[Advaita-l] On Ramana

[Kaushik Chevendra]

Namaste respected elders of the group.


On Thu, 24 Jun 2021, 17:25 Vasu Raghavan via Advaita-l, <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> Pranaams to the learned members of this group and specifically to Sri.
> Girish
>
> I am writing this response not with the intention of getting into a debate
> or argument with anyone but only with the intention of presenting some
> facts.
>
> RKM as we find it today, is doing a lot of things that are inimical to the
> Sanatana Dharma in the short and long run, the foremost of these being the
> endorsement of the abrahamic faiths and extolling these tamasic / asuric
> cults to be at par with Sanatana Dharma. On top of it, they had even gone
> to the Supreme Court with a plea to recognize them as a "minority sect" as
> their "way" is distinct from mainstream Hinduism. There is
> considerable evidence to show that the RKM hierarchy has been infiltrated
> by the church and by elements vulnerable to the influence of gulf / oil
> money
>
> RKM is primarily focused on spreading the teachings of Ramakrishna
> Paramahamsa, who was essentially a Kali Upasaka and from whatever we read
> from the stories seen in the books published by RKM itself, he used stories
> and parables to talk about God / Eashwara / the Supreme Being etc. and
> provide certain Dhaarmic messages, but these can not be classified as
> Vedanta or Advaita Vedanta strictly speaking. RKM itself promotes
> Ramakrishna Paramahamsa as an Avatara Purusha, someone worthy of being
> worshipped as GOD / Eashwara (and not as a Guru coming in the traditional
> Guru Parampara)... thus rendering itself to be a cult of sorts.
>
I feel that, as shruthi says that a jnani can be worshipped for the
attainment of moksha, this isn't wrong.

>
> The Advaita Ashrama, a branch of RKM is what specializes in the spread of
> Advaita philosophy and this is not their mainstream focus...from what I
> have seen, they speak the language of Advaita where it suits them but take
> the cover under "sarva dharma sama bhaava vada pav" at other instances.
>
Actually swami vivekananda has talked about the different vedanta schools.
He has statated that advaita is the goal and the highest truth, whereas
other schools are stepping stones.

Regarding vivekananda's Statments of other religions. I think it was done
to promote harmony in the society. There were conversions going on at that
time  as well as violence. Not to forget that we were under the British
rule.
Vivekananda has bought a lot of good name and recognition to sanatana
dharma.


I might be wrong, and I am happy if the elders correct me.

Regards.

>
> My apologies for digressing from the main purpose of this group, being the
> discussion of Advaita Vedanta and not a critique on any establishment, but
> sometimes facts can be hurtful...
>
> With warm regards
>
> Vasudevan Raghavan
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 24, 2021 at 12:36 PM Girish S V <girishsv at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > In Swami Vivekananda's own words, "If I have told you one word for truth,
> > it was his (Ramakrishna’s) and his alone, and if I have told you many
> > things which were not true, which were not correct, which were not
> > beneficial to the human race, they were all mine, and on me is the
> > responsibility." (Source:
> >
> https://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_3/lectures_from_colombo_to_almora/the_sages_of_india.htm
> > )
> >
> > So a statement that "The "advaita vedanta" flavour that RKM dishes out
> > nowadays must be attributed to Swami Vivekananda and it does not have its
> > origin in Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa himself" seems to be flawed. Please
> > correct me if I am wrong and you have a source that states otherwise.
> >
> > Also, perhaps it's just me,but calling it a "flavour that they are
> dishing
> > out" seems to be fairly condescending in my view.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > -G
> >
> > On Thu, Jun 24, 2021 at 3:00 PM Vasu Raghavan via Advaita-l <
> > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> >
> >> The "advaita vedanta" flavour that RKM dishes out nowadays must be
> >> attributed to Swami Vivekananda and it does not have its origin in Sri
> >> Ramakrishna Paramahamsa himself.
> >>
> >> In fact, the RKM as we know it today is an institution founded by Swami
> >> Vivekananda and a few other disciples of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
> >>
> >> With warm regards
> >>
> >>
> >> Vasudevan Raghavan
> >>
> >>
> >> On Thu, Jun 24, 2021 at 9:44 AM Jaldhar H. Vyas via Advaita-l <
> >> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> > On Thu, 24 Jun 2021, Girish S V via Advaita-l wrote:
> >> >
> >> > > You state " rAmakrishna paramahaMsa he can be an inspirational
> figure
> >> but
> >> > > not a traditional teacher"
> >> > > Can you please elaborate on why you think Sri Ramakrishna
> Paramahamsa
> >> was
> >> > > not a traditional teacher?
> >> > >
> >> >
> >> > Perhaps Bhaskar is refering to an earlier conversation we had once
> >> where I
> >> > said that Ramakrishna was a traditional Bengali Tantrik.  Which is
> >> > similar to Advaita Vedanta to be sure but nothing like the full-blown
> >> > interpretation of Advaita Vedanta espoused by his followers in the
> >> > Ramakrishna Mission.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar at braincells.com>
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