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

[Anbu sivam2]

"Whatever is happening is auspicious" !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghrq8e_LIos&NR=1

On Sun, Sep 6, 2009 at 4:58 AM, Michael Shepherd <
michael at shepherd87.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

> Dear Sunilji,
>
> Please excuse an occasional asperity on my part.
> We have a phrase in our tradition : 'divine discontent'. It is considered
> to
> be auspicious and propitious to the experiencer -- but best kept to oneself
> !
>
> Regards,
>
> 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: 06 September 2009 00:11
> To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta
> Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] [advaitin] Veda-s & its apaurusheyatva
>
>
>
> Dear Michaelji,
>
> Yes, we should speak in terms of the Sanatana dharma, as the whole humanity
> inherits it.
>
> 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, 7:40 AM
>
>
> 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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