Re: What Advaita can offer ...?
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~~
namasté
Originally Posted by
Anirudh
what does the knowledge of Advaita offer to the seeker?
I think this is a reasonable question to ask... I am in hopes it is asked in a manner that is not suggesting a transaction is occurring like a purchase or a coin being placed in the slot, and one awaits something to come out of the machine.
The advaita view ( or for that matter any other noble view) is that which complements one's experience. It is knowledge and experience that benefits the native.
It is like a match; a match without a strike-plate is a useless piece of wood. Yet when the match hits the strike-plate light and heat is produced. Very useful.
Knowledge leads to right action which leads to achievement and then to one's fulfillment. Hence knowledge and fulfillment are intertwined.
If one has limited knowledge then limited fulfillment will be the fruit. So, it is quite practical to have proper knowledge as it offers skill in action.
Skill in action is the fundamental offering that is found within the bhāgavad gītā and in my opinion within mahābhārata. Kṛṣṇa suggests this in chapter 2 , 48th verse, yogasthaḥ kuru karmānī- established (or steadfast) in yoga ( union) perform actions (karma). This knowledge is ageless and it does not concern itself with any school as it germane to all schools.
Skill in action brings one into alignment with all the laws of nature as being life supporting and being right actions at the right time.
Now the question on advaitya - what does it offer ? It suggests how this union is viewed and how sublime this union may blossom into.
It offers the one in union the blue print of what total reality really is. It informs that person via knowledge what is occurring in his/her experience.
We even find some of the greatest muni-s asking this question of others. Confirmation of the totality they are experiencing. Hence this advaitya is there for not only this confirmation , but for the milestones that lead one to the door steps of the Supreme that turns out ( within advaitya) to be none other then one's own Self.
iti śivaṁ
Last edited by yajvan; 13 October 2014 at 08:32 PM.
यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
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