Re: Question about criticism of "the Impersonalists"
Originally Posted by
R Gitananda
namaste philosoraptor
Are you just saying that you wouldn't follow such a person as a matter of choice or are you implying
that no one is really enlightened enough to "forego the traditional formalities of accepting a guru"?
If the latter I would like to know your opinion of the Buddha. Thank you.
Hari Aum
Namaste Gitananda,
I would not follow such a person as a matter of choice. Ours is not a prophet-based religion like Christianity or Islam, and we are supposed to take instruction from those who follow the Vedic method. This includes study of the shAstras at the feet of a qualified guru. It would be very difficult for me to accept that someone can forego education by a guru, and yet want to become my guru. It's partly a "practice what you preach" kind of thing. It's especially jarring when such a guru allows his followers to think that the Vedas are somehow less authoritative than his own personal opinions.
Even Sri Krishna, despite being the all-knowing Brahman, set the example and accepted instruction at the feet of Sandipani Muni.
Besides which, acceptance of one's self-realized status requires additional assumptions about the person's spiritual credentials. I think it's a very real human failing to assume such spiritual credentials exist in a charismatic individual who might not otherwise have the sorts of qualifications spelled out in our scriptures.
regards,
philosoraptor
Philosoraptor
"Wise men speak because they have something to say. Fools speak because they have to say something." - Plato
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