Vedanta-- a show business.

https://images.app.goo.gl/mrTyaZbqtNWHj6dK9

(Analysis of Inapt Education - the book is available online. One chapter from that) 

KNOWLEDGE
Brahman - one order of reality / world - second
order of reality / mix-up increases ignorance / state
of continuous mismaze.
knowledge removes ignorance / points real position
any medium can do that / Sanskrit - scriptures, not
the only source / no one has the monopoly
even thorns teaches tolerance / flora - fauna have no
expectation / river do not sign contract / air never
carries smell forever / nature is a natural guru / practical guru
learn from it / use your wisdom
a natural guru provided by almighty / do not follow priest craft
beware of guruism.

In the field of spiritualism trinity of devotion (bhakti), knowledge (gyan) and penance (vairagya) is essential. Here, penance is related with proper understanding of body and its requirements. The yoga darshan helps in this respect. The Vedanta helps in knowledge. It removes the ignorance regarding the superimposed identity. The practice of seeing the almighty in every aspect of life is devotion. It is taught by nature or circumstances. Without this trinity the total affair is a show business.

The removal of ignorance regarding  the real identity is the fabric of Vedanta. Everyone is familiar with the superimposed identity which is based on race, region, religion, language, profession, service, etc. The life passes in confusion and contradiction. The removal of ignorance is essential for surviving peacefully. A chronological development of training or thought process is essential to achieve the target. The person must follow the basic rules of Yoga like control on using the sense organs and organs of action. After following these things, the person can easily digest the teachings of Vedanta. Without these, the person may become a good orator or author and after being initiated, can get name - fame but his internal growth will not take place.

When a person talks about jiva and Ishwara as same, a question rises in the mind. The jiva or the common man can't do those things which Ishwara can do easily. He may create dream world but after waking everything goes away and for that knowledge of vibhutipad chapter of yoga darshan is needed because power needed for creation comes from that. The ancient sages were expert in these things. Rishi Vishwawamitra could create things and the deities were afraid of him. While searching, one can get many examples. The current discussion is on Vedanta so that side will be dealt afterwards. Therefore, there must be coordination of various dimensions to understand, digest and apply Vedanta. Without these, a person remains a parrot or simply an orator. In the name of teaching, he'll be dependent on grammar or rejecting other schools of Indian philosophy. The teaching becomes a show business or simply a medium of earning bread - butter. In some cases it has been noticed, the orator or the teacher is a practitioner of sadhanas mentioned in yoga darshan and have acquire power but he rejects sadhana aspect while teaching Vedanta. A person may not be interested in the power obtained by these sadhanas but basic practice is necessary. They help in controlling the behavior.

Now, let us enter into the main topic which is connected with the methodology of teaching Vedanta. It is creating a regiment of extrovert followers.They become attached to this or that guru or organization. They are unable to work jointly. A type of competition develops between them and in the name of non - dualism, attachment increases.

A truth inquirer coming from abroad devoted three years, in studying Vedanta. The person said,'I'll not join show business teachers class. Vedanta is not a business but I met few teachers during my stay and found, they were more interested in the number of students and personal name and property via teaching Vedanta and Sanskrit. I think they are not right teachers. How can I find truth from them? This kind of philosophy can't help people except me. I find god in others. He does not exist in the textbook. I can read the characters and have a free will. I am not a product. I am a human. They are training students to get more money from the society.''

 Akshay was neither surprised or shocked. Have already gone through courses in Hindi and English. In many places management or head monk was forced to appoint good looking orator because they were not ready to take the risk of giving their platform to others. Their audience may not like the speaker and they will loose the market. Here, management or the monk can't be blamed. The audience also want a good looking orator. It happens more in the case of those cases where rich class is attached with the organization. A chief executive officer of an organization said, ''I am totally familiar with the abortion cases of our one center but we are not taking any step. We give time for improvement.'' In another place a person in top management said, ''money is not a problem. Once you start teaching and students start coming, money also come. If you ask for five you'll get fifteen.''A judge in Mumbai also said, '' I am surprised to see the number of swamis involved in different cases.'' In the dining hall of an organization, a person saw a commentary on Gita on a table of another person. As soon as he knew the author didn't belong to their organization he said, ' our swamis have a clear vision.' He gave a nasty look and his body language showed as if he has touched an untouchable object. A person may like - dislike a particular author but there must be some internal growth. It is essential in the field of spiritualism. one swami gave his example and asked me to be careful. He said, ' when I started studying, there was slight problem with digestion. Some medicines were given. After few months the same problem started. Slowly - slowly, problem became permanent. Then one day, injections were given. The side impact was intolerable. Now, the situation is, I have to take lot of medicines and follow precautions for survival. I wasn't like this when I was admitted for the course.' This is not the only example. There are many. Several students are treated in such a way, students become dependent on the organization. They have to dance on the tunes.'

Akshay is familiar with the actual position.This post is not meant to malign the image or wash linen in open. It is just an eye opener for them who are mesmerized by the teachings of different organizations and start behaving like a fanatic follower. Instead of converting a home into a monastery they convert a monastery in a home. Instead of running their profession or business in s spiritualistic manner they convert spiritualism or Vedanta in a business.

The so called vedantists talk about non dualism but most of them are not interested in its application. At that time they take foolish examples for highlighting dualism like difference in dealing with different organs of the body of behaving with public and other things. The transactional reality is of separate domain and subjective reality is another. When nutritious food shows its impact on the health then knowledge of self will show in the behavior. There's no need to hide personal lust  behind the curtain of non dualism. All of them are worried about the number of students and mainly foreigners if the course is in English.  It helps in getting good donation and afterwards if any student leaves there's no problem. The management is attached with the sell of books,CD, expansion of the organization at every cost, etc.

The mentality of plurality is quite high. They do not teach on the basis of the commentaries of other organizations and not only that, other scriptures of Vedanta are also not taught. The common reason-- it is neither written by Adi Shankaracharya not he's written commentary on this - Astravakra Gita, Hans Gita,etc. The yogvasistha is left due to its volume. In order to prove personal level, they do not hesitate to write a commentary on them but teaching is not allowed. Therefore, the level of the written work remains hidden. The total teaching of Vedanta runs around the work of Adi Shankaracharya- as if Vedanta was discovered by him. What kind of teaching is this? Vedanta can be taught without the help of Sanskrit, grammar or a specified group of scriptures.

The unbaked vedantists are spreading hatred towards each other. The game of corporate culture is played openly. Their various dimensions have been discussed in the book- The Guru to Guruism. Here, emphasis will be on the type of the society created by them. According to the scriptures, demons had the knowledge of self and many were good orators. The names of Hiranyakashyap, Shambrasur, Vritasur, Ravana, Prahalad and Bali are present in the scriptures. Any interested reader can consult Puranas and Yogvasistha. Now, don't say, they are not present in Veda. This is idiocy. The consoling advice given by them comes under Vedanta teaching.  Ravana gives to his queen Mandodri when her son Meghnad dies. Hiranyakashyap says to his mother and to the wife of Hiranyakch. It happens when Hiranyakch was killed. Vritasur and Bali preaches Indra in the battle field. Therefore, anyone can be a teacher of Vedanta. The required thing is the nature or conduct for which a person gets praise. This is the parameter of Brahminhood as mentioned in the Yaksha samvad in the epic, The Mahabharata.

When a person goes to a teacher for the knowledge of self which is free from superimposition, in the absence of factual facts, he becomes a prey of any cult or organization. Everyone needs office staff or a regiment of fanatic followers. On one side they will say, everything is mithya or false but on other hand, personal organization is true and working for that is seva (service). This must be done because it has removed the ignorance. This is not the required aim of Vedanta. One more false notion is promoted via teaching--- Brahman is one order of reality and the world another. Their relation can only be known by scriptures or shrutis. The teacher is only interested in priest craft or guruism. It is the eyes of wisdom which reveals the actual position. Even Adi Shankaracharaya supported this. He used the word viveka or the mentality of analytical analysis. It is really a pathetic situation where his followers are following something else. With this personal interpretation is highlighted under every circumstance. A student must be trained in using the power of wisdom. Here, role of scriptures are not negated. Even the vedic literature does not promote itself as the final medium of knowledge. When the knowledge is required to remove the ignorance then it can come from any source. No one has the monopoly on this.

Veda means knowledge. Which knowledge? The one which is time tested. Every branch of knowledge is time, place and object bound. The change in technology brings the change in scientific theories and thinking. Even in the field of social  science and literature change takes place from time to time. The thought process or behavioral pattern demands a new dimension for application or writing. All these are the examples of time bound knowledge. The place bound knowledge depends on the information about the place. The reliability depends from case to case. In the media or in the text book or in a traveler's opinion a place is described from their angle. The text book may not reveal the actual position of a region. It can be easily seen in the case of geography books. The media is also interested in marketing -- it may be sponsored or for personal rating. In both the cases sensation and marketability plays the dominant role. The object bound knowledge depends on the knowledge about the object. The object and place bound knowledge depends on the time factor. It is the time which changes the view regarding place or object. Therefore, the knowledge which is independent and time tested becomes the essence of Veda. It is the supreme knowledge. It unfolds the identity of an individual. It shows the difference in the superimposed or attributed identity and subjective reality. The former increases the complex related issues. Whereas latter helps in accepting the role of others in shaping the life. It is in positive or negative manner-- that is another issue. Therefore, the word Veda must not be limited to any particular book. It will only satisfy a region or religion. Even Veda itself is not fanatic about its definition. 

The teaching of Vedanta promotes freedom and shows the way of survival in this life. It must not be used as a tool to hide lust and settle accounts. There is no need of promoting it as a career prospect medium because it will invite all the loopholes of materialism. There must be some difference in the degree course on Vedanta and the subject taught by the monks.

The way in which it is projected, it seems as if, a group of Upanishads are thev only source of this subject or responsible to remove ignorance.  Charvaka came when he was needed. Gautama Buddha came when he was needed. Adi Shankaracharya, Jesus....came when they were needed. This process is still working. None of them is the last guru or preacher. Why? The founder has a vision. His teachings suffered the stroke of depreciation. The followers start playing their game. Therefore, another preacher or prophet is needed. Normally he opposes the view in order to remove the impurities. How they are projected in the society, that is another issue. That is related with the game of dirty politics.

 If we see the example of the teaching of Buddha, Pali Canon only appeared in writing several centuries after the passing of Gautama. The Mahayanists claimed to have access to a whole set of teachings which had not yet been written down. How can these historical claims can be believed? There was enough time to twist the meaning. They do not match and more focus was on to develop it as a different religion. Above all, a verse or two can't be used as a mode of rejection or support. One must study the available material and try to match the teachings. The loopholes if any, can be detected. The urge for name, fame, bread - butter forces the common mind to do various things.The Indian philosophical schools are tuned with the thought process. The sutras of all the 9 established schools are present in the Vedic literature. They were not named separately. When they were classified under different heads for studying or understanding purpose, problem started.

There is no need to search the exact words or phrases of sutras or principles of schools of Indian philosophy in vedic literature. One must apply the art of extracting the essence. The formulas are mentioned. One can not use the formula of physics to judge the chemistry, so the way of checking contents must be according to the subject. Vedic literature is open on this issue.The teachers do come but there is the difference in the quality. Some are interested in creating the division and promoting issues. The quality suffers due to the ratio between teaching and follower-ship. Therefore for renewing the teaching, a new preacher is needed to oppose the manipulated version. The interested reader may follow the link. The book has thrown light on this issue.



 The avatar of Gautama Buddha is mentioned in Bhagavat Mahapurana -10.40.  If one wants to follow that, he must have broad vision. Suttanipat -  292, 322, 458, 846, 1059, 1060, etc., all are tuned with Vedic literature. His importance was not taught and he was rejected in the name of Vedanta.To create the division it was made famous, Buddha did not endorse any metaphysics, Vedic or other. The later forms of Buddhism integrated a lot of metaphysical theories from outside. The other group said, Buddha burnt the Veda. These views are blasphemy and nothing else. 


In new testament disciples asked Jesus about his - difficult to follow examples. The reply was - not meant for everyone. True, if one has the urge- ground is ready, will try to take the essence. For others it will be a story or a matter of time pass or a means of earning. They will only listen for listening purpose and after telling the essence or hidden meaning, wont follow. The same thing can be said about Vedic literature. One must have the urge to know the truth and stop thinking of teaching by completing the course. During a course, brainwashing is done - things are projected to prove the supremacy of one ideology or school of philosophy. it happened with Gita. This technique is used in the courses of Vedanta. It becomes compulsory to reject others. The teachers normally laughs by saying, ''this is also right, that is also right. All of them say the same thing. This thinking is wrong. It means you are still ignorant. You must come to shastras and study properly.'' For them, shastras denote the commentaries of Adi Shankaracharya and  the books written by their guru. None of the Upanishads rejects any kind or level of thought. Vedanta can be taught without rejecting others view. On one hand they teach, Brahman is the ultimate truth and one must feel his presence everywhere. On the other hand they oppose the sadhana aspect which helps in that feeling.


  

  PSEUDO VEDANTIST - 1
You've done courses / you've taken courses / became expert in
author craft / gone through libraries / how much has gone though
you / name via teaching Vedanta - Sanskrit / still running after
fame / enough with jugglery of words, ornamental phrases,
stupid jokes / you're behaving like a promoter / marketing personal
view / worried about expansion / corporate culture dictates
your expression / do not hide lust, promote unfulfilled desires.
many have gone,many will go, many will come / no one is the
final teacher / no one is the only feeder.