Friday, April 22, 2016
GURUDEV RANADE. PART 2
We saw that Gurudev had demonstrated some contradictions in the text of Srimad Bhagwad Geeta. He pointed at least five such and explained those in some detail, in order to achieve correct interpretation.
The first and foremost among those is ‘whether God is with attributes ( Saguna) or without (Nirguna)’.
The Geeta describes hallmarks of attribute less Brahmam in chapter thirteen , verses twelfth & thirteen thus –
‘It’ (Brahmam ) has neither origin nor end; It cannot be described as true nor false ; It possesses feet and hands on all four directions and has eyes, heads on all sides ; moreover, it has ears everywhere and It pervades this world through and through, yet remains as remainder !
Now, have a look at description of Brahmam with attributes ( Saguna)-
The ‘Uttam Purusha’ is entirely different from the above and is recognised as ‘Paramatma. This imperishable Purusha pervades all three ‘Lokas’ (worlds) and sustains those. HE encompasses ‘Kshara’ (perishable) and is better than best from the imperishable too and therefore HE is famous as Purushottam in entire worlds as well as in Vedas. (Chapter 15 / verse 16 and 17th).
Thus, the Geeta coordinates both forms of God (Saguna and Nirguna ), describing Him as transcendental ( Gunateeta) .
Chapter 9- verse 17-18 explains more of His Being thus –
I AM father, mother and even grandpa of the Universe and I AM the sacred ‘thing’ worth knowing ; I AM Omkar, Rigveda as well as Yajurveda too !
I AM the destination of the universe, it's sustenance, Lord, witness, residence, protector, friend, originator, support, wealth as well as imperishable seed too !!
2). “Do-er” or Visionary ( Karta or Drashta)?
The Geeta grants ‘doer ship ‘ unto the Lord in the twelfth chapter, whereas the eighteenth chapter extols Him as visionary or witness.
The ninth chapter however says ( verse 10) the Lord being Motivator or Inspiration for Prakruti to create, sustain or dissolute (the universe) .
Thus, the Lord is neither Drashta or Karta !!
3). Whether the Lord is Transcendental or All-pervasive ?
HE is both ! Geeta chapter 10/42) says, “I pervade entire cosmos with just a fraction of ME and Transcend the universe eternally.”
Thus the Lord is immanent as well as transcendental. Nevertheless, HE incarnates (from age to age !) as Avatar.
4). Whether the Universe is true or imaginary ?
The answer is given in chapter 2 , verse 28th, which says the world as ephemeral, transient. A thing forms and is destroyed after some time. Therefore one cannot deny its existence. Before creation it is unmanifest and on destruction it goes back into unmanifest status. Whatever seen in between is the manifest, visible dot; thus it is transient, ephemeral life !!
5). “Videha-Mukti” or “Karma-Mukti”?
Whether one should aspire for total deliverance from the world and enjoy bliss of heavenly pleasures or lead a life as Recluse or renunciant . Indeed, salvation or deliverance or God-Realisation while still harbouring human body is known as Jeevan Mukti and that entails keeping engrossed in God’s work, remembering God at all times and places, enjoying blissful state from His Darshan and treating oneself as His Instrument and Serve Him that is, his entire creation..
Gurudev concludes the chapter by quoting few verses ( e.g. Chapter 2/29, 7/26 and 10/15) , which demonstrate that everything pertaining to God is extremely astonishing, marvellous and miraculous. HE is understood by none so far; HE alone might know Himself !
Indeed, pinnacle of God-Realisation , His view or Darshan happens to be the eleventh chapter of the Geeta. It is transfiguration of Sri Krishna into the colossal ‘Vishvaroopa Darshan’.
Now, what and how is God’s Empire ?
When there is One God, who is Omnipresent ;
One Caste, that of Humanity
And only one religion , the religion of Love !!!
Jai Sairam.
Pune 20 April 2016
We saw that Gurudev had demonstrated some contradictions in the text of Srimad Bhagwad Geeta. He pointed at least five such and explained those in some detail, in order to achieve correct interpretation.
The first and foremost among those is ‘whether God is with attributes ( Saguna) or without (Nirguna)’.
The Geeta describes hallmarks of attribute less Brahmam in chapter thirteen , verses twelfth & thirteen thus –
‘It’ (Brahmam ) has neither origin nor end; It cannot be described as true nor false ; It possesses feet and hands on all four directions and has eyes, heads on all sides ; moreover, it has ears everywhere and It pervades this world through and through, yet remains as remainder !
Now, have a look at description of Brahmam with attributes ( Saguna)-
The ‘Uttam Purusha’ is entirely different from the above and is recognised as ‘Paramatma. This imperishable Purusha pervades all three ‘Lokas’ (worlds) and sustains those. HE encompasses ‘Kshara’ (perishable) and is better than best from the imperishable too and therefore HE is famous as Purushottam in entire worlds as well as in Vedas. (Chapter 15 / verse 16 and 17th).
Thus, the Geeta coordinates both forms of God (Saguna and Nirguna ), describing Him as transcendental ( Gunateeta) .
Chapter 9- verse 17-18 explains more of His Being thus –
I AM father, mother and even grandpa of the Universe and I AM the sacred ‘thing’ worth knowing ; I AM Omkar, Rigveda as well as Yajurveda too !
I AM the destination of the universe, it's sustenance, Lord, witness, residence, protector, friend, originator, support, wealth as well as imperishable seed too !!
2). “Do-er” or Visionary ( Karta or Drashta)?
The Geeta grants ‘doer ship ‘ unto the Lord in the twelfth chapter, whereas the eighteenth chapter extols Him as visionary or witness.
The ninth chapter however says ( verse 10) the Lord being Motivator or Inspiration for Prakruti to create, sustain or dissolute (the universe) .
Thus, the Lord is neither Drashta or Karta !!
3). Whether the Lord is Transcendental or All-pervasive ?
HE is both ! Geeta chapter 10/42) says, “I pervade entire cosmos with just a fraction of ME and Transcend the universe eternally.”
Thus the Lord is immanent as well as transcendental. Nevertheless, HE incarnates (from age to age !) as Avatar.
4). Whether the Universe is true or imaginary ?
The answer is given in chapter 2 , verse 28th, which says the world as ephemeral, transient. A thing forms and is destroyed after some time. Therefore one cannot deny its existence. Before creation it is unmanifest and on destruction it goes back into unmanifest status. Whatever seen in between is the manifest, visible dot; thus it is transient, ephemeral life !!
5). “Videha-Mukti” or “Karma-Mukti”?
Whether one should aspire for total deliverance from the world and enjoy bliss of heavenly pleasures or lead a life as Recluse or renunciant . Indeed, salvation or deliverance or God-Realisation while still harbouring human body is known as Jeevan Mukti and that entails keeping engrossed in God’s work, remembering God at all times and places, enjoying blissful state from His Darshan and treating oneself as His Instrument and Serve Him that is, his entire creation..
Gurudev concludes the chapter by quoting few verses ( e.g. Chapter 2/29, 7/26 and 10/15) , which demonstrate that everything pertaining to God is extremely astonishing, marvellous and miraculous. HE is understood by none so far; HE alone might know Himself !
Indeed, pinnacle of God-Realisation , His view or Darshan happens to be the eleventh chapter of the Geeta. It is transfiguration of Sri Krishna into the colossal ‘Vishvaroopa Darshan’.
Now, what and how is God’s Empire ?
When there is One God, who is Omnipresent ;
One Caste, that of Humanity
And only one religion , the religion of Love !!!
Jai Sairam.
Pune 20 April 2016
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Narmada Parikrama
An elderly friend wrote a very interesting book in Marathi few years ago. His Birmingham based niece prodded him to bring out the same into English. My new-found friend wanted me to write about the book which he himself has translated. Therefore, I scribbled something for his satisfaction. The book may be published sometime early next month. (I am writing all this to you since there was nothing new to communicate !!!)Dr. P. S. RahalkarThe Great Samaritan -I happened to lay hands on the English version of a wonderful book "Narmada Parikrama " authored by Mr. Gangadhar Kulkarni. It chronicles an excursion that is arduous, challenging, exasperating yet highly rewarding. Walking a two thousand km long terrain along the banks of a great river such as the Narmada, with dense jungles, ravines, dangerous animals and snakes besides of course aboriginal cruel men must certainly be a stupendous journey undoubtedly.Mr. Kulkarni made elaborate study of the region, meticulously planned entire paraphernalia while taking Good Samaritan's advice and wise counsel before undertaking the Adventure.He is a true scientist, Geology being his vocation ; he is also endowed with deep insight into spirituality. And therefore one finds a beautiful amalgam of Science and Spirituality. He uses words such as 'hardware' and 'software' for his planning and preparations before embarking on the great pilgrimage, which required four and half months and trudging two thousand kilometres on foot.In spite of exhaustion while negotiating almost twenty five km everyday, he kept writing daily notes in his diary. That explains secret of minutest details of the journey.His style of expression is very simple, honest, illustrious and therefore it makes a very pleasant read. His own experiences of people and places is beautifully chronicled in the book. "9860495045 ""
Visit my blog-site - http://prabhurahalkar.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
GURUDEV RANADE
After frantic search for a book concerned with Gurudev Ranade, I could get a small version in Marathi that gives his brief biography and also an account of his literary works.
Interestingly enough, some important topics in his book "Bhagwadgeeta as a philosophy of God Realisation" made inroads into deeper study and contemplation.
He emphasised unprecedented ness or novelty in the great scripture which , as per his doctrine happens to be Revelation or 'Sakshatkar' that is Atma-Sakshatkar . He maintains that umpteen numbers of philosophers postulated theories as far as quintessence of the Geeta ; however, they were entangled in the maze ( Chakra-vyuha ) created by themselves , since those viewpoints were not tested on the touchstone of Spirituality and contemporary philosophic thought.
In order to make his stand clear he raised certain issues worth pondering.
1). Some contradictions that must be addressed while postulating a doctrine as well as their synthesis or coordination .
2). Moral teachings in the Geeta. ( karma yoga and ordained duty)
3). Ethics, non-ethics and bliss of the Self as expounded in the Geeta.
4). Form of God
5). Types of Meditation as mentioned in the Geeta.
6). Grand and resplendent Darshana (view) of God.
There are at least five points of contention in the Geeta that need to be addressed (he says):-
A- whether God is attribute less or with attributes ( Nirguna or Saguna respectively)
B- whether God is 'do-er' or visionary ( Karta or Drashta)
C- Whether transcendental or all-pervasive ( sarvateeta or sarvavyapi)
D- whether the world / universe is true or false - imaginary ?
E- ' Videha Mukti or Krama Mukti' ?
Gurudev demonstrated contradictions quoting original statements from the Geeta and coordinated those using statements from the Geeta only !!
Needs more study and elaboration !!
Dr. Rahalkar
