FROM A SITE VISITOR: I’m lost. I’ve read every book I can get my hands on about Advaita Vedanta. I’ve studied Adi Shankaracharya, Ramakrishna, Ramana Maharshi, Swami Vivekanada, Nisargadatta Maharaj, and now you. And it all seems like one contradiction after another. That was the whole problem with everything I tried before Advaita Vedanta--one contradiction after another. Some teachers say I have to love everyone. The next teacher doesn’t even mention love. Some talk poetically. Others talk in what I would call a realistic way and delivery their points in a hard, smack you between-the-eyes style. So what’s the deal? I got involved with AV because I was looking for sanity but I’m going nuts in the process. Greg.
F.: Hello Greg. Your frustration is understood and even well-founded, but there is an explanation. Though postings have been happening on this site for over two years (and though the method used on this site is noted at the top of the page), never have the variances in the teaching methods been addressed. That shall be offered now so you can understand the source of the contradictions you mention. There are four primary methods for teaching Advaita Vedanta (or five if you were to count “Pseudo-Advaita” which has come about because some are using the teachings as a sole means of income or as a means to obtain a variety of “favors” from seekers).
If you look at the top of this page, you’ll see that the approach used here is “the direct path teaching method” (with pointers focused in the nisarga yoga approach). That approach will be explained after all of the other teaching methods are discussed. Then, you’ll understand why some talk poetically and speak mainly about love and why some offer pointers in a different fashion.
First, understand that there will be no attempt here to suggest that one method is “better than” another. It’s up to each seeker to seek until he/she finds that which they are seeking. If Realization does not happen via one method, move on and find a different teacher who uses a different method. Visitors to this site can read below the descriptions of the four methods and draw their own conclusions about the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of the various methodologies.
Furthermore, have some persons over the years modified the methods to suit their own personal agendas or desires? Evidence suggests that is the case; however, variances also happen because one teacher might be of one lineage that has historically used one method while the next teacher is of a lineage that follows a different method.
Ego can inspire persons to brag about lineage, so it has only been mentioned once in two years on this site. Some, however, choose a teacher that is of a certain lineage in order to find a teacher who follows the method used by predecessors in that lineage, so for those seekers only it will be mentioned that the lineage followed here is the Navnath sampradAya. If you’ve never heard of that, don’t look it up. It’s meaningless except to those who are seeking one style of teaching over another and are already aware of lineages; otherwise, ignore that.
Now, to the four methods. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel if the wheel has already been invented and perfected, and Dennis Waite has been there and done that in regards to explaining the teaching methods; therefore, his explanations in the book BACK TO THE TRUTH will be drawn upon first. Then, the direct path method and the nisarga approach that are used on this site will be explained later. The methods will be discussed in no particluar sequence in order to avoid the implication that the methods are being ranked.
TEACHING METHOD: Traditional Advaita
Paraphrasing Dennis Waite: This is the method regarded as the one defined by Shankara in his discussion of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma Suttras around the 8th century AD. This approach is defined by those scriptures which some claim are the source of truth.
TEACHING METHOD: Neo-Vedanta
Paraphrasing Dennis Waite: The term Neo-Vedanta refers primarily to the method used by Vivekanada and his followers. Some critics consider this method a “watered down” version of Traditional Advaita, a result of the fact that Vivekanada and his followers have tried to make the teachings more suitable to Western tastes where concepts and ego-states have dominated persons for millenia. [NOTE: Neo-Vedanta teachers typically employ seemingly sublime or exalted or emotion-inspiring statements that encourage followers to adopt more concepts and identities instead of encouraging seekers to forfeit all concepts and identities. Some examples include such advise as: dream on an idea and be full of it and you’ll succeed; believe in yourself; make yourself strong; find god and gain power; use thoughts to create a new reality; engage in the noble goal of seeking knowledge; you are responsible for what you are; acquire power; and seek love. Such concepts are in direct opposition to the teachings presented via the Direct Path, nisarga yoga approach. f.h.]
TEACHING METHOD: Neo-Advaita
Paraphrasing Dennis Waite: The teachers who use this method see no need for study, questioning or inquiring into anything. Recognizing only the reality, and knowing that there is no seeker, they conclude that there is nothing to seek and nothing to teach. Often, the result is that even the most diligent seekers who try to attain the understanding with Neo-Advaita teachers can become very confused. Neo-Advaitins suggest that no path is required since there is no “one” to follow the “path.” [NOTE: That same understanding, which is attained by some who follow the “Direct Path Method” to its end, is assumed by Neo-Advaita teachers to be a given from the very beginning. f.h.] Some who adhere to this method reject the name “Neo-Advaita” outright.
F.: Hello Greg. Your frustration is understood and even well-founded, but there is an explanation. Though postings have been happening on this site for over two years (and though the method used on this site is noted at the top of the page), never have the variances in the teaching methods been addressed. That shall be offered now so you can understand the source of the contradictions you mention. There are four primary methods for teaching Advaita Vedanta (or five if you were to count “Pseudo-Advaita” which has come about because some are using the teachings as a sole means of income or as a means to obtain a variety of “favors” from seekers).
If you look at the top of this page, you’ll see that the approach used here is “the direct path teaching method” (with pointers focused in the nisarga yoga approach). That approach will be explained after all of the other teaching methods are discussed. Then, you’ll understand why some talk poetically and speak mainly about love and why some offer pointers in a different fashion.
First, understand that there will be no attempt here to suggest that one method is “better than” another. It’s up to each seeker to seek until he/she finds that which they are seeking. If Realization does not happen via one method, move on and find a different teacher who uses a different method. Visitors to this site can read below the descriptions of the four methods and draw their own conclusions about the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of the various methodologies.
Furthermore, have some persons over the years modified the methods to suit their own personal agendas or desires? Evidence suggests that is the case; however, variances also happen because one teacher might be of one lineage that has historically used one method while the next teacher is of a lineage that follows a different method.
Ego can inspire persons to brag about lineage, so it has only been mentioned once in two years on this site. Some, however, choose a teacher that is of a certain lineage in order to find a teacher who follows the method used by predecessors in that lineage, so for those seekers only it will be mentioned that the lineage followed here is the Navnath sampradAya. If you’ve never heard of that, don’t look it up. It’s meaningless except to those who are seeking one style of teaching over another and are already aware of lineages; otherwise, ignore that.
Now, to the four methods. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel if the wheel has already been invented and perfected, and Dennis Waite has been there and done that in regards to explaining the teaching methods; therefore, his explanations in the book BACK TO THE TRUTH will be drawn upon first. Then, the direct path method and the nisarga approach that are used on this site will be explained later. The methods will be discussed in no particluar sequence in order to avoid the implication that the methods are being ranked.
TEACHING METHOD: Traditional Advaita
Paraphrasing Dennis Waite: This is the method regarded as the one defined by Shankara in his discussion of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma Suttras around the 8th century AD. This approach is defined by those scriptures which some claim are the source of truth.
TEACHING METHOD: Neo-Vedanta
Paraphrasing Dennis Waite: The term Neo-Vedanta refers primarily to the method used by Vivekanada and his followers. Some critics consider this method a “watered down” version of Traditional Advaita, a result of the fact that Vivekanada and his followers have tried to make the teachings more suitable to Western tastes where concepts and ego-states have dominated persons for millenia. [NOTE: Neo-Vedanta teachers typically employ seemingly sublime or exalted or emotion-inspiring statements that encourage followers to adopt more concepts and identities instead of encouraging seekers to forfeit all concepts and identities. Some examples include such advise as: dream on an idea and be full of it and you’ll succeed; believe in yourself; make yourself strong; find god and gain power; use thoughts to create a new reality; engage in the noble goal of seeking knowledge; you are responsible for what you are; acquire power; and seek love. Such concepts are in direct opposition to the teachings presented via the Direct Path, nisarga yoga approach. f.h.]
TEACHING METHOD: Neo-Advaita
Paraphrasing Dennis Waite: The teachers who use this method see no need for study, questioning or inquiring into anything. Recognizing only the reality, and knowing that there is no seeker, they conclude that there is nothing to seek and nothing to teach. Often, the result is that even the most diligent seekers who try to attain the understanding with Neo-Advaita teachers can become very confused. Neo-Advaitins suggest that no path is required since there is no “one” to follow the “path.” [NOTE: That same understanding, which is attained by some who follow the “Direct Path Method” to its end, is assumed by Neo-Advaita teachers to be a given from the very beginning. f.h.] Some who adhere to this method reject the name “Neo-Advaita” outright.
Beginning tomorrow, the “Direct Path Method” and the nisarga yoga approach (both used on this site) will be discussed in detail. Based on the descriptions above, however, are you seeing why all of your searching has resulted in what you describe as "one contradiction after another"? There are some very clear differences in message and methodology employed by different teachers. The wise seeker will take those variances into account when selecting a teacher (and a method to follow) if seeking Full Realization and Full Liberation. Thus, the method used on this site is identified at the very top of the web page so that seekers know immediately which method is used on this site. Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
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