Ask the Advaitin

[tatvamasi]

Hello all,

I recently joined this comparative religion forum. I find it very peculiar that discussions about Hinduism have been limited to asvameda sacrifice and the like.

So, if you guys have any questions on the issues of how the advaita philosophy views REALITY, GOD etc. feel free to ask me.

If you have questions on whether Rama's mom had sex with a dead horse, I am not the person to direct your question at.

I hope that atleast one person posts in this thread.

[Indogenes]

Vanakkam Advaitin,
Welcome and Pongal vazhtugal! (Happy Pongal greetings).

Indogenes

[Vajradhara]

Namasker tatvamasi,



thank you for the post.


could you explain the basics of Sanatana Dharmas view of Karma?

[tatvamasi]

Originally Posted by Indogenes

Vanakkam Advaitin,
Welcome and Pongal vazhtugal! (Happy Pongal greetings).

Indogenes

Vanakkam Indogenes!

Belated thanks for Pongal Vazhthugal!

I was spending too much time on the christianforums website, but now it seems to be down.

[tatvamasi]

Originally Posted by Vajradhara

Namasker tatvamasi,



thank you for the post.


could you explain the basics of Sanatana Dharmas view of Karma?

Namaste Vajradhara,

I think you know now from my post in another thread that I am Born_to_Lose_.... from the christianforums website.

Sanatana Dharma's view of karma:

Sanatana Dharma understands Karma as Cause and Effect, in the empirical sense.

Karma is considered as the natural law of the phenomenal universe, gross, subtle, and causal.

Karma is similar to Newton's third law.

Of course, all these are IMHO, as there might be other Hindus who have better understood karma than me.

My view is that karma is real if I consider the universe to be real.

From the Absolute point of view, karma has no power on the SELF. Until realization occurs karma cannot be avoided.

[Indogenes]

Originally Posted by tatvamasi

Vanakkam Indogenes!

Belated thanks for Pongal Vazhthugal!

I was spending too much time on the christianforums website, but now it seems to be down.

Vanakkam Tatvamasi,
My apologies - I had addressed you as 'Advaitin' previously. Good to see you back. Lucky for you to have time to spend on forums. I've had to stop visiting several others due to lack of time. I almost stopped visiting this one also, but am making time for it, as it is interesting to read about other religious points of view.

[Indogenes]

Namaste Vajradhara and Tatvamasi,
The word 'karma' actually means act or deed. In the broader sense, it refers to the act and its result: as said in the Vedas, "If we sow goodness, we will reap goodness; if we sow evil, we will reap evil."

There are 3 types of karma: (a) Sanchita karma, which relates to one's accumulated karmas from past lives which are to be realised in this or future lives; (b) Prarabdha karma which are the results of Sanchita (past) karma which are to be realised in the current life; (c) Kriyamana or Agami karma, which is the karma that is being generated in the current life and will be realised in the future (either in this life or future lives).

So Sanchita Karma and Kriyamana karma determine the results which one realises in this or future births. One's Prarabdha karma determines the framework of one's current life. Given this definition, one has the power to determine one's Kriyamana karma - how one acts in the current life in the face of Prarabdha karma - which can determine the fruits or the results that one realises for this or future lives.

Originally Posted by tatvamasi

From the Absolute point of view, karma has no power on the SELF. Until realization occurs karma cannot be avoided.

True, self-realisation is said to ensure liberation from one's Karma.

The Vedas describe the cause and effect of actions: "Here they say that a person consists of desires. And as is his desire, so is his will. As is his will, so is his deed. Whatever deed he does, that he will reap."

The Bhagavad Gita describes the practice of 'nishkama karma' as a means for liberation from one's karma (Sanchita and Kriyamana karma) - acting without desire for the results of the act.

[tatvamasi]

Originally Posted by Indogenes

Vanakkam Tatvamasi,
My apologies - I had addressed you as 'Advaitin' previously. Good to see you back. Lucky for you to have time to spend on forums. I've had to stop visiting several others due to lack of time. I almost stopped visiting this one also, but am making time for it, as it is interesting to read about other religious points of view.

Why apologize? I am an advaitin indeed, maybe not a practicing one but atleast a sympathizer.

[tatvamasi]

Originally Posted by Indogenes

Namaste Vajradhara and Tatvamasi,
The word 'karma' actually means act or deed. In the broader sense, it refers to the act and its result: as said in the Vedas, "If we sow goodness, we will reap goodness; if we sow evil, we will reap evil."

There are 3 types of karma: (a) Sanchita karma, which relates to one's accumulated karmas from past lives which are to be realised in this or future lives; (b) Prarabdha karma which are the results of Sanchita (past) karma which are to be realised in the current life; (c) Kriyamana or Agami karma, which is the karma that is being generated in the current life and will be realised in the future (either in this life or future lives).

So Sanchita Karma and Kriyamana karma determine the results which one realises in this or future births. One's Prarabdha karma determines the framework of one's current life. Given this definition, one has the power to determine one's Kriyamana karma - how one acts in the current life in the face of Prarabdha karma - which can determine the fruits or the results that one realises for this or future lives.

True, self-realisation is said to ensure liberation from one's Karma.

The Vedas describe the cause and effect of actions: "Here they say that a person consists of desires. And as is his desire, so is his will. As is his will, so is his deed. Whatever deed he does, that he will reap."

The Bhagavad Gita describes the practice of 'nishkama karma' as a means for liberation from one's karma (Sanchita and Kriyamana karma) - acting without desire for the results of the act.

That was a very clear explanation. Thanks Indogenes.

[Vajradhara]

Namasker,


thank you for the replies

within the context of the Sanatana Dharma, can the reaping of ones' karmic seeds be mitigated?

[Pathless]

Originally Posted by tatvamasi

If you have questions on whether Rama's mom had sex with a dead horse, I am not the person to direct your question at.

Dude, Rama's mom had sex with a dead horse??! That's sick.













...sorry. I had to post it in the spirit of the day. Happy April!

[tatvamasi]

Originally Posted by Vajradhara

Namasker,


thank you for the replies

within the context of the Sanatana Dharma, can the reaping of ones' karmic seeds be mitigated?

Of course.

It can be done by bhakti yoga, karma yoga and jnana yoga.

Here yoga does not mean just physical exercises.

[tatvamasi]

Originally Posted by Pathless

Dude, Rama's mom had sex with a dead horse??! That's sick.













...sorry. I had to post it in the spirit of the day. Happy April!

Happy April dude.

[Vajradhara]

Originally Posted by tatvamasi

Of course.

It can be done by bhakti yoga, karma yoga and jnana yoga.

Here yoga does not mean just physical exercises.

Namaste Tatvamasi,

thank you for the post.

to what extent can the fruit be mitigated?

understood... in our tradition, the excerise portion of yoga is quite small. our Yogas are in the traditional Indian sense as well

[I am free]

Hello Tatvamasi,

Would be grateful if you could also please elaborate on bhakti yoga, karma yoga and jnana yoga?

Is it possible to attain liberation with any form of yoga? Or all three need to be practiced?

Also which of the three is supposed to be superior?

Thanks in advance.