Re: Symbols and their importance
Namaste,
I was expecting Renuka ji to answer my post. It has not come so far. Anyway, I would provide authority for these :
a) Not imparting the highest knowledge to unprepared souls :
Mahopanishad
V-104. At the very outset, purify the disciple through excellence such as mind's tranquility, restraint of sense-organs, etc. Next impart to him the teaching that all this (world) is Brahman, viz., the purified Thou.
V-105. One who teaches an ignoramus or half-awakened (disciple) that 'all this is Brahman' will (in effect) plunge him in an endless series of hells.
Bhagwad Gita :
In Bhagwad Gita also, Lord Krishna advises not to impart the knowledge of Bhagwad Gita to unworthy souls :
This secret gospel of the Gita should never be imparted to a man who lacks in austerity, nor to him who is wanting in devotion, nor even to him who is not willing to hear; and in no case to him who finds fault with Me. (BG 18.67)
Kathopanishad
In Kathopanishad, Death doesn't start teaching the highest Truth until Nachiketa passes the test put by him in the story. Death says :
2.7. Many do not even hear of the Self. Even those who hear of It do not understand It. Wonderful is the one who teaches the Self and rare indeed is the one qualified to hear the teachings. Rare indeed is the one who knows the Self taught by a skillful teacher.
Mundak Upanishad
III-ii-10: This (rule) has been revealed by the mantra (which runs thus): 'To them alone should one expound this knowledge of Brahman who are engaged in the practice of disciplines, versed in the Vedas, and indeed devoted to Brahman, who personally sacrifice to the fire called Ekarsi with faith, and by whom has been duly accomplished the vow of holding fire on the head.'
b) Those who know should not stop people from doing something which may seem unnecessary (by their logic) to them:
"For whatever a great man does, that very thing other men also do; whatever standard he sets up, the generality of men follow the same. (BG 3.21)
If I ever cease to act, these worlds would perish; nay, I should prove to be the cause of confusion, and of the destruction of these people. (BG 3.24)
Arjuna, as the unwise act with attachment, so should the wise man, with a view to maintain the world order, act without attachment. (BG 3.25)
A wise man established in the Self should not unsettle the mind of the ignorant attached to action, but should get them to perform all their duties, duly performing his own duties. (BG 3.26)"
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Logic used by a common person can be defective unless it has the support of some authority (some scriptural support or what great saints have advised on such issues). Upanishads at many a places prohibit imparting the highest teachings of VedAnta to unprepared minds. Otherwise people start acting in the same manner as the Bengali Babu did by stepping upon a Shivalinga. Advaita teachers don't approve such acts. In fact, the act of that Bengali Babu would incur sin as it would create confusion in the minds of the unprepared-people who were present there and if they were lost in their Dharma, a part of all sins performed by them would accrue to Bengali Babu too.
Some people read Neo-VedAntic teachers' writings without studying Upanishads/Bhagwad Gita/Brahmasutras and think that they are expert on Advaita and that they are eligible to teach. Who can be an Advaita Teacher ? Only a Self-realised Saint can be a right teacher. Otherwise, how can a Blind man lead another Blind man to the correct destination ??
Last edited by devotee; 22 July 2014 at 11:40 PM.
"Om Namo Bhagvate Vaasudevaye"
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