Question Nondualism. There is One only. Why teach? Answer Non-dualism is a state that has to be reached. It is not natural or obvious. The natural state is that of dualism for everyone of us, as we all can see, feel the presence of many all the time. Even the propounders of Advaita must be feeling "many" all the time except when in the state of Samadhi they felt that eventually everything is one....
Question Confusion with duty ethics as instructed by Lord Krishna Answer Sri Krishna says in B.G. 3.35 श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेय: परधर्मो भयावह: || 35|| It is far better to perform one’s natural prescribed duty, though tinged with faults, than to perform another’s prescribed duty, though perfectly. In fact, it is preferable to die in the discharge of one’s duty, than to follow the path of another, which is fraught with danger....
Question What is the inner meaning of the phrase dark wombs (kṛṣṇayonīḥ) in the Rig Vedic mantra II.20.7? Answer Rig Veda II.20.7 स वृ॑त्र॒हेन्द्र॑: कृ॒ष्णयो॑नीः पुरंद॒रो दासी॑रैरय॒द्वि । अज॑नय॒न्मन॑वे॒ क्षाम॒पश्च॑ स॒त्रा शंसं॒ यज॑मानस्य तूतोत् ॥७॥ sa vṛtrahendraḥ kṛṣṇayonīḥ purandaro dāsīrairayad vi | ajanayan manave kṣāmapaśca satrā śaṃsaṃ yajamānasya tūtot || Translation from the Rig Veda by Stephanie W. Jamison and Joel P. Brereton is as follows: Smasher of Vr̥tra, splitter of fortresses, Indra razed the Dāsa (fortresses) with their dark wombs....
Question Nature of enlightenment Answer No definitive answer can be given to this question. However, a speculative answer may be given. Advaita Vedanta enlightenment is attained when the mind becomes still. When the lake of the mind becomes clear and still, man knows himself as he really is, always was, and always will be. He knows that he is the Atman. His 'personality', his mistaken belief in himself as a separate, unique individual, disappears....
Question How to control /manage the mind when angry and lustful thoughts attack you very badly? Answer Anger is the negative emotion that hits the mind and body badly. To overcome the strong emotions, you have to do work on your mind thoughts lets reduce the frequency of thoughts through pranayama as adhi is the invitation of certain diseases. Yoga that helps to reduce mind fluctuations and relax. Here we work on our Manomaya Kosha:- Sit comfortably and practice conscious breathing, inhale, and exhale five to ten times....
Question what is the deep meaning of this Gita quote? Answer Sloka 67 of Chapter 2 of BG relates to pure SPIRITUAL aspects. If we start with Sloka 62 of Chapter 2 of BG, we can understand that they are related to PURE SPIRITUAL aspects, meant for persons proposing to be/already engaged in SPIRITUAL pursuits. ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते। सङ्गात् संजायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते।।2.62।। In the case of a person who dwells on objects, there arises attachment for them....
Question What is the meaning of Gita ch.14 verse 27? Answer I will answer this question, from the point of view of advaita. I will quote a portion of the commentary by Madhusudhana Saraswati (MS) in his Gudartha dipika. The gist is based on the translation of Swami Gambhirananda. MS commentary (partial) अत्र हेतुमाह -- ब्रह्मणस्तत्पदवाच्यस्य सोपाधिकस्य जगदुत्पत्तिस्थितिलयहेतोः प्रतिष्ठा पारमार्थिकं निर्विकल्पकं सच्चिदानन्दात्मकं निरुपाधिकं तत्पदलक्ष्यमहं निर्विकल्पको वासुदेवः प्रतितिष्ठत्यत्रेति प्रतिष्ठा कल्पितरूपरहितमकल्पितं रूपमतो यो मामनुपाधिकं ब्रह्म सेवते स ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पत इति युक्तमेव।...
Question Names of the kings and their kingdoms who participated in Mahabharata war Answer In the Mahabharata war, the number of tribes are so numerous that it is difficult to count each and every one of them. Further there are many kingdoms that took part on both sides of the war, adding to the complexity. In the Mahabharata Udyoga Parva (5.19), it is stated that: there was no space in the city of Hastinapura even for the principal leaders of Duryodhana's army....
Question Krishna visiting Sudra’s home or touching a Sudra Answer In Mahabharat era - Mahatma Vidura [महात्मा विदुर] - who was a dasi-putra (son of servant of Hastinapur's king) - was considered as Shudra (means worker class) Varna. And Sri Krishna did visit his home - when he visited as a "messenger of Pandavas" - with the purpose to avoid the war. Note: “The question: Krishna visiting Sudra’s home or touching a Sudra” is licensed by Stack Exchange Inc (https://hinduism....
Question How to prove that Nirvana term in Gita isn’t borrowed from Buddhism? Answer Totally false claim. Adding Nirvana makes no sense later because the the concept was already present in in Mahabharata before that. 'Nirvana' is one of the names of Vishnu in Vishnu sahasranama of Mahabhrata, Here is excerpt from BORI CE translation- Note that I have highlighted the term 'Nirvana'. I referred to other Sanskrit cource the name mentioned is निर्वाणम् which means 'All-Bliss'....
Question Caste System in Vedas Answer Why do Vedas, which are authorless and eternal They are not authorless and eternal. The Vedas are authored by the rishis based on their spiritual experiences. This is said by the rishis themselves in the Vedas. For example: RV 1.61.4: asmā idu stomaṃ saṃ hinomi rathaṃ na taṣṭeva — “For him, I design this hymn, just as a carpenter designs a chariot” RV 1.94.1: imaṃ stomamarhate jātavedase rathamiva saṃ mahemā manīṣayā — “This stotra we make for the most sacred Jātaveda with deep meditation, just like building a chariot”...
Question Why do Bramha sutras say that Shudras cannot listen to Vedas? Answer The specific sutras you reference have always been controversial. All the arguments, on all sides, narrow down to one question - who is sudra, who is not; is varna from birth, or from conduct. The specific verses are Brahma Sutras 1.3.34-38. Before quoting these verses and some commentary in both Shankaracharya and Ramanuja, it is best to first reference Chandogya Upanishad as both reference it....
Question How does one start in Hinduism? Answer I was like you, similar. Till 25 years I was an agnostic although a born Brahmin. When I came to the west around that time there weren’t any big groups etc. Now we see a lot of faith groups The best book that I found that helped me initially was “Hindu Dharma : The Universal way of life” by Chandrasekarendra Saraswati’s Tamil lectures translation....
Question Is it possible to live like in Krita Yuga [Satya Yuga] for an individual, despite being in Kali Yuga? Answer As you may already know, in Hinduism Dharma is represented as a Bull having four feet. In Krita Yuga, the Bull has its four legs intact. So, Dharma is fully functional in that age. In Treta the Bull has 3 legs, in Dwapara 2 and finally in Kali Yuga the Dharma-Bull is standing on just one leg....
Question Can a non-Indian person trust Sanatan Dharma, follow it and so become Hindu? Answer The proof of the pudding is in eating. Find out about Sister Nivedita who was a disciple of Swami Vivekananda. Her European name is Margaret Noble. So the answer to your question is a resounding yes. A good discussion is in wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_Nivedita I am posting some excerpts about Sister Nivedita. 'Great things can be done by great sacrifices only!...