Gaudapada and Shankara say: the world is imagined by the jiva through avidya

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V Subrahmanian

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Jul 27, 2023, 9:19:18тАпAM7/27/23
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In the 2nd chapter of the Mandukya karika, in the following verses, Gaudapada and Shankara say that the world, both inner and outer, are imaginations of the jiva.┬а Shankara is refuting the objection that it amounts to vijnanavada (Buddhism) by giving the reason: in Vedanta the imagination is on the adhishthana of the Atman whereas in vijnanavada it is not on the basis of the eternal atman.┬а┬а

A couple of years ago, there was a seminar on Buddhism, organised jointly by the Maha Bodhi Society and the Karnataka Sanskrit University, at the Institute of World Culture, B.P. Wadia Road, Basavanagudi, Bangalore. Speaking at the seminar, senior Madhva scholar┬а Dr. D.┬аPrahladachar┬а(who is now the head of the Vyasraja Matha) observed: "Both Buddhists and Advaitins admit the mithyatva of the world. The Advaitins say the substraturm of the world, which is but a superimposition, is Brahman as propounded by Vedanta. Buddhists do not admit any eternal substratum."

Here is a file containing an essay by Sri SSS on the comparative study of Advaita and Buddhism.┬а Gaudapadacharya's┬аKarika and Nagarjuna's work are the texts.┬а This is in English:┬а┬а


Here are the Karika and Bhashya on the topic of 'Jiva imagining the world':

рдЙрднрдпреЛрд░рдкрд┐ рд╡реИрддрдереНрдпрдВ рднреЗрджрд╛рдирд╛рдВ рд╕реНрдерд╛рдирдпреЛрд░реНрдпрджрд┐ ред
рдХ рдПрддрд╛рдиреНрдмреБрдзреНрдпрддреЗ рднреЗрджрд╛рдиреНрдХреЛ рд╡реИ рддреЗрд╖рд╛рдВ рд╡рд┐рдХрд▓реНрдкрдХрдГ рее резрез рее

рдЪреЛрджрдХ рдЖрд╣ тАФ рд╕реНрд╡рдкреНрдирдЬрд╛рдЧреНрд░рддреНрд╕реНрдерд╛рдирдпреЛрд░реНрднреЗрджрд╛рдирд╛рдВ рдпрджрд┐ рд╡реИрддрдереНрдпрдореН , рдХ рдПрддрд╛рдирдиреНрддрд░реНрдмрд╣рд┐рд╢реНрдЪреЗрддрдГрдХрд▓реНрдкрд┐рддрд╛рдиреНрдмреБрдзреНрдпрддреЗ ред рдХреЛ рд╡реИ рддреЗрд╖рд╛рдВ рд╡рд┐рдХрд▓реНрдкрдХрдГ ; рд╕реНрдореГрддрд┐рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдирдпреЛрдГ рдХ рдЖрд▓рдореНрдмрдирдорд┐рддреНрдпрднрд┐рдкреНрд░рд╛рдпрдГ ; рди рдЪреЗрдиреНрдирд┐рд░рд╛рддреНрдорд╡рд╛рдж рдЗрд╖реНрдЯрдГ рее

рдХрд▓реНрдкрдпрддреНрдпрд╛рддреНрдордирд╛рддреНрдорд╛рдирдорд╛рддреНрдорд╛ рджреЗрд╡рдГ рд╕реНрд╡рдорд╛рдпрдпрд╛ ред
рд╕ рдПрд╡ рдмреБрдзреНрдпрддреЗ рднреЗрджрд╛рдирд┐рддрд┐ рд╡реЗрджрд╛рдиреНрддрдирд┐рд╢реНрдЪрдпрдГ рее резреи рее

рд╕реНрд╡рдпрдВ рд╕реНрд╡рдорд╛рдпрдпрд╛ рд╕реНрд╡рдорд╛рддреНрдорд╛рдирдорд╛рддреНрдорд╛ рджреЗрд╡рдГ рдЖрддреНрдордиреНрдпреЗрд╡ рд╡рдХреНрд╖реНрдпрдорд╛рдгрдВ рднреЗрджрд╛рдХрд╛рд░рдВ рдХрд▓реНрдкрдпрддрд┐ рд░рдЬреНрдЬреНрд╡рд╛рджрд╛рд╡рд┐рд╡ рд╕рд░реНрдкрд╛рджреАрдиреН , рд╕реНрд╡рдпрдореЗрд╡ рдЪ рддрд╛рдиреНрдмреБрдзреНрдпрддреЗ рднреЗрджрд╛рдиреН , рддрджреНрд╡рджреЗрд╡реЗрддреНрдпреЗрд╡рдВ рд╡реЗрджрд╛рдиреНрддрдирд┐рд╢реНрдЪрдпрдГ ред рдирд╛рдиреНрдпреЛрд╜рд╕реНрддрд┐ рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдирд╕реНрдореГрддреНрдпрд╛рд╢реНрд░рдпрдГ ред рди рдЪ рдирд┐рд░рд╛рд╕реНрдкрджреЗ рдПрд╡ рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдирд╕реНрдореГрддреА рд╡реИрдирд╛рд╢рд┐рдХрд╛рдирд╛рдорд┐рд╡реЗрддреНрдпрднрд┐рдкреНрд░рд╛рдпрдГ рее┬а

(Here is where Shankara is refuting the objection that Vedanta is Buddhism)


рд╡рд┐рдХрд░реЛрддреНрдпрдкрд░рд╛рдиреНрднрд╛рд╡рд╛рдирдиреНрддрд╢реНрдЪрд┐рддреНрддреЗ рд╡реНрдпрд╡рд╕реНрдерд┐рддрд╛рдиреН ред
рдирд┐рдпрддрд╛рдВрд╢реНрдЪ рдмрд╣рд┐рд╢реНрдЪрд┐рддреНрдд рдПрд╡рдВ рдХрд▓реНрдкрдпрддреЗ рдкреНрд░рднреБрдГ рее резрей рее


рд╕рдЩреНрдХрд▓реНрдкрдпрдиреНрдХреЗрди рдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд░реЗрдг рдХрд▓реНрдкрдпрддреАрддреНрдпреБрдЪреНрдпрддреЗ тАФ рд╡рд┐рдХрд░реЛрддрд┐ рдирд╛рдирд╛ рдХрд░реЛрддрд┐ рдЕрдкрд░рд╛рдиреН рд▓реМрдХрд┐рдХрд╛рдиреН рднрд╛рд╡рд╛рдиреН рдкрджрд╛рд░реНрдерд╛рдЮреНрд╢рдмреНрджрд╛рджреАрдирдиреНрдпрд╛рдВрд╢реНрдЪ рдЕрдиреНрддрд╢реНрдЪрд┐рддреНрддреЗ рд╡рд╛рд╕рдирд╛рд░реВрдкреЗрдг рд╡реНрдпрд╡рд╕реНрдерд┐рддрд╛рдирд╡реНрдпрд╛рдХреГрддрд╛рдиреН рдирд┐рдпрддрд╛рдВрд╢реНрдЪ рдкреГрдерд┐рд╡реНрдпрд╛рджреАрдирдирд┐рдпрддрд╛рдВрд╢реНрдЪ рдХрд▓реНрдкрдирд╛рдХрд╛рд▓рд╛рдиреН рдмрд╣рд┐рд╢реНрдЪрд┐рддреНрддрдГ рд╕рдиреН , рддрдерд╛ рдЕрдиреНрддрд╢реНрдЪрд┐рддреНрддреЛ рдордиреЛрд░рдерд╛рджрд┐рд▓рдХреНрд╖рдгрд╛рдирд┐рддреНрдпреЗрд╡рдВ рдХрд▓реНрдкрдпрддрд┐, рдкреНрд░рднреБрдГ рдИрд╢реНрд╡рд░рдГ, рдЖрддреНрдореЗрддреНрдпрд░реНрдердГ рее

Who imagines the world? Shankara answers: It is the Atma. As to how does he do this? The answer is: svamaayayaa.┬а

That even here, maya is the one that does this is confirmed in the Gita bhashya by Shankara:┬а 5.14:

рди┬ардХрд░реНрддреГрддреНрд╡рдВ┬арди┬ардХрд░реНрдорд╛рдгрд┐┬ард▓реЛрдХрд╕реНрдп┬ард╕реГрдЬрддрд┐┬ардкреНрд░рднреБрдГ┬аред
рди┬ардХрд░реНрдордлрд▓рд╕рдВрдпреЛрдЧрдВ┬ард╕реНрд╡рднрд╛рд╡рд╕реНрддреБ┬ардкреНрд░рд╡рд░реНрддрддреЗ┬арее резрек рее


рди рдХрд░реНрддреГрддреНрд╡рдВ рд╕реНрд╡рддрдГ рдХреБрд░реБ рдЗрддрд┐ рдирд╛рдкрд┐ рдХрд░реНрдорд╛рдгрд┐ рд░рдердШрдЯрдкреНрд░рд╛рд╕рд╛рджрд╛рджреАрдирд┐ рдИрдкреНрд╕рд┐рддрддрдорд╛рдирд┐ рд▓реЛрдХрд╕реНрдп рд╕реГрдЬрддрд┐ рдЙрддреНрдкрд╛рджрдпрддрд┐┬ардкреНрд░рднреБрдГ┬ардЖрддреНрдорд╛┬аред рдирд╛рдкрд┐ рд░рдерд╛рджрд┐ рдХреГрддрд╡рддрдГ рддрддреНрдлрд▓реЗрди рд╕рдВрдпреЛрдЧрдВ рди рдХрд░реНрдордлрд▓рд╕рдВрдпреЛрдЧрдореН┬аред рдпрджрд┐ рдХрд┐рдЮреНрдЪрд┐рджрдкрд┐ рд╕реНрд╡рддрдГ рди рдХрд░реЛрддрд┐ рди рдХрд╛рд░рдпрддрд┐ рдЪ рджреЗрд╣реА, рдХрдГ рддрд░реНрд╣рд┐ рдХреБрд░реНрд╡рдиреН рдХрд╛рд░рдпрдВрд╢реНрдЪ рдкреНрд░рд╡рд░реНрддрддреЗ рдЗрддрд┐, рдЙрдЪреНрдпрддреЗ тАФ рд╕реНрд╡рднрд╛рд╡рд╕реНрддреБ рд╕реНрд╡реЛ рднрд╛рд╡рдГ рд╕реНрд╡рднрд╛рд╡рдГ рдЕрд╡рд┐рджреНрдпрд╛рд▓рдХреНрд╖рдгрд╛ рдкреНрд░рдХреГрддрд┐рдГ рдорд╛рдпрд╛ рдкреНрд░рд╡рд░реНрддрддреЗ┬атАШрджреИрд╡реА рд╣рд┐тАЩ (рдн. рдЧреА. рен┬аред резрек)┬ардЗрддреНрдпрд╛рджрд┐рдирд╛ рд╡рдХреНрд╖реНрдпрдорд╛рдгрд╛ рее резрек рее

Om tat sat

рж╕ржкрзНржд Rishi

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Jul 27, 2023, 10:26:18тАпAM7/27/23
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On this topic i wanted to share a short passage from a long chapter (Whether Gaudapadacharya was a buddhist ?)from a gem of a vedanta text ,written by Pandit Ashutosh Shastri Vedantatirtha in Bangla (Bedantadarshan adaitabad vol 1),here goes the rough translation,

"After Gaudapadacharya,we come across Vasumitra,Dharmakirti,Jnanashri etc.propagating a flavour of Buddhism which had some similarity with Vedanta(eg;Prapancha mithyatvam,jnana-jneya abheda),however real buddhism did not had any similarity with what our Acharya had propagated in his text.(ref.mandukya karika)

Acharya uses in his text multiple times these words to describe ultimate reality,"рдЕрдЬ рдкрд░рдорд╛рд░реНрде рд╕рддреН рдирд┐рд░рд╛рд╡рд░рдг рдирд┐рддреНрдп рд╡рд┐рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рди".Do we have any such references in the works of Dharmakirti,Kamalashila,Vasumitra ?

By observing partial similarity,if we start concluding (like SN Dasgpta,MM.Vidushekhar Bhattacharya),our acharya as buddhist,then what is stopping us from saying that dharmakirti,vasumitra were vedantins ?

11th century Bengali Buddhist philosopher Advayavajra in his Tattvaratnavali,similar to us vedantins criticises Dharmakirti,Vasumitra,

рдкрд░рдорд╛рд░реНрдерд╕рдиреНрдирд┐рддреНрдпрд╕рд╛рдХрд╛рд░рд╡рд┐рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдирд╕рдорд╛рдзреМ рднрдЧрд╡рддрдГ рд╕рдВрд╕реНрдерд┐рддрд╡реЗрджрд╛рдиреНрддрд╡рд╛рджрд┐рдорддрд╛рдиреБрдкреНрд░рд╡реЗрд╢рдГред.........рдПрд╡рдВ рдирд┐рд░рд╛рдХрд╛рд░рд╡рд╛рджрд┐рдирд╛рд╜рдкрд┐ рдирд┐рддреНрдп рдирд┐рд░рд╛рднрд╛рд╕ рдирд┐рд╖реНрдкреНрд░рдкрдЮреНрдЪ рд╕реНрд╡рд╕рдВрд╡реЗрджрдирд╡рд┐рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдирднрд╛рд╡рдирд╛рдпрд╛рдВ рднрд╛рд╕реНрдХрд░рдорддрд╕реНрдерд┐рддрд╡реЗрджрд╛рдиреНрддрд╡рд╛рджрд┐рдорддрд╛рдиреБрдкреНрд░рд╡реЗрд╢ рдкреНрд░рд╕рдВрдЧрдГред

At last the truth is,Vedanta and Buddhism in some parts may seem similar,yet on the subject of рдирд┐рддреНрдп рдкрд░рдорд╛рд░реНрде рд╕рддреН рд╡рд┐рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рди vedantins and buddhists have demonstrated huge differences."






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V Subrahmanian

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Jul 27, 2023, 1:12:06тАпPM7/27/23
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Copying here an old post by Sri Venkataraghavan:

This discussion seems to be suffering from a case of post-hoc fallacy. The works of advaita vedAnta, based on the ones available today, historically occur after mAdhyamaka Buddhism, therefore where the two are similar, the former must have borrowed from the latter.┬а

An interesting counterpoint can be found in the work mAdhyamakahridaya by Bhavya, a sixth century mAdhyamaka buddhist. Prof VV Gokhale in a paper titled "The Vedanta-Philosophy described by Bhavya in his Madhyamakahrdaya" (Indo-Iranian Journal, Vol. 2, No. 3, 1958) presents a description of Vedanta (pre-Sankaran) that was available during Bhavya's time. He also refers to a situation where the mahAyAna school is criticised as being similar to vedAnta. In reply, Bhavya generously says that whatever is good in the upaniShads has also been taught by the Buddha.

In one of the chapters of the Madhyamakahridaya dealing with the hInayAna objections to mahAyAna, the hInayAna-buddhist criticises the mahAyAna buddhist saying;
рди рдмреБрджреНрдзреЛрдХреНрддрд┐рд░реНрдорд╣рд╛рдпрд╛рдирдВ┬ард╕реВрддреНрд░рд╛рдиреНрддрд╛рджрд╛рд╡рд╕рдВрдЧреНрд░рд╣рд╛рддреН |
рдорд╛рд░реНрдЧрд╛рдиреНрддрд░реЛрдкрджреЗрд╖рд╛рддреН рд╡рд╛ рдпрдерд╛ рд╡реЗрджрд╛рдиреНрддрджрд░реНрд╢рдирдореН ||
The mAhAyAna teaching was not spoken of by the Buddha, either because it is not included in the sUtrAntas, or because like the vedAnta darshana, it teaches heretic paths to salvation.┬а

To this attack, the mahAyAnist replies┬а
рд╡реЗрджрд╛рдиреНрддреЗ рдЪ рд╣рд┐ рдпрддреН рд╕реВрдХреНрддрдореН рддрддреН рд╕рд░реНрд╡рдВ рдмреБрджреНрдзрднрд╛рд╖рд┐рддрдореН |
рджреГрд╖реНрдЯрд╛рдиреНрддрдиреНрдпреВрдирддрд╛ рддрд╕реНрдорд╛рддреН рд╕рдВрджрд┐рдЧреНрдзрдВ рд╡рд╛ рдкрд░реАрдХреНрд╖реНрдпрддрд╛рдореН ||┬а┬а
Whatever is well said in the vedAnta (upaniShads) has been taught by the Buddha. The various examples cited by the hInayAna are faulty and what is doubtful must be examined.┬а

Here is an example of pre-Sankaran Buddhist work where the opponent criticises the mahAyAna school as being similar to vedAnta! The reply of the mahAyAna buddhist is even more remarkable - there is a concession that the best elements of the upaniShads have been taught by the Buddha himself.┬а

To argue that advaita borrowed from Buddhism, or Buddhism borrowed from advaita is missing the larger point - the two schools are similar in many respects, but different too.┬аSimilarity does not imply that one created and the other borrowed, nor does difference imply the absolute absence of common ground.┬а┬а

Om┬а

V Subrahmanian

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Jul 27, 2023, 1:14:14тАпPM7/27/23
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Says Dr.A.V.Nagasampige, noted scholar of Dvaita Vedanta and Director, pUrNaprajna samshodhana mandiram, Bangalore, in his very popular Kannada book 'mata traya sameekShA':

On page 51 it carries a heading: Is AdvaitavAda Bauddhadarshana?
On page 54 there is a heading : Bauddhas are pracchanna vaidikas.  It says:

The charge that Advaita has been influenced by Buddhist thinking has been stiffly refuted by Shankara, Vachaspatimishra, SarvajnAtmamuni, ShrIharsha, Anandabodha etc.  They have brought out the doctrinal differences between the two schools.  This section goes on to substantiate this statement by several quotes from these Advaita Acharyas' works.  It concludes: 
//Therefore since Buddhists accepted the Vedic formulation of NirviShesha Chaitanya they are 'pracchanna vaidika-s.'  //

// р▓Жр▓жр│Нр▓жр▓░р▓┐р▓Вр▓ж р▓╡р│Зр▓жр▓жр▓▓р│Нр▓▓р▓┐р▓░р│Бр▓╡ р▓ир▓┐р▓░р│Нр▓╡р▓┐р▓╢р│Зр▓╖ р▓Ър│Ир▓др▓ир│Нр▓пр▓ж р▓кр▓░р▓┐р▓Хр▓▓р│Нр▓кр▓ир│Жр▓пр▓ир│Нр▓ир│Б р▓Тр▓кр│Нр▓кр▓┐р▓ж р▓мр│Мр▓жр│Нр▓зр▓░р│Б тАЩр▓кр│Нр▓░р▓Ър│Нр▓Ыр▓ир│Нр▓ир▓╡р│Ир▓жр▓┐р▓Хр▓░р│Б.тАЩ//

Vidwan K.P. Babudas of Kalady, Kerala, while delivering his talk at the annual vdiwat sadas at Sringeri last year, 2011, said:

// рдпрджреБрдХреНрддрдВ рд╢реВрдиреНрдпрд╡рд╛рджрд┐рдирдГ рд╕рдХрд╛рд╢рд╛рддреН рдорд╛рдпрд╛рд╡рд╛рджрд┐рдирдГ рд╡реИрд▓рдХреНрд╖рдгреНрдпрдВ рдирд╛рд╕реНрддреАрддрд┐ рддрддреНрд░реЛрдЪреНрдпрддреЗ ред рд╡рд╕реНрддреБрддрдГ рдПрддреЗ рдмреМрджреНрдзрд╛рдГ рдЙрдкрдирд┐рд╖рджрдГ рдЕрд╡рд▓рдореНрдмреНрдпреИрд╡ рд╕реНрд╡рд╕рд┐рджреНрдзрд╛рдиреНрддрдВ рдЪрдХреНрд░реБрдГ ред рдХрд┐рдиреНрддреБ рддреЗрд╖рд╛рдВ рдХрд╛рдкрдЯреНрдпрд╛рддреН рдФрдкрдирд┐рд╖рджреЛрд╜рдпрдВ рд╕рд┐рджреНрдзрд╛рдиреНрдд рдЗрддрд┐ рддреИрд░реНрдиреЛрдХреНрддрдореН ред рд╡рдпрдВ рддреБ рд╢реНрд░реМрддреЛрд╜рдпрдореН рдЗрддреНрдпреБрдХреНрддреНрд╡реИрд╡ рдЕрд╕реНрдорджреНрджрд░реНрд╢рдирдВ рдкреНрд░рджрд░реНрд╢рдпрд╛рдо рдЗрддрд┐ рд╡реИрд▓рдХреНрд╖рдгреНрдпрдВ рддреЗрд╖рд╛рдВ рд╕рдХрд╛рд╢рд╛рддреН ред рдЙрднрдпреЛрдГ рджрд░реНрд╢рдирдпреЛрдГ рдЕрдзрд┐рд╖реНрдард╛рдирдВ рдЙрдкрдирд┐рд╖рдж рдПрд╡ рдЗрддреНрдпрддрдГ рдХреНрд╡рдЪрд┐рддреН рдХреНрд╡рдЪрд┐рддреН рд╕рд╛рдореНрдпрдорд┐рд╡ рднрд╡рддрд┐ ред //

The word 'shUnya' is listed as one of the names of Brahman by Sri Paramashivendra Saraswati (the preceptor of Sri Sadashivendra Saraswati of Nerur) in his work:
рд╡реЗрджрд╛рдиреНрддрдирд╛рдорд░рддреНрдирд╕рд╣рд╕реНрддреНрд░рдореНтАЩ [a book of a thousand names of Brahman culled out from the Vedanta']:
рд╢реВрдиреНрдпрдореН - рдкрд╛рд░рддрддреНрддреНрд░реНрдпрд╛рджрд┐рджреЛрд╖рд░рд╣рд┐рддрдВ рдирд┐рд░реНрд╡рд┐рд╢реЗрд╖рдВ рд╡рд╛ ред рддрджреБрдХреНрддрдВ рд╡рд╛рд╕рд┐рд╖реНрдареЗ -
рд╢реВрдиреНрдпрдВ рддрддреН рдкреНрд░рдХреГрддрд┐рд░реНрдорд╛рдпрд╛ рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдо рд╡рд┐рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдирдорд┐рддреНрдпрдкрд┐ ред
рд╢рд┐рд╡рдГ рдкреБрд░реБрд╖ рдИрд╢рд╛рдиреЛ рдирд┐рддреНрдпрдорд╛рддреНрдореЗрддрд┐ рдХрдереНрдпрддреЗ рее рдЗрддрд┐ ред
рд╕реНрд╡рдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд╢рдорд╛рдирдиреНрджрдШрдирдВ рд╢реВрдиреНрдпрдорднрд╡рддреН рдЗрддрд┐ рд╢реНрд░реБрддрд┐рдГ ред рдЙрдХреНрддрдВ рдЪ рдкрд╛рджреНрдореЗ рдкреБрд░рд╛рдгреЗ -
рдпрдВ рджреГрд╖реНрдЯреНрд╡рд╛ рдпреЛрдЧрд┐рдиреЛ рдирд┐рддреНрдпрдВ рд╕рдиреНрддреГрдкреНрддрд╛рдГ рд╕реНрд╡рд╛рддреНрдорд╕рдВрд╕реНрдерд┐рддрдореН ред
рдЕрдХреНрд╖рд░рдВ рд╕рджрд╕рдЪреНрдЫреВрдиреНрдпрдВ рдкрд░рдорд╛рддреНрдорд╛рдирдореАрд╢реНрд╡рд░рдореНрее рдЗрддрд┐ ред ┬а

There is also the verse from the рдорддреНрддрд╡рд┐рд▓рд╛рд╕рдкреНрд░рд╣рд╕рдирдореН -

рд╡реЗрджрд╛рдиреНрддреЗрднреНрдпреЛ рдЧреГрд╣реАрддреНрд╡рд╛рд░реНрдерд╛рдиреН рдпреЛ рдорд╣рд╛рднрд╛рд░рддрд╛рджрдкрд┐ ред
рд╡рд┐рдкреНрд░рд╛рдгрд╛рдВ┬ардорд┐рд╖рддрд╛рдореЗрд╡┬ардХреГрддрд╡рд╛рдиреН рдХреЛрд╢рд╕рдЮреНрдЪрдпрдореН рее

Mahendravarman in his work 'mattavilAsaprahasanam' says this about the coming into being of the Buddhistic system:
//Taking material from the UpaniShads and also from the MahAbhArata (which includes the BhagavadgItA), Buddha, even as the brAhmaNa-s (vaidika-s) were wide awake, accomplished a great fortune - literally filled up his coffers - (of establishing a vibrant system).//┬а

Thus, in order to sustain a system, there has to be a kriyA/karma/anuShThAna aspect which too has been derived by the Buddhists from the sanAtana dharma that is the vedic religion.┬а

V Subrahmanian

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Jul 27, 2023, 1:17:00тАпPM7/27/23
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Sri Polagam Rama Sastrigal has stated in a work that the four schools of Vedanta: Advaita, Shiva Vishistadvaita, Ramanuja's and Madhwa's system, all have some 45 common tenets.┬а┬а

So, to say that on grounds of some similarities the two schools are the same is naive. No school can claim complete uniqueness.┬а┬а

regards
subbu

V Subrahmanian

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Jul 27, 2023, 1:25:21тАпPM7/27/23
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On Thu, Jul 27, 2023 at 6:49тАпPM V Subrahmanian <v.subra...@gmail.com> wrote:
In the 2nd chapter of the Mandukya karika, in the following verses, Gaudapada and Shankara say that the world, both inner and outer, are imaginations of the jiva.┬а Shankara is refuting the objection that it amounts to vijnanavada (Buddhism) by giving the reason: in Vedanta the imagination is on the adhishthana of the Atman whereas in vijnanavada it is not on the basis of the eternal atman.┬а┬а


рд╡рд┐рдХрд░реЛрддреНрдпрдкрд░рд╛рдиреНрднрд╛рд╡рд╛рдирдиреНрддрд╢реНрдЪрд┐рддреНрддреЗ рд╡реНрдпрд╡рд╕реНрдерд┐рддрд╛рдиреН ред
рдирд┐рдпрддрд╛рдВрд╢реНрдЪ рдмрд╣рд┐рд╢реНрдЪрд┐рддреНрдд рдПрд╡рдВ рдХрд▓реНрдкрдпрддреЗ рдкреНрд░рднреБрдГ рее резрей рее

In his translation of this shloka and Bhashya, Sri SSS makes a special heading:┬а
┬а
┬а ┬ар▓Тр▓│р▓Чр▓┐р▓и р▓╣р│Кр▓░р▓Чр▓┐р▓и р▓╡р▓╕р│Нр▓др│Бр▓Чр▓│р│Жр▓░р▓бр│В р▓Хр▓▓р│Нр▓кр▓┐р▓др▓╡р│З┬а (Both the internal and external objects are illusory/imagined)

Om Tat Sat

рж╕ржкрзНржд Rishi

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Jul 27, 2023, 1:37:06тАпPM7/27/23
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Many a times,we have seen some people trying to buddha as a vaidika by pointing many verses,often from mahayana texts,but while reading a text of great tibetan madhyamaka philosopher tsong khapa,he says on these apparent sutras which speak of a non perishable atman this is his view,

the┬аMahaparinirvana Sutra┬аuses the term "Self" in order to win over non-Buddhist ascetics. He quotes from the sutra:

The Buddha-nature is in fact not the self. For the sake of [guiding] sentient beings, I describe it as the self.

In the later┬аLank─Бvat─Бra S┼лtra┬аit is said that the┬аtath─Бgatagarbha┬аmight be mistaken for a self, which it is not.


Bhaskar YR

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Jul 28, 2023, 2:36:05тАпAM7/28/23
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praNAms Sri Subbu prabhuji

Hare Krishna

┬а

In his translation of this shloka and Bhashya, Sri SSS makes a special heading:┬а

┬а

┬а ┬ар▓Тр▓│р▓Чр▓┐р▓и р▓╣р│Кр▓░р▓Чр▓┐р▓и р▓╡р▓╕р│Нр▓др│Бр▓Чр▓│р│Жр▓░р▓бр│В р▓Хр▓▓р│Нр▓кр▓┐р▓др▓╡р│З┬а (Both the internal and external objects are illusory/imagined)

┬а

  • Whenever talks like this (i.e. imagination of external and internal things) in PTB there is suffix (if not everywhere at least most of the times) like independently from brahman, brahma vyatirikta, brahma vilakshaNa etc. to prove there exists nothing independently from brahman.┬а Sri SSS too emphasized this bhAshya pratijnA at somany places.┬а Just for your ready reference, in one of his kannada works after quoting mundaka shruti 2-2-11 : brahmaivedamamrutaM purastAt, brahma pashchaat brahma dashiNatashchOttareNaтАжbrahmaivedaM vishvaM idaM varishTaM, he explains ( please read this in Kannada as I cannot type any other language other than English in my official laptop) ┬а: avidyAdrushtiyinda namma munde enenu kaaNisuttiruvadO edellavu brahmave, hindiruvudu brahmave, balakku, edakku, mele, keelage ┬аellavu varishTavAda brahmave, hinde, munde emba deshavu, andu, indu emba kAlavU Addarinda emba тАШkArya-kAraNa bhAvavu тАШnijavaagi brahmave.┬а Brahmavallavendu naavu ariyuvudellavu haggadalliruva haavinarivinante avidyeyindaada vikalpa maatrave.┬а Edannu manavarike maaduvudakke shAstravu тАШedallaтАЩ edallaтАЩ endu allagaLeyuvudu.┬а And then He quotes kArika 2-38 and further explains : OLage deha, indriya, manassu muntaagi kANuva AdhyAtmika vikalpavellavannu тАШparamAtma tattvave endu aritukoLLabeku, horage kaaNuttiruva pruthivAdi vikalpagaLannu tattvavende kaNdukOllabeku.┬а tAnU tattvave, etc.┬а And at the bottom he insisted his stand by saying :┬а ede shAstra bOdhaneya krama, ede shAstrAThavannu aritu kOlluvadembudu.┬а ( English translation :┬а This is the way in which shAstra/scripture teaching us, and this is how we have to understand the scriptural meaning) If you agree what Sri SSS says here then only quote Sri SSS in support of your understanding of shAstra otherwise kindly stop quoting Sri SSS.┬а

┬а

Hari Hari Hari Bol!!!

bhaskar

V Subrahmanian

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Jul 28, 2023, 3:15:47тАпAM7/28/23
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Dear Bhaskar ji,

The quote that I have given from Sri SSS is certainly contradicting your stance on the subject. He clearly says: it is kalpita.┬а You do not agree with that stand. Even in the quote that you give it is the same message: kalpita.┬а //AdhyAtmika vikalpavellavannu┬а//┬а vikalpa is the word that means: kalpita. For the word vikalpa in the Karika, Shankara says:

рд╡рд┐рдХрд▓реНрдкреЛ┬ард╡рд┐рдирд┐рд╡рд░реНрддреЗрдд рдХрд▓реНрдкрд┐рддреЛ рдпрджрд┐ рдХреЗрдирдЪрд┐рддреН┬аред
рдЙрдкрджреЗрд╢рд╛рджрдпрдВ рд╡рд╛рджреЛ рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рддреЗ рджреНрд╡реИрддрдВ рди рд╡рд┐рджреНрдпрддреЗ рее резрео рее

рдирдиреБ рд╢рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╛ рд╢рд╛рд╕реНрддреНрд░рдВ рд╢рд┐рд╖реНрдп рдЗрддреНрдпрдпрдВ рд╡рд┐рдХрд▓реНрдкрдГ рдХрдердВ рдирд┐рд╡реГрддреНрдд рдЗрддрд┐, рдЙрдЪреНрдпрддреЗ тАФ┬ард╡рд┐рдХрд▓реНрдкреЛ┬ард╡рд┐рдирд┐рд╡рд░реНрддреЗрдд рдпрджрд┐ рдХреЗрдирдЪрд┐рддреНрдХрд▓реНрдкрд┐рддрдГ рд╕реНрдпрд╛рддреН┬аред рдпрдерд╛ рдЕрдпрдВ рдкреНрд░рдкрдЮреНрдЪреЛ рдорд╛рдпрд╛рд░рдЬреНрдЬреБрд╕рд░реНрдкрд╡рддреН , рддрдерд╛ рдЕрдпрдВ рд╢рд┐рд╖реНрдпрд╛рджрд┐рднреЗрджрд╡рд┐рдХрд▓реНрдкреЛрд╜рдкрд┐┬ардкреНрд░рд╛рдХреНрдкреНрд░рддрд┐рдмреЛрдзрд╛рджреЗрд╡реЛрдкрджреЗрд╢рдирд┐рдорд┐рддреНрддрдГ ; рдЕрдд рдЙрдкрджреЗрд╢рд╛рджрдпрдВ рд╡рд╛рджрдГ тАФ рд╢рд┐рд╖реНрдпрдГ рд╢рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╛ рд╢рд╛рд╕реНрддреНрд░рдорд┐рддрд┐┬аред рдЙрдкрджреЗрд╢рдХрд╛рд░реНрдпреЗ рддреБ рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдиреЗ рдирд┐рд░реНрд╡реГрддреНрддреЗ рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рддреЗ рдкрд░рдорд╛рд░реНрдерддрддреНрддреНрд╡реЗ, рджреНрд╡реИрддрдВ рди рд╡рд┐рджреНрдпрддреЗ рее

For vikalpa he gives the analogy of rajju sarpa, magic, etc. If the dvaita prapancha were real, as you hold, Shankara should not have given that analogy. He equates that to the shaastaa-shishya etc. vyavahara too, signifying that even this vikalpa is unreal, like rajju sarpa alone.┬а

Another vikalpa word in the Karika with rajju sarpa example in the karika itself:┬а┬а

рдирд┐рд╢реНрдЪрд┐рддрд╛рдпрд╛рдВ рдпрдерд╛ рд░рдЬреНрдЬреНрд╡рд╛рдВ┬ард╡рд┐рдХрд▓реНрдкреЛ┬ард╡рд┐рдирд┐рд╡рд░реНрддрддреЗ ред рд░рдЬреНрдЬреБрд░реЗрд╡реЗрддрд┐ рдЪрд╛рджреНрд╡реИрддрдВ рддрджреНрд╡рджрд╛рддреНрдорд╡рд┐рдирд┐рд╢реНрдЪрдпрдГ рее резрео рее┬а

So the quote you give from Sri SSS is also consistent with the one I provided.

regards



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Bhaskar YR

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Jul 28, 2023, 3:43:46тАпAM7/28/23
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praNAms Sri Subbu prabhuji

Hare Krishna

┬а

I hope you can understand Kannada which I have typed in English ЁЯШК vikalpavellavannu brahma tattvavAgiye tiLidu kollabeku emba maatinalli dvaitavaagi vikalpadinda kaaNuttiruvudannu тАШekarUpavaagiтАЩ brahma tattvavAgi tilidu kola beku endu baayibittu heluttiddare Sri SSS adannu tiruchi neevu nimmade arthavannu aa vakyagaLalli tumbuttiddiraтАжI cannot help it but to stop this discussion with you.┬а Anyway final attempt from my side what Sri SSS said in Kannada :

┬а

  1. тАШkArya-kAraNa bhAvavu тАШnijavaagi brahmave ( the тАШbhAvaтАЩ if kArya-kAraNa in reality brahman only)
  2. тАШavidyAdrushtiyinda namma munde enenu kaaNisuttiruvadO edellavu brahmaveтАЩ ( those which you are cognizing in front of you as dvaita in reality it is brahman only)
  3. тАШhindiruvudu brahmave, balakku, edakku, mele, keelage ┬аellavu varishTavAda brahmaveтАЩ ( behind, front, right, left, top bottom all these are supreme brahman only (varishTa brahma)
  4. тАШ.┬а Brahmavallavendu naavu ariyuvudellavu haggadalliruva haavinarivinante avidyeyindaada vikalpa maatraveтАЩ ( that which we are perceiving deciding as NOT brahman (abrahma vastu / anAtma vastu) is due to avidyA vikalpa like wrongly тАШseeingтАЩ the snake in place of rope)
  5. OLage deha, indriya, manassu muntaagi kANuva AdhyAtmika vikalpavellavannu тАШparamAtma tattvave endu aritukoLLabeku, horage kaaNuttiruva pruthivAdi vikalpagaLannu tattvavende kaNdukOllabeku ( those which are residing inside and those which are existing outside everything needs to be understood тАШparamArtha tattva only)

┬а

Compare these with what you are interpreting as Sri SSSтАЩs perspective.┬а Please note I am not denying the meaning of vikalpa here but I am quoting Sri SSS how he is telling us that those vikalpa-s should be understood as ekatatva (tattva / varishTa brahma) and seeing the duality in it is like seeing the sarpa in rajju.┬а With this I rest my case.┬а

V Subrahmanian

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Jul 28, 2023, 4:26:07тАпAM7/28/23
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Dear Bhaskar ji,

What you are saying as the words of Sri SSS is not new to Shankara.┬а He has already said that in the BG bhashya;┬а

рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдорд╛рд░реНрдкрдгрдВ рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдо рд╣рд╡рд┐рд░реНрдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдорд╛рдЧреНрдиреМ рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдордгрд╛┬ард╣реБрддрдореН┬аред
рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдореИрд╡ рддреЗрди рдЧрдиреНрддрд╡реНрдпрдВ рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдордХрд░реНрдорд╕рдорд╛рдзрд┐рдирд╛ рее реирек рее

рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдо рдЕрд░реНрдкрдгрдВ рдпреЗрди рдХрд░рдгреЗрди рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдорд╡рд┐рддреН рд╣рд╡рд┐рдГ рдЕрдЧреНрдиреМ рдЕрд░реНрдкрдпрддрд┐ рддрддреН рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдореИрд╡ рдЗрддрд┐ рдкрд╢реНрдпрддрд┐, рддрд╕реНрдп рдЖрддреНрдорд╡реНрдпрддрд┐рд░реЗрдХреЗрдг рдЕрднрд╛рд╡рдВ рдкрд╢реНрдпрддрд┐, рдпрдерд╛ рд╢реБрдХреНрддрд┐рдХрд╛рдпрд╛рдВ рд░рдЬрддрд╛рднрд╛рд╡рдВ рдкрд╢реНрдпрддрд┐ ; рддрджреБрдЪреНрдпрддреЗ рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдореИрд╡ рдЕрд░реНрдкрдгрдорд┐рддрд┐, рдпрдерд╛ рдпрджреНрд░рдЬрддрдВ рддрддреН рд╢реБрдХреНрддрд┐рдХреИрд╡реЗрддрд┐┬аред
Shankara says: Just as one would see the abhaava of silver in shell, here too the Jnani's drushti will be: the abhaava of the dvaita prapancha in Brahman. He gives the equation: that which is silver is shell.

This equation is called: baadhaayaam saamaanaadhikaranyam.┬а Thus, the mithya dvaita prapancha is equated to Brahman only upon negating, baadhaa, of the mithya prapancha.┬а

Sri SSS has also said this alone.┬а The explicit expression of the mithyatva of the world cannot be avoided at any cost in Shankara and Gaudapada's texts.┬а Shankara invariably gives the rajjusarpa, shuktirajata, svapna, magician analogies while saying this. Thus you can see that I have not misrepresented or twisted Sri SSS's statements.┬а

regards
subbu┬а┬а


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Bhaskar YR

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Jul 28, 2023, 5:18:44тАпAM7/28/23
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praNAms Sri Subbu prabhuji

Hare Krishna

┬а

Let us get more clarity on this instead of mere statements.┬а Would you please explain in detail what exactly is baadhaayaam saamaanaadhikaranyam in the context of baadha (sublation) of mithyA prapancha and how it is relevant in this discussion of тАШkevala Kalpita prapanchaтАЩ ??

┬а

Hari Hari Hari Bol!!

bhaskar

┬а

From: adva...@googlegroups.com <adva...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of V Subrahmanian
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Cc: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta <adva...@lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
Subject: Re: [advaitin] Re: Gaudapada and Shankara say: the world is imagined by the jiva through avidya

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V Subrahmanian

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Jul 28, 2023, 6:32:13тАпAM7/28/23
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On Fri, Jul 28, 2023 at 2:48тАпPM 'Bhaskar YR' via advaitin <adva...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

praNAms Sri Subbu prabhuji

Hare Krishna

┬а

Let us get more clarity on this instead of mere statements.┬а Would you please explain in detail what exactly is baadhaayaam saamaanaadhikaranyam in the context of baadha (sublation) of mithyA prapancha and how it is relevant in this discussion of тАШkevala Kalpita prapanchaтАЩ ??


As stated in the Gita bhashya I cited, the equation 'that which is silver = shell'.┬а The equation will make no sense unless it is explained. 'That which I wrongly saw as silver is actually the shell.'┬а In other words 'Instead of knowing the object in front of me as a shell, I wrongly perceived it as silver.'┬а With this explanation, the equation makes sense: silver = shell.┬а In the shruti example: brahma pashcaat, brahma purastaat, uttaratah, dakshinatah... this equation will translate to: sarvam khalvidam brahma, atmaivedam sarvam, brahmaivedam sarvam, etc. The 'this, that, etc.' that I perceived as real before the shruti taught me, now I say 'All this that etc. is actually Brahman.'┬а This is possible only if Brahman was wrongly seen as this, that etc.┬а ┬аSo,the right knowledge is expressed as 'sarvam brahma' etc. after negating/sublating the this, that, etc. This negating part is called 'baadhaa'. The saamaanaadhikaranyam┬аis possible only after the baadhaa of the mithya jagat.┬а Thus, it is not 'kevala' mithya jagat but the Brahman-alone-wrongly-perceived-jagat. The adhishthanam┬аremains after the baadhaa of the aropita. Hence alone this is not vijnanavada. Shankara has clarified this.┬а

regards
subbu┬а┬а

sunil bhattacharjya

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Jul 28, 2023, 11:38:00тАпAM7/28/23
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Dear friends,
Most of the Indian scholars are not aware that Lord Buddha himself told that after one thousand years of his departure, his teachings will get corrupted, particularly so if bhilshunis are included in the sangha.
He further said that there will be an avatars after one thousand years, who will take the corrective steps. Lord Buddha died towards the end of the 19th century BCE, and that means anew avatar was expected from the 7th century BCE onwards, and rightly in the 6th century BCE (in 509 BCE, to be exact) that Adi Shankaracharya, the concealed Buddha did appear.

My 2 cents
Sunil KB

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