Vedanta - Discussion Forum I (introductory))

[Sunder]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Do all Advaitists succeed in complete union? It is a notoriously difficult thing to achieve. Once I asked my Guru, Swami Swahananda, whether he has ever seen any one having samadhi like that described in the Gospel. He told me that he has never seen anyone.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

With all due respects Gangajal ji, is this a trick question? <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> "All advaitists" is an oxymoron. All 'sadhakas' do not necessarily reach the goal in just one try. Nonetheless, with effort, and by understanding the scriptural teachings, and with viveka & abhyasa-vairagya the false notion of identity with the body will cease. In Absolute Advaita, there is no Union because there is no separation to begin with. This is Kaivalyam. Thanks for saying that it is 'notoriously difficult', as it only suggests that it is not 'impossible'.

I have a question, is Swami Swahananda the same one who translated Panchadasi? If so please do convey him my humble bowings. He may not have seen anyone in samadhi because sadakas (while on the way to the goal) do not advertise it. They may share their thoughts *after* the fact when it is safe, but never brag about it when they are still trying for it as it is counter productive. Nonetheless, trust me that the type of experiences as mentioned in the Gospel is quite common in history, and is documented.

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Then there is the argument that desire is what keeps us from realization. We are what we desire. Meditation is prescribed to weaken our desire for name and fame.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, desire to realize itself is an impediment. Desires by itself has no significance other than acting as a distraction for the Dhrashta (Seer.) It's like the desire to thrive on beer & nachos and not exercise being a deterrent to having six-pack abs. Once the desire is given up, and the prescribed exercise is done, you get results.

Please refer to my link mentioning meditation to be SAMVADI BHRAMA. I hope you agree with this point. The desire to serve Ishwara for Eternity is also a leading error (Samvadi Bhrama.) The question is, is the desiring jeeva completely different from the object - i.e. Paramatma?

Wrt kundalini, did you have any experiences with it? Or do you know of anyone who has succeeded in raising it?