DrikAGS-Book Excerpts and Review

ATMAN

Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Vol 2: Delivered in America.

Background of Hinduism:

Vedanta is not simply Advaita . It encompasses Dwaita + Vishishta Advaita (Qualified Monism) + Advaita

From ancient times –

- People were/are always free to formulate their own sect

- Full of religious sects

- Religious activity is inexhaustible.

VEDAS ~~ expression of knowledge of GOD ~~ GOD is eternal == VEDAS are eternal

Creation in cycles GROSS -> SUBTLE -> period of REST

PRANA + AKASHA -> subtle form: Prana Almost all vibration ceases Aanidavaatam almost motionless.

	DWAITA	QUALIFIED MONISM	ADVAITA
SALIENT POINTS	· GOD is eternal · SOUL is eternal · NATURE is eternal · All 3 are eternally separate	· Real Philosophy begins with Q n-D. · Personal God · Effect is Cause is another form · God is both the material cause and the efficient cause · Concept of Projection NOT Creation · God = soul of all Souls · Nature + Indiv Soul = Body of God	· Fairest of Philosophy · Impersonal God · God is both the material cause and the efficient cause · Not for the masses - ~3000 yrs. Not for the wek not a comfortable religion · Self Hypnotism U, I and Universe only 1 Existance · Know the Truh and be FREE
SALVATION	Eternal happiness + eternally in presence of God + eternally enjoying Him - Must pray for salvation	Soul is not omnipotent. With good deeds they become perfect – no more births n deaths-	No Nature, No God Ony 1 Existance Atman. Atman only reality. - All heavens are imagination of the mind. - When all desires are vanquished – This very mortal becomes immortal – Man becomes God.
BONDAGE	Cycle of birth + Death even for gods (devas) -no salvation if there is hope of reward	Cycle of birth + Death even for gods (devas) -Bad deed contracts the soul and good deed expands-the soul to its inherent pure nature	No bondage.. I am omnipresent, eternal Why do good to other? Coz of our inner nature.. sees oneness everywhere
EVIL	ME + MINE root cause fo all evil - Man creates evil not God	Soul is pure in nature; by its deeds it creates evil	I am free.. what freeom shall I seek? How can I be hungry, inactive , dead? 3 veils: Matter(Senses)/soul(Intellect)/God(spirit)
UNIVERSE	Everything belongs to God	Everything is a part of God- body of God	Reflection of Atman.
Highest Achevement Perfected SOul	Man becomes God like but no power to create	Soul lives with GOD forever like sparks of fire.	Self is to be worshipped no Gods
Wall	God has created the wall	God is in the wall but NOT God has become the wall	I am He , He is I..! This little I never existed. None but I was God.
GOD	Personal – Extra Cosmic	Immanent	Atman – all ethics + morality+ spirituality

The ABSOLUTE and MANIFESTATION

Sw V Complete works Vol 2. London 1896.

Q1. How was the INFINITE, the ABSOLUTE become FINITE?

a. DEFINITIONS

i. Universe is

1. The material world

2. The mental world

3. The spiritual world

4. The heavens and earths

5. Everything

6. Everything that changes ( body, mind).

ii. Time:

1. Is thought associated with Mind

2. Change between 2 events

iii. Space:

1. External change

2. With respect to 3 objects, associated with Mind

iv. Causation:

1. Motion (cause n effect), associated with Time and Space

2. Answer to “why?”

3. Precedence and succession == Law of causation

4. Interdependence

b. STATEMENT:

i. Absolute becomes Universe by coming through Time+Space+Causation

ii. Absolute is:

1. Unknowable, Infinte

a. Knowledge/objectification ϵ Mind. Therefore, Absolute ϵ/ Mind

2. Free

a. If Absolute is caused by something then Absolute ϵ Universe ≠ Free, ≠ changeless

3. Independent

a. If Absolute is caused by something then Absolute ≠ Cause of the Universe => Absolute ≠ independent.

b. Therefore Absolute cannot be caused by something.

Absolute, Infinite can NEVER become finite.

Example:

Waves in Ocean. Waves =- Suns, Stars etc..

Ocean is the Absolute.

The Waves are perceived in Time, Space and Causation. == MAYA

Waves vanish => T/S/C vanish => Free…!!!!.

GOAL: Get rid off this clinging to Time/Space/Causation.

Q2. What is Advaita’s definition of GOD?

a. God is the Absolute, the unknowable one

b. God is neither knowable nor unknowable.

c. God is higher than known

d. God is higher than unknown, unknowable.

e. Eternal Witness

f. In and through Him we know

g. Essence of I, the ego through which we know

h. Infinitely nearer to us but still higher

i. Essence of everything, Soul of my soul.

Q3. What is the meaning of “Thou Art That”?

a. “He is the essence of your Soul, He is the Truth, He is the Self, Thou art that oh Shvetaketu!” He is one with us. I cannot dissociate myself from myself to know myself.

Q4. What is Theory of Evolution?

a. A tremendous potential power which is trying to express itself against the circumstances, environment holding it down. In order to fight against its environment, this power is taking bodies again and again. Thus amoeba becomes Man.

Q5. What is MORALITY?

a. Making the subject strong by attuning to the Absolute so that the finite Nature ceases to have control over us.

Q6. How can the task of gaining control over this infinite Nature be doable?

a. Nature can be conquered because Nature is finite.

b. Nature is the INFINITE under limitations and hence finite.

Q7. Why do we need MORALITY?

a. Morality gives FREEDOM and Immorality leads to Bondage.

Q8. How to conquer EVIL?

a. Changing and perfecting the SUBJECTIVE

b. Ex: If I am immune to anger… I never feel angry.

Q9. How to save INDIA from Materialism?

a. Advaita philosophy

Q10. What will be the religion of future?

a. SHANKARA’s bright sun of intellectuality

b. Combined with

c. BUDDHA’s heart of infinite LOVE and MERCY… aka moral life.

….ex: Swamiji Himself

This is the GOAL of Human life now. Science & Religion shall meet.

Q 11. What is the timeline of the prophets?

a. Advaita---materialism-----Buddha---materialism-----Shankara---materialism-----RSV----

Q12. Why does Dualism appeal?

a. Its for the less educated minds because it appeals to the vanity that the practisers have exclusive rights to privileges

Q13. What are the 3 teachings of Jesus in light of the 3 philosophies of Dwaita, Vishishta Advaita and Advaita?

a. To the common mass He said: “Pray to your Father in Heaven”.

b. To the intelligents He said: “ I am the Vine, ye are the branches”.

c. To His disciples He said: Me and My Father are One”.