji,
 
One should not forget there is a  great difference between Hinduism
(including its daughter religions such as Buddhism, Jainism) and the Semitic
religions in that the former believes in rebirth and the latter not. Thus
moving from one to the other means a paradigm shift.  
 
Secondly there is no upper limit of knowledge in Hinduisn in the sense that
nothing comes in way of the  the seeker in his pursuit for the ultimate
knowledge.  Sir Abdullah Suhrawardy quoted a Hadith in the book "The sayings
of Muhammad", according to which the prophet said that he got two types of
knowledge from God and that he could give his followers only one type of
knowledge as they would not be able to assimilate the other type (of
knowledge.  The prophet in his best judgement might have found it that way.
Why then compare the religions? The bhakti to the Lord alone is emphasised
there.
 
Thirdly  Bhakti's prominance does not appear in Advaita? Bhakti is very nice
and wonderful but Advaita has some reservation for Bhakti. Remember Adi
Sankaracharya said "Bhaktyarthakalpitam Dvaitam Advaitadapi Sundaram".
Bhakti without Jnana is not the Advaita's cup of tea.
 
Then in the Bhagavad Gita the Lord said about Lokasangraha. The knowledge of
the Vedas is for all. One who cannot read the Vedas can have the Puranas and
the epics to get the taste of the Vedic knowledge. If any non-Hindu likes to
come to Hinduism due to that person's genuine interest then that
person should be welcome to do so. Vishwamitra was born as a Kshatriya but
he strived hard to become a Brahman and he did succeed. One thing a person
has to take care is that  in that process the person should not shirk off
the responsibilities incumbent on him by birth or his past karma.
 
Regards,
 
Sunil K. Bhattacharjya
 
 

--- On Sat, 9/5/09, Michael Shepherd <michael at shepherd87.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:


From: Michael Shepherd <michael at shepherd87.fsnet.co.uk>
Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] [advaitin] Veda-s & its apaurusheyatva
To: "A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta"
<advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
Date: Saturday, September 5, 2009, 4:08 AM


Shri Shyam ji

I've been reading again your fine posting, for which thanks.

I'd just like to 'clean up' by saying that Hinduism, because of its
intertwined theology, religion,  spiritual advice, and wisdom, is going to
attract -- as it has since the 18th century at least -- thinkers from other
nations and faiths for its jnana aspects; rather than the recent
well-intentioned pseudo-bhaktis. And that seems to me to be, in view of
Sanatana Dharma, an extremely auspicious and propitious situation.

Michael

-----Original Message-----
From: advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
[mailto:advaita-l-bounces at lists.advaita-vedanta.org]On Behalf Of Shyam
Sent: 04 September 2009 16:57
To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta
Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] [advaitin] Veda-s & its apaurusheyatva



Pranams Shri Michael-ji and others,
I suspect that some people may be reading into what Shri Pravin-ji has so
consistently articulated, an approach that is based on chauvinism or
ethnocentricity. I would like to submit that in fact when examined it is the
exact opposite.

This thread was concerned primarily with the status of the Vedas as
apaurusheya and what that term signified.

Now those not in the Vedic fold have their own scriptures to adhere to. It
is wrong to use the term Veda for that. It is also unnecessary. Every belief
system has internal validity for its followers. There is no need to dilute,
or waterdown, or in anyways liberalize the doctrines of the Vedic path, in
order that may make it more palatable to members of other faiths.

When we attempt to do this we actually undermine the validity of those
faiths as well. Why should we look at the Bible or the Quran as Veda? Are
the Abrahamic faiths in need of "Vedic" validation in order for them to be
considered Holy? There is wisdom in every religious scripture, and every
religion has the tools to spiritually cater to the particular temparament
and mindset of its followers.

All this talk of allowing or encouraging "conversion" is silly, as was
pointed out by His Holiness Chandrashekhara Bharati "since he was born in a
particular faith, it was best suited for him to pursue his spiritual
advances in that faith" - similar messages have been similarly articulated
by His Holiness the Sage of Kanchi as well.

The reason can be found in Lord Krishna's words "- Better is one's own
dharma than another's"...shreyah sva-dharmo vigunah para-dharmat
svanusthitat sva-dharme nidhanam shreyah para-dharmo bhayavahah" Of course
in this particular context Bhagwan is referring to the ashramadharma and
varnadharma, but in todays context we can by implication allow this
principle to guide us in regards to the issue of interfaith conversion. To
say that a devout Christian who with unswerving faith embraces austerity,
and penance, and charity, and meditation, and dispassion to the world, and
Supreme love and prayer to the Lord, the Father in Heaven, and Surrender,
will be denied the Kingdom of God - unless that earns him enough karmic
points to find Hinduism is this lifetime and come to Vedanta - to my mind is
what is chauvinistic. Let everyone have not only the freedom but let
everyone be encouraged to have unswerving faith and devotion to his or her
religious background and
its doctrines and its "God" - i.e. the one they were born with - such is an
attitude that stems from implicit faith in the infallibility of the Order
that is Ishwara, and that this Order would have rightfully fashioned for an
individual the environs that are best suited to his or her spiritual
upliftment, and that every such environ has validity in its sphere of
influence. A person who loses faith in his doctrine today and is looking for
a change, may well be the doubting Thomas who loses faith in the new
religion he is now embracing, as soon as his wavering mind finds some other
faith even more appealing.

All of religion is ONLY about spiritual progress as its ultimate
goal...bereft of this end, no religion including the vedic path, has any
relevance whatsoever.

Hari OM
Shyam



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