04-21-2004, 10:57 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->If you watch the documentaey "sankara' By GV Iyer you will see the punishment (self) inflicted on the scholar who loses in a "samvadam' or in defence of relgious doctrines or philosophies.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I have this movie (Adi Shankaracharya - by Sri Iyer, in Samskrit) at home, and still watch it (1000th rerun) quite often.. It's one of the best movie I have seen.
If your reference is to Kumarila Bhatta, his punishment was self inflicted (despite winning the samvadham) owing to his guilt of guru-droham. Sureshwaracharya, became the desciple of Sri Shankaracharya, when he was defeated in the debate. There was no tortuous penalty there.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->AMazing thing is these masters of mid control had such super egos, that would lead to their downfall.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I had faced this too in the initial stages of my Spiritual quest. There definitely *will* be arrogance arising out of half-knowledge. This arrogance is worse than ignorance. But as one progresses, there is a reverse effect that takes place, where one becomes Super-humble to the point he/she becomes a pushover. Then comes the balance.
Thus, in my opinion, the huge ego did not lead to the down fall, but to realize that what they had vehemently clung on to was in fact false. This realization leads them to give up the body voluntarily.
The difference between this and suicide is that, in these types of inflictions, one has a method of escape if one wants to.. It has to be slow process. Be it Jala samadhi, or agni-pravesham.. One should have the option to escape. Hope that makes sense.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Afterall through out our itihasa and puranas we come come accross great sages like Brigu, Durvasa, Parasurama, Viswamithra often hads to be punished for their super egos which would lend them blind and not see the ultimate Brhaman. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Durvasa is the most benevolent sage EVER.. I Shall talk about Him later.
I have this movie (Adi Shankaracharya - by Sri Iyer, in Samskrit) at home, and still watch it (1000th rerun) quite often.. It's one of the best movie I have seen.
If your reference is to Kumarila Bhatta, his punishment was self inflicted (despite winning the samvadham) owing to his guilt of guru-droham. Sureshwaracharya, became the desciple of Sri Shankaracharya, when he was defeated in the debate. There was no tortuous penalty there.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->AMazing thing is these masters of mid control had such super egos, that would lead to their downfall.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I had faced this too in the initial stages of my Spiritual quest. There definitely *will* be arrogance arising out of half-knowledge. This arrogance is worse than ignorance. But as one progresses, there is a reverse effect that takes place, where one becomes Super-humble to the point he/she becomes a pushover. Then comes the balance.
Thus, in my opinion, the huge ego did not lead to the down fall, but to realize that what they had vehemently clung on to was in fact false. This realization leads them to give up the body voluntarily.
The difference between this and suicide is that, in these types of inflictions, one has a method of escape if one wants to.. It has to be slow process. Be it Jala samadhi, or agni-pravesham.. One should have the option to escape. Hope that makes sense.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Afterall through out our itihasa and puranas we come come accross great sages like Brigu, Durvasa, Parasurama, Viswamithra often hads to be punished for their super egos which would lend them blind and not see the ultimate Brhaman. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Durvasa is the most benevolent sage EVER.. I Shall talk about Him later.