tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post5085087551771296865..comments2023-05-04T10:14:39.030+01:00Comments on Chi-Ting Apocalypse: The strange demise of Advaita ...Chi-Ting Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13888421252904281860noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-18028641772739286822017-03-29T08:20:20.118+01:002017-03-29T08:20:20.118+01:00Salutations,
Thanks for writing this blog, it'...Salutations,<br /><br />Thanks for writing this blog, it's one of the funnier things I've seen on the Internet. I think it's safe to say that your posts are fairly acerbic, but in a good way.<br /><br />I wanted to comment on your whole contradiction-between-Madhyamaka-and-Vedanta thing.<br /><br />I'm currently reading a book on Indian philosophy ("A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy" by Chandradhar Sharma). The book presents Buddhism as springing out of the original thought of the Upanishads and Advaita Vedanta as continuing in that same vein.<br /><br />The author seems to believe that Buddhism, while appearing to be heterodox, is actually orthodox Upanishadic philosophy, and that the Hinayana Buddhists lost the true spirit of the Buddha's teaching (when they sunk into nihilism and the denial of the self). The Mahayana Buddhists (cue Madhyamaka and Yogacara), sought to revive the original spirit of the Buddha's teachings. Gaudapada and Shankaracharya, therefore, simply continue along this route (Upanishadic philosophy), with Advaita Vedanta and original Buddhism simply being expressions of the same philosophy in different places and times, all of them being complete (by the way).<br /><br />The author also seems to address the accusation that Shankaracharya taught no method. It seemed that Shankaracharya did not believe that action alone could bring about liberation, since only knowledge could bring about liberation. The function of knowledge was to remove ignorance, and the validity of knowledge rested on what the known object was (Brahman). Therefore knowledge is liberating in the fact that it knows the truth, and since the truth truly exists, it destroys (true) ignorance.<br /><br />According to Shankara, there was no invalidity in using a false means to attain the truth, since the truth is self-existent. Ignorance is a false problem to begin with, and so a false solution to solve a non-problem, is still self-existence (Brahman).<br /><br />But if you're arguing that Shankara didn't teach a technique, then we could also argue that the Buddha didn't teach an explicit technique either. If Shankara didn't teaching self-inquiry, then the Buddha certainly didn't teach Vipassana.bboy Yenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15414967840321139946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-28867134013407106972015-12-27T01:22:03.037+00:002015-12-27T01:22:03.037+00:00Paths have never agreed on the metaphysical detail...Paths have never agreed on the metaphysical details!<br />From my limited understanding: Both camps (Vedanta and Shunyata) are both in the end accusing the other of incorrectness, limited in liberation and assuming the other to be simply wrong.<br />I basically come to the conclusion that no teaching can be objectively "right" or "wrong.<br /><br />Greg Goode put it in this words:<br />"Please be aware of this - that whenever you evaluate a philosophy, you do so from the perspective of another philosophy. And these philosophies always have their implied value systems. According to philosophy A's value system, philosophy A will always come out ahead of philosophy B.<br /><br />You are always standing within one of these systems whenever you are comparing. Yet, comparisons present themselves as if they were neutral and impartial.<br /><br />To Vedantins, Madhyamika is nihilistic. To Madhyamakas, Vedanta is essentialist. They have never agreed on their teachings, and still debate to this day. "Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16620241774868918916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-51445113979637304832013-04-24T14:48:15.936+01:002013-04-24T14:48:15.936+01:00Hi Chiting,
Interesting take on the whole Ramana-...Hi Chiting,<br /><br />Interesting take on the whole Ramana-la-ding-dong thing. However one should bear in mind that he was a hermit living on a mountain, rather like the Hermit in Life of Brian: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-isGzfYUZ4.<br /><br />Venkataraman whole 'guru' image was a culturally crafted affair by those still embedded in the dream of that culture, such as Ganapati Muni (Gonna party money yeah) who gave him a silly name, and others who built up an Ashram around him. Unlike Palaniswami's pure devotional servitude, without which he probably wouldn't have survived. Once word got out with Frank Humphrey's publications in The International Psychic Gazette in 1913, and Paul Brunton's wankfest his fate was sealed. This is the same for all 'guru's' in terms of how they are cultural constructs made by the followers around them, literally living idols. The perfect modern western example is Rajneesh who sounds like one of the dwarves out of a particularly bad Indian interpretation of Snow White, only to be remade as Ohsho (Oshit?) when things started going wrong.<br /><br />As for our own cultural imaginings, the new god of the ego is nothing more than the internalisation of the forces of darkness, a.k.a. the devil, and like most modern constructs has little use, and little to do with anything other than its self.<br /><br />My ego, my ego, where for art though ego?<br /><br />L,<br />Sid.Sidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10041237063160079833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-57243451228095155012012-03-25T23:09:20.944+01:002012-03-25T23:09:20.944+01:00Mystics and the metaphysics are dead, just as all ...Mystics and the metaphysics are dead, just as all what they have said, written,or done. The time to stop feeding lies has come. Smell the air, it's so fresh, so clean.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03837955909567330210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-70938712075041498752012-02-18T06:17:00.876+00:002012-02-18T06:17:00.876+00:00Arunachala Grace blogger (Maneesha) takes us on a ...Arunachala Grace blogger (Maneesha) takes us on a tour of the post office street; commenting on the transformation of Tiruvannamalai from the rustic undeveloped place she first encountered.<br />While at heart secretly thrilled and favours the developement of the town and its surrounds....along the way collecting handsome commissions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-54211710322020618262012-02-18T04:42:27.673+00:002012-02-18T04:42:27.673+00:00The very puffy and puffed up Richard Clarke preten...The very puffy and puffed up Richard Clarke pretending to be even-handed. If you click on his 'rate this' icon he blocks it if it's not favourable to his image and ego. <br />Wonder at the cause of his touchiness?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-24065646394962934402012-02-15T05:19:05.992+00:002012-02-15T05:19:05.992+00:00According to Paramahansa Yogananda's "Au...According to Paramahansa Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi" the immortal master Babaji initiated Shankara and gave Lahari Mahasaya's disciples many fascinating details about Shankara. <br />Next time I see Babaji I'll ask him to give me the skinny on Shankara and clarify this once and for all. Apparently,though, none of the disciples thought to remember the details that Babaji related.Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04283297836716001817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-33887003428418809832012-02-15T01:36:29.292+00:002012-02-15T01:36:29.292+00:00Then who am I?
If this me is not I, then
who am I...Then who am I?<br /><br />If this me is not I, then<br />who am I?<br />If I am not the one who speaks, then<br />who does?<br />If this me is only a robe then<br />who is<br />the one I am covering?<br /><br />RumiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-26098697934678283632012-02-11T18:46:59.164+00:002012-02-11T18:46:59.164+00:00Thank you for the clarifications. Quite helpful :-...Thank you for the clarifications. Quite helpful :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-84335251454577267732012-02-11T16:21:14.010+00:002012-02-11T16:21:14.010+00:00Swami Nikhilananda (1895-1973) was a disciple of S...Swami Nikhilananda (1895-1973) was a disciple of Sarada Devi and founded the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center in New York. He had a vested interest in asserting a pure type of Hinduism, as have many 19th and early 20th century Indian nationalists who were essentially Hindu reformers. So they would have had strong reasons for denying any connection between Buddhism and Gaudapada. There are actually many sources which argue that Gaudapada was not influenced by Buddhism. And there are even more which argue that he was. Regardless, all you have to do is look at the Gaudapadakarika (the main work attributed to Gaudapada). The evidence is clear. Meanwhile the dates of Nagarjuna's life are extremely tricky to place - even exactly who Nagarjuna was (and if he even lived). But we know the texts attributed to him originate somewhere between 100 and 300 CE. Therefore Gaudapada must come after since he is the spiritual grandfather of Shankara by lineage (which is very well documented), whom we know lived in the 8th century himself. There has been a lot of scholarly debate about when Shankara lived incidentally ... some suggest the 6th, 8th or 9th century and even 509-477 BCE and 44-12 BCE. However the BCE dates have been found to be impossible. Meanwhile there is a caveat here. Don't get too distracted by the small print. The point of the post (regardless of the historical figures involved or when they lived) is to say that Advaita/Shankara's teaching is stuck in absolutism and the belief in an ultimate reality ... i.e. the Upanishadic Brahman or Self.Chi-Ting Masterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13888421252904281860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-12469014346484079962012-02-11T15:39:19.975+00:002012-02-11T15:39:19.975+00:00Master!
In the preface of his Mandukya Upanishad, ...Master!<br />In the preface of his Mandukya Upanishad, Swami Nikhilananda argues that there is no evidence that Gaudapada was influenced by Buddhism and that he has lived even before Nagarjuna and other Buddhist sages. Any resources that say something different? Would be interested in those.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-31371668762415450942012-02-07T12:55:44.565+00:002012-02-07T12:55:44.565+00:00hahaha, he´s still angry with me, believing I exp...hahaha, he´s still angry with me, believing I exposed him many years ago...although it was more a humurous get together of a dozen women.(kalibabs)lots of talk about his life with the elite haha..now when he sees me he gives me a sarcastic look and asks me how the cheese is in Holland ,lol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-72080719370909735512012-02-04T12:42:59.029+00:002012-02-04T12:42:59.029+00:00Hi Susan
Kali Baba is an ageing conman who claims ...Hi Susan<br />Kali Baba is an ageing conman who claims to be Russian but has an English accent and is a compulsive liar. All he wants is your monies and to put his hand down your crutch!Chi-Ting Masterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13888421252904281860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-35169265799160022532012-02-04T01:02:19.937+00:002012-02-04T01:02:19.937+00:00By Jimmy you must mean Ram James Swartz. If you se...By Jimmy you must mean Ram James Swartz. If you set yourself up as a teacher and talk, talk, all those squandered words! I'd like to see him teach not through his words but by his example. Otherwise the whole message is just watered down drivel.<br />Just another mouth from the south!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-31474083727133049352012-02-03T15:47:56.690+00:002012-02-03T15:47:56.690+00:00hello everybody, i am new in tiru, and want to ask...hello everybody, i am new in tiru, and want to ask if anybody has informations about a man called kalibaba. he is an elderly man and offered me a shamanistic course/ treatmant that would cost me 50000 rupees. has anybody expierences with this ? is it worth the money ? greetings susanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-16489529153092667622012-02-02T19:00:52.692+00:002012-02-02T19:00:52.692+00:00I watched Jimmy on Youtube and he sounded like you...I watched Jimmy on Youtube and he sounded like you! Yikes! He also has the same criticisms of the Tiru tourists and their Ramana-lite approach. You guys are on the same side. Is the mountain not big enough to accommodate all longer-term western residents? Wonder why?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-27110992037200966562012-01-26T20:34:49.682+00:002012-01-26T20:34:49.682+00:00He is the Lord of Annamalai
who appeared as a colu...He is the Lord of Annamalai<br />who appeared as a column of fire, <br />infinite in length,<br />both to him of deathless fame,<br />the Lord of the Vedas<br />who dwells upon an upraised lotus blossom,<br />and to him whose body is dark like the ocean.<br />He is the slayer of the demon who masqueraded<br />as a fruiting wood-apple tree.<br />He is the consort of Uma,<br />She of the firm breasts and sweet smile.<br />His feet alone are our sanctuary.<br /><br />......... by Tiru Jnanasambandhar, written a very long time ago.<br /><br />Yes, inevitably the Demon(s) will be slayed ........ Rejoice!Sister Klaushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17069042992324478464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-36830233217850227272012-01-26T02:16:21.401+00:002012-01-26T02:16:21.401+00:00My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no m...My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and <br />yet I'm Happy. I can't figure it out. What am I doing right? <br />~Snoopy (from Peanuts)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-56148276820407860302012-01-25T06:51:03.343+00:002012-01-25T06:51:03.343+00:00Dennis Waite boasts 5,000 years of Advaita but he ...Dennis Waite boasts 5,000 years of Advaita but he cannot even get Ramana's lineage right!<br /><br />Waite lists all the usual suspects who claim a link to Ramana via Papaji even though Jimmy "Swagger" Swartz castigates these neo-advaitins.<br /><br />Ramana did not have a lineage and anyone who claims that he did is a conman.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-47715797259538598972012-01-22T23:13:05.762+00:002012-01-22T23:13:05.762+00:00Maybe a bit off-topic, but anonymous mentioned Fra...Maybe a bit off-topic, but anonymous mentioned Francis Lucille.<br />Any thoughts about this teacher?<br />Seems pretty sincere and no-nonsense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-55964388510452445572012-01-22T04:33:23.038+00:002012-01-22T04:33:23.038+00:00"just a crazy kid who went to a mountain"..."just a crazy kid who went to a mountain" Now how cool is that!<br />Stop the drivel. Sounds like you wanna rap with Snoop Dogg.<br />If you can only find a stone instead of a jewel.... so be it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-56530995198203049872012-01-21T00:56:50.294+00:002012-01-21T00:56:50.294+00:00Defining Ramana as this or that is for suckers and...Defining Ramana as this or that is for suckers and swindlers.<br /><br />For Christ sake leave Ramana alone. He wasn't the Pope of Advaita, just a crazy kid who went to a mountain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-83999412172323022962012-01-20T18:35:34.038+00:002012-01-20T18:35:34.038+00:00Ramana's only mission was to bring forth the q...Ramana's only mission was to bring forth the question of WHO AM I; not to regurgitate Advaita which is mainly crudely repackaged Buddhism.<br /><br />If you do your research you will find the origin of the Vedas to be Reptilian.<br /><br />You people need to re-read the first comment by Gregory so each can answer Ramana's question correctly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-54850155065525994672012-01-18T21:23:53.233+00:002012-01-18T21:23:53.233+00:00The Advaita war started in London.
When Jean Klei...The Advaita war started in London.<br /><br />When Jean Klein died and Francis Lucille failed to get his post at the School of Economic Science, Tony Parsons was chosen as the in-house representative of remote Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath in India.<br /><br />I suspect that Dennis Waite and James Schwartz are involved in a turf war to wrestle back profitable punters from Tony Parsons camp.<br /><br />The die has been cast. It's war!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038378606356803239.post-11714411731214201932012-01-13T19:22:36.191+00:002012-01-13T19:22:36.191+00:00I guess the infamous Goa crowd have infiltrated Ti...I guess the infamous Goa crowd have infiltrated Tiruvannamalai to boogie up and down the stairwell. Yelling and shrieking from the roof top. They're just waiting for Mooji to arrive then they'll laugh hysterically and act out absurd rites. Maybe they'll even get hefty to boogie with them?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com