Re: Sanatana Dharma questions
Namaste devotee ji,
Originally Posted by
devotee
If you ask me, I would like to say exactly what the Aitreya Upanishad says : "PrajnAnam Brahman". If we don't add anything into it, it means, "Consciousness is Brahman"" and not that Brahman is Conscious.
I agree. It is more correct to say that "Consciousness is Brahman" than vice-versa.
The reason why I used the term "Atyantik Moksh" is because follower12 ji first used it. My knowledge of Sanatan Dharma is still mediocre and I was not aware of this term earlier. I agree however (with follower12 ji), that Self-realization happens in stages. And I agree with you that when Self-realization happens, the person loses all individuality (ego) and becomes one with Brahman.
I also greatly appreciate both you and follower12 ji for taking the time to respond to my comments in detail and with clarity. I am learning a lot.
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I also want to explain why I use the term 'Leela' so often as oppossed to 'Sansara' (Samsara). The terms 'Maya' and 'Sansara' have negative connotations to them, even though the terms themselves are correct. People complain about how "there is so much suffering and pain in this Sansara", and the learnt people respond "You are drowned in ignorance and hypnotized by Maya and that's why you suffer". We listen to all this and get the idea that this whole world is a bad thing going on. (The Buddhists seem to have such mentality. They even see Brahman as "emptiness".)
Contrast this with 'Leela'. Leela means play, and the term has positive connotations to it. When a child plays hide-and-seek, s/he does it because s/he is happy. When we see the child play we get the idea that there is something good going on.
This world too is something good going on. When scriptures say things like "Consciousness is Brahman", or give an impression of the Fullness (instead of emptiness) of Brahman, or state that "He is all Bliss", it clearly gives the impression of something good. Hence, just as a playing child indicates joy and goodness, so does Brahman's (Ishvara's) functioning of this world. The term Leela fully captures (and expresses) this goodness and joy.
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Now please allow me to ask you a question since you are much more learnt (in theoretical Hinduism) than I am. I once watched one of Upanishad Ganga's episode (link below) where Sri Krishn said "The Dharma for which Abhimanyu died, that Dharma is immortal", and "To live for Dharma and to die for Dharma, that is the very purpose of human life", and "The one who fulfilled the very purpose of human life, why grieve over his death."
What is your take on Dharma? How important is it? What is more important for a human being- seeking Mukti or to live (and die) by dharma?
Pranam
What is the one thing that no beings can do, except humans? Answer: Arts!
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