Vedanta - Discussion Forum I (introductory))

[Sunder]

<!--QuoteBegin-Kaushal+Oct 23 2004, 10:59 PM-->QUOTE(Kaushal @ Oct 23 2004, 10:59 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A Dharshana is literally a VIEW Point<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Vanakkam, Sunder avargal,

Just a minor quibble. A darshana (in my view , no pun intended) is more than a viewpoint. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Kaushal Garu, Avargal vaddhandi, Sunder ani pilusthe chalu.

You had given an excellent vivarana on the word Darshana. It is all that you mentioined and a little more. I had used the word "literally" just for that. Darshana literally means "to see" coming from <b>drk</b> or <b>drsh</b> dathu.

I think Darshana is more than just the world view as it goes beyond the boundaries of just the physical world, or from the normal plane of understanding. Each darshana is, methinks, a condensed version of an well thought out approach to understanding 'Reality.' When I read the Nyaya sutras, it strikes me that every statement made there carries tremendous amount of weight and is almost Irrefutable. A Sutra (be it Yoga Sutra, or Brahma Sutra) cant change it's meaning with time or places, and will be applicable at all times.

Here I would like to say a shloka that defines a Sutra:

<i>
Alpaksharam Asandighdam Saaravath vishvatho mukham
Asathobham anavadhyam cha, Sootram sootravidho vidhuh. </i>

A sutra contains is optimized to such an extent that it contains the least number of words, is not ambiguous, redundant, or incoherrent, and yet conveys a Universal Meaning (or is universally applicable.)

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->not being awell versed in S i could of course be wrong and you can correct me accordingly.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Antha maata anakandi saaru... I completely agree with you. I often use the word "viewpoint" when I address a lay-crowd, specially a non-indian crowd and when there is a time limitation. To interested parties, I expand it after the lecture.

On freewill, I still have to meditate upon it to understand it. My understand thus far is that Fate or lack of it is of no consequence for the Dhrashta (Seer who is Shuddha Chaithanya Swaroopam.) The fate and free will are as real in jaagruth as they are in a dream.