Sanatana Dharma - Aka Hinduism (2nd Bin)

[Sunder]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->However, it is also clear that Shankara does feel that maleness is in some ways superior to femaleness.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I defininitely agree with you that Sri Shankaracharya states maleness is in some way more advantageous or conduitive to Spiritual Sadhanas & access to Vedas. But I sincerely doubt that he is echoing his personal feelings as opposed to Vedic statements. If it were his personal feelings, he would have been challenged and defeated by his own gurus, sahapaatis, prathidvandhis or shishyas.

This topic definitely is sensitive. Quite personal for many, specially on the receiving end of it. I fully am with you on your stance. This discussion is only aiming at WHY the ancestors said what they said without mincing words. What is it they knew that we forgot or misread?

As long as the 'I am the body' feeling is there, all these male/female, brahmana/kshatriya issues etc will be a vexing impediment. Beyond that, as Sri Shankara himself says in Nirvana Shatkam, "Na mae mrithyu shanka na mae jaathi bedah....Chidananda Roopah Shivo'ham Shivo'ham".