FROM A SITE VISITOR: i seek a sadguru, finding your site i read of different teaching methods, different appraoch, different yoga. I have study teachings of hinduism, buddhism,even islam,now find advaita vedanta. How to find in all this the sadguru who is for me? Anwar
F.: Yesterday’s post, in noting the diversity of approaches and methods and yogas that are offered under the umbrella of “Advaita Vedanta,” suggested that you might consider several additional questions before continuing with your search for a sadguru to guide you to that for which you are searching. Here are those questions:
Would you consider that “finding a sadguru that is for you” is secondary to your own readiness to receive the Advaita Teachings? (That is why you are being offered a taste of the various forms of the Advaita teachings from which to select.)
Since your searching in the past was limited to religious venues (which are all rooted in duality), are you certain that you are truly ready for a message of no-concept, non-dual Reality? Might you actually prefer a version of Advaita Vedanta that offers concepts and duality?
While some who describe themselves with the term “Advaitins” will encourage seekers to focus on “holy or special scriptures” and to “connect some spiritual thing ‘A’ with some divine thing ‘B’,” others (as on this site) will point toward the unicity alone. Here, there will be no talk of “A” connecting with “B.”
Some Dvaitins, as opposed to certain Advaitins, will talk of…
…that (Whom) it is possible to know well only from good scriptures, (who is) comprehensively beyond all that is destructible and indestructible; (that) Nârâyana I worship always, who is flawless and of the nature of an uncountable number of good qualities.
The Advaitin that has reached the no-concept, non-duality understanding of Reality knows no that there is no “who” or Whom” and no “good” or “bad,” so certainly the re-purified consciousness is free of any notions about “good scriptures”; is free of the misconception that some things are “destructible” and some things are not; worships no other thing (which would be the height of duality); and is free of any beliefs about “good qualities” or “bad qualities.”
If such dualistic teachings seem to be of value or interest to you, anwar, then you will continue to search within organized religions or within ideologies or within philosophies that are overlaid with dogma.
So be aware that even among “Advaita Vedanta teachers,” there are those who follow a path of duality and would teach you more of that to which your study of hinduism has already likely exposed you.
They will speak of a Brahman that is "a Supreme Being" that is to be "worshipped." Some might speak to you of Shakti, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and of various sects. You must determine if (1) it is truly a no-concept, non-dual explanation of Reality that you would seek, or if (2) you would prefer something more traditional, or if (3) you would prefer something completely dualistic.
Similarly, the study of Buddhism likely exposed you to concepts about desire fulfillment, about perfection, about something presiding over this universe, about worship, about holy buildings and holy words, about power, about intentions, about “wholeness vs. unwholeness,” about free will, about specific causation, about being noble, about “right vs. wrong,” about “moral vs. immoral,” and about (the illusions of) body and mind and personality being made "complete."
Is the readiness there to abandon belief in all concepts? If not, is the readiness there to at least question your beliefs and concepts (which are not “yours” at all but are really “theirs”)?
Only those who are ready to transcend any notions about either “wrongdoing” or “righteousness” are ready for the pointers offered here. Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
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F.: Yesterday’s post, in noting the diversity of approaches and methods and yogas that are offered under the umbrella of “Advaita Vedanta,” suggested that you might consider several additional questions before continuing with your search for a sadguru to guide you to that for which you are searching. Here are those questions:
Would you consider that “finding a sadguru that is for you” is secondary to your own readiness to receive the Advaita Teachings? (That is why you are being offered a taste of the various forms of the Advaita teachings from which to select.)
Since your searching in the past was limited to religious venues (which are all rooted in duality), are you certain that you are truly ready for a message of no-concept, non-dual Reality? Might you actually prefer a version of Advaita Vedanta that offers concepts and duality?
While some who describe themselves with the term “Advaitins” will encourage seekers to focus on “holy or special scriptures” and to “connect some spiritual thing ‘A’ with some divine thing ‘B’,” others (as on this site) will point toward the unicity alone. Here, there will be no talk of “A” connecting with “B.”
Some Dvaitins, as opposed to certain Advaitins, will talk of…
…that (Whom) it is possible to know well only from good scriptures, (who is) comprehensively beyond all that is destructible and indestructible; (that) Nârâyana I worship always, who is flawless and of the nature of an uncountable number of good qualities.
The Advaitin that has reached the no-concept, non-duality understanding of Reality knows no that there is no “who” or Whom” and no “good” or “bad,” so certainly the re-purified consciousness is free of any notions about “good scriptures”; is free of the misconception that some things are “destructible” and some things are not; worships no other thing (which would be the height of duality); and is free of any beliefs about “good qualities” or “bad qualities.”
If such dualistic teachings seem to be of value or interest to you, anwar, then you will continue to search within organized religions or within ideologies or within philosophies that are overlaid with dogma.
So be aware that even among “Advaita Vedanta teachers,” there are those who follow a path of duality and would teach you more of that to which your study of hinduism has already likely exposed you.
They will speak of a Brahman that is "a Supreme Being" that is to be "worshipped." Some might speak to you of Shakti, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and of various sects. You must determine if (1) it is truly a no-concept, non-dual explanation of Reality that you would seek, or if (2) you would prefer something more traditional, or if (3) you would prefer something completely dualistic.
Similarly, the study of Buddhism likely exposed you to concepts about desire fulfillment, about perfection, about something presiding over this universe, about worship, about holy buildings and holy words, about power, about intentions, about “wholeness vs. unwholeness,” about free will, about specific causation, about being noble, about “right vs. wrong,” about “moral vs. immoral,” and about (the illusions of) body and mind and personality being made "complete."
Is the readiness there to abandon belief in all concepts? If not, is the readiness there to at least question your beliefs and concepts (which are not “yours” at all but are really “theirs”)?
Only those who are ready to transcend any notions about either “wrongdoing” or “righteousness” are ready for the pointers offered here. Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
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