[Advaita-l] [advaitin] Question on time spent learning Sanskrit Grammar post-50 years old vs. Sadhana

[Sanju Nath]

Thank you for the advice.  I continue to learn Sanskrit, no fear, but was looking for learned members advice on the balance between pursuing self knowledge and the hours spent on grammar.  In my 30s, no doubt but I'm in my 50s, hence doubt arose.

Now I'm clear.  Better to redefine the useless hours / activities in other pursuits, than to make it an (artificial) question of Sanskrit or Vedanta.

I liked the quote on stuti versus critiquing the alternative.

धन्यवाद,
Sanju

> On Mar 8, 2016, at 4:03 AM, Aravinda Rao karavind09 at gmail.com [advaitin] <advaitin at yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> I am amused by this hesitancy to learn Sanskrit while our Pollocks and Donigers are mastering it and rubbing their theories to break the Indian society. 
> Anyway, Shankaracharya's dig at the grammarian was not to undermine the role of grammar but to highlight the importance of self knowledge. There is a Sanskrit nyayam  to illustrate this. It is called nahi nindaa nyaayam.
> नहि निन्दा निन्द्यं निन्दितुं प्रवर्तते अपि तु स्तुत्यं स्तोतुम्।
> The censure is not meant to censure one subject but to extol the other subject.
> 
> Aravinda Rao
> 
>> On Tue, Mar 8, 2016 at 2:14 PM, Lakshman Velayutham vlakshman71 at gmail.com [advaitin] <advaitin at yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>>  
>> Pranaams Sanju.
>> 
>> In my view, the context in which Sri. Adi Shankaracharya would have mentioned the same would be from the standpoint of understanding and living the supreme  truth 'Aham Brahmasmi'.
>> One can be a great pundit, versed in all the vedas, upanishads and grammar as well, but they mean little if he has not the shraddha in the statement 'Aham Brahmasmi'. In the absence of this conviction, perhaps, the next birth could be a more distinguished one as he was a pundit in his previous birth, but one will continue with the cycle of birth and death for eternity.
>> On the other hand, if one lives the supreme truth, then all learning around it will enable you extinguish your Tama Raja and Sattva karmas and finally end the cycle of life and death.
>> Hence, we must begin our journey of Vedanta by accepting the supreme truth, despite tons of questions and doubts  and then interpret the texts to understand this truth better. Learning grammar can be one of them.
>> 
>> Pranaams
>> Lakshman
>> 
>>> On 7 Mar 2016 08:23, "Sanju Nath sanjivendra at gmail.com [advaitin]" <advaitin at yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>>>  
>>> Pranams:
>>> 
>>> Given the advice in BhajGovindam (reproduced below) how much time should we prioritize for learning Sanskrit versus meditation/reading English translations/Svadhayaya/other Sadhana?
>>> 
>>> In the time it takes to read grammar, one can use English/Hindi translations to understand better some slokas too.   There is no dearth of reflection and understanding opportunity here.
>>> 
>>> The fear is that I'm being a mudha when I choose to pickup a grammar book in comparison to other options.
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> Sanju.
>>> 
>>> *************
>>> During his stay in Kashi, Adi Shankaracharya noticed a very old man studying the rules of Sanskrit by Panini.  Shankara was touched with pity at seeing the plight of the old man spending his years at a mere intellectual accomplishment while he would be better off praying and spending time to control his mind.  
>>> 
>>> 
>>> मूढः कश्चन वैयाकरणो
>>> डुकृञ्करणाध्ययन धुरिणः ।
>>> श्रीमच्छम्कर भगवच्छिष्यै
>>> बोधित आसिच्छोधितकरणः ॥ ३२॥ 
>>> 
>>> Thus a silly grammarian lost in rules cleansed of his narrow
>>> vision and shown the Light by Shankara's apostles.
> 
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> Posted by: Aravinda Rao <karavind09 at gmail.com>
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