01-28-2005, 12:35 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->How did people know about the 14 lokas? Are these lokas products of human fancy or the knowledge about them gained from Yogic experience?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This was seen by the rshis. It is also mentioned in the Shruthi The vedas too mention other worlds.) The Vyahruthi of the Gayatri mentions Bhu, Bhuvah, and Suvah. Now, you ask an interesting question on how could rishis have known about the lokas if they did not exist. How indeed can one know of dreams if they are not true? When I say, 'I dreamt of a flying jackal', you do not think I am crazy, you empathise and ask, 'Ah, is that so?' knowing fully well that it was a dream and not a delusion.
Back to the 14 Lokas. Once a devotee asked Sri Ramana Maharshi if Kailasha, Vaikunta, Satyaloka and all really existed or were they just imaginations and dreams. Sri Ramana Maharshi said, "They are not dreams. They do exist. Those who have seen them say there is a Vaikunta where Vishnu resides. There is Kailasa, and Amaravathi. There are also some lokas where an Old rishi is asked questions by his Bhakthas, and he answers them. These lokas also exist." "Kailasa and Vaikunta are <b>as real as</b> this world." This is the position of Advaita.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Brahman reflected in a calm intellect is Sat (Ishwara) then does a human being who has succeeded in calming his intellect or transformed his nature into suddha sattva become Ishwara? The question I am asking is what does this model say about the difference between Ishwara and a Jiva who has transformed his nature into suddha sattva? <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes it does. This state is called Jeeva-Ishwara Aikyam. This can be heard from the comfort of your own home. Here is the link from yogamalika. http://www.yogamalika.org/audeindex.html (Lecture #14)
If Jeeva and Ishwara were different in nature, like oil and water, then Aikyam is never possible. If by Aikyam one means just getting closer, and not merging, then the term Nirvikalpa samadhi becomes meaningless.
This was seen by the rshis. It is also mentioned in the Shruthi The vedas too mention other worlds.) The Vyahruthi of the Gayatri mentions Bhu, Bhuvah, and Suvah. Now, you ask an interesting question on how could rishis have known about the lokas if they did not exist. How indeed can one know of dreams if they are not true? When I say, 'I dreamt of a flying jackal', you do not think I am crazy, you empathise and ask, 'Ah, is that so?' knowing fully well that it was a dream and not a delusion.
Back to the 14 Lokas. Once a devotee asked Sri Ramana Maharshi if Kailasha, Vaikunta, Satyaloka and all really existed or were they just imaginations and dreams. Sri Ramana Maharshi said, "They are not dreams. They do exist. Those who have seen them say there is a Vaikunta where Vishnu resides. There is Kailasa, and Amaravathi. There are also some lokas where an Old rishi is asked questions by his Bhakthas, and he answers them. These lokas also exist." "Kailasa and Vaikunta are <b>as real as</b> this world." This is the position of Advaita.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Brahman reflected in a calm intellect is Sat (Ishwara) then does a human being who has succeeded in calming his intellect or transformed his nature into suddha sattva become Ishwara? The question I am asking is what does this model say about the difference between Ishwara and a Jiva who has transformed his nature into suddha sattva? <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes it does. This state is called Jeeva-Ishwara Aikyam. This can be heard from the comfort of your own home. Here is the link from yogamalika. http://www.yogamalika.org/audeindex.html (Lecture #14)
If Jeeva and Ishwara were different in nature, like oil and water, then Aikyam is never possible. If by Aikyam one means just getting closer, and not merging, then the term Nirvikalpa samadhi becomes meaningless.