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Thread: Bhakti in Advaita

  1. #11
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    Re: Bhakti in Advaita

    Hello, silence speaks

    Quote Originally Posted by silence_speaks View Post
    Dear Ale84,
    Ishvara gives fruits of one's karma as per the laws of karma.

    The secret here is: Prayer is also a karma - it has its result.

    Love!
    Silence
    Thanks for the clarification.

  2. #12

    Re: Bhakti in Advaita

    Quote Originally Posted by ale84 View Post
    Hello, I'm doing japa to Lord Ganesha.
    I'm chanting the mantra "Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha" 108 times.
    Me too!

    Quote Originally Posted by ale84 View Post
    My question is: how should I view Lord Ganesha? What is Ganesha from the advaitic point of view?
    Should I consider him as Nirguna Brahman?
    I would say, definitely not that. Our conception of Lord Ganesha is the play of the 3 gunas. He points beyond himself to the Unnameable, the Unmanifest but Lord Ganesha is a manifestation of divine grace and if we are drawn to him we should accept him as he appears to us.
    Quote Originally Posted by ale84 View Post
    Or as Ishvara/cosmic mind? Or as an aspect of Ishvara?
    I would say, certainly Lord Ganesha is a most auspicious manifestation of Ishvara.
    Quote Originally Posted by ale84 View Post
    Does he control the law of karma?
    If He can remove material and spiritual obstacles, then He must have some attributes.
    I can only speak from my own experience - that I have been happy not knowing what obstacles need to be removed and I just move forward in simple faith that Lord Ganesha will reveal and remove those obstacles that need removing. Very often the mind is deceptive. We think we know what are the obstacles and we want them removed, when in fact the things we see as obstacles are either:
    1. not true obstacles but tricks of the mind
    2. mere superficial expressions of something deeper, which is a true obstacle.

    Om Shanti

  3. #13
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    Re: Bhakti in Advaita

    Hello, John

    Quote Originally Posted by John Mortimer View Post
    I would say, certainly Lord Ganesha is a most auspicious manifestation of Ishvara.
    In fact I read somewhere that it is easier for non-hindus or begginers to reach the grace of Ishvara by worshiping the form of Ganesha than other deities.
    It's not that other forms are less powerfull, but Ganesha is the easiest to access.

  4. #14

    Re: Bhakti in Advaita

    Quote Originally Posted by ale84 View Post
    Hello, John



    In fact I read somewhere that it is easier for non-hindus or begginers to reach the grace of Ishvara by worshiping the form of Ganesha than other deities.
    It's not that other forms are less powerfull, but Ganesha is the easiest to access.
    That's fascinating.... perhaps because the cultural obstacle is automatically overcome???

  5. #15
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    Re: Bhakti in Advaita

    Quote Originally Posted by ale84 View Post
    Hello, John

    In fact I read somewhere that it is easier for non-hindus or begginers to reach the grace of Ishvara by worshiping the form of Ganesha than other deities.
    It's not that other forms are less powerfull, but Ganesha is the easiest to access.
    Vannakkam: This is. I view as perhaps a confusion of two (or more schools) For those who don't consider Ganesha as Ishvara, but as a Separate God from the Supreme, this is true. Ganesha is easily accessible because He's not Ishvara. He's a separate divine being, created/emanated by Siva, for the pure purpose of being closer to worldly stuff.

    However, for those who consider Him as another aspect of the Supreme (Smartas, for example) I don't see how he'd be any different in terms of accessability.

    Of course I could be wrong.

    Aum Namasivaya

  6. #16
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    Re: Bhakti in Advaita

    Hello, Eastern Mind

    Quote Originally Posted by Eastern Mind View Post
    Vannakkam: This is. I view as perhaps a confusion of two (or more schools) For those who don't consider Ganesha as Ishvara, but as a Separate God from the Supreme, this is true. Ganesha is easily accessible because He's not Ishvara. He's a separate divine being, created/emanated by Siva, for the pure purpose of being closer to worldly stuff.

    However, for those who consider Him as another aspect of the Supreme (Smartas, for example) I don't see how he'd be any different in terms of accessability.

    Of course I could be wrong.

    Aum Namasivaya
    If I understand well, Smarta is in line with the Advaita of Shankaracharya.
    Am I right?

  7. #17
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    Re: Bhakti in Advaita

    Quote Originally Posted by ale84 View Post
    Hello, Eastern Mind

    If I understand well, Smarta is in line with the Advaita of Shankaracharya.
    Am I right?
    Vannakkam:

    Yes. The great Sankara revitalised Smarta.

    Aum Namasivaya

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    Re: Bhakti in Advaita

    Namaste ale,

    Quote Originally Posted by ale84 View Post
    I think Ishvara arranges the situations in the material world, for our karmas to come to fruition.
    As I read somewhere:
    "People do good and sinful work and get its fruits, either in this life or after. People themselves cannot be the giver of their fruits, as no one would give himself the fruit of his sin. Also, this giver cannot be an unconscious object. So the giver of the fruits of karma is Ishvara."
    Regarding this God says in Bhagwad Gita :

    Na Kartritvam, na karmANi loksya srijati prabhuh |
    Na karmaphalasanyogam svabhAvstu pravartate ||

    ===> God is not the creator of "doership" or the "actions/Karmas" in this world and He doesn't take part in deciding the association of Results with the Actions. It is the Nature that works.

    OM
    "Om Namo Bhagvate Vaasudevaye"

  9. #19
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    Re: Bhakti in Advaita

    Hello, devotee

    Quote Originally Posted by devotee View Post
    Regarding this God says in Bhagwad Gita :

    Na Kartritvam, na karmANi loksya srijati prabhuh |
    Na karmaphalasanyogam svabhAvstu pravartate ||

    ===> God is not the creator of "doership" or the "actions/Karmas" in this world and He doesn't take part in deciding the association of Results with the Actions. It is the Nature that works.
    Who's behind the laws of nature? How does it work in a causal way?

  10. #20
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    Re: Bhakti in Advaita

    Namaste ale,
    Quote Originally Posted by ale84 View Post
    Who's behind the laws of nature? How does it work in a causal way?
    It is Brahman. He is the power behind all powers. By his power everything in this universe works in order. Upanishads say : "By His fear the Sun shines" etc. Brahman is equated with great hard-task master with a raised thunderbolt in his hand.

    OM
    "Om Namo Bhagvate Vaasudevaye"

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