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  1. Makaranda

    Brahman and God

    Let me get back to you, moving house at the moment, busy busy :)
  2. Makaranda

    Sam Harris vs. Deepak Chopra

    I have read Sams book Waking Up. As far as I can recall (I read it a couple of months ago), he sees great value in the introspective practices (mindfulness in Buddhism, self-enquiry in Vedanta) of the two traditions, but refuses to commit to any metaphysical claims from either of the religions...
  3. Makaranda

    Study Group?

    Hello whig, welcome to the forum. So thats three of us so far, anyone else?
  4. Makaranda

    Purpose of Worship

    If I start my day with Puja, which is a form of worship in Hinduism, there is a knock on effect for the rest of the day. The act of Puja itself is the physical (less often, mental) offering of water, fire, incense, food, and other items to a chosen Deva. The worshipper may perform Puja in a...
  5. Makaranda

    Is the universe conscious of itself...

    Repeating your claim without addressing any objections to your assertions. What a novel way to win an argument! Just because you say a thing over and over again doesn't make it any more true. I have addressed your semantics quibble with reference to the dictionary definition of the word...
  6. Makaranda

    Is the universe conscious of itself...

    Your point is well taken, Norman, but if we want to stay true to the meaning of words (as outhouse is so adamant about) we have to speak accurately. When we say "the universe" it is with reference to the totality of all space and matter, and that includes organic matter. It is because nouns...
  7. Makaranda

    Is the universe conscious of itself...

    The statement is only sensible if you exclude all sentient beings from the universe. Sentient beings are a part of the universe, therefore your statement is "unsubstantiated word play". The universe is at least in part conscious because you are a part of the universe. Otherwise you are setting...
  8. Makaranda

    Our Virtual Ashram

    Hi guys. I am relaxing in Rishikesh for a little while before heading up to Badrinath. I just posted a thread in the Vedanta DIR re: a proposal for a study group, to have discussions on what we are learning. Head on over there if you like and tell me what you think, and spread the word. :)
  9. Makaranda

    Study Group?

    Hello everyone, I have been thinking about whether or not the fine folks here would be interested in having a little study group to discuss (in a constructive way) whatever we have been learning from our scriptures and acharyas. Perhaps we could take up certain topics or verses from an agreed...
  10. Makaranda

    The Buddha Explains Universal Mind

    So swap the word understanding with the word realization. My point still stands. Why quibble with words? This wasnt my claim. Mind free from the triputi of knower, means of knowledge, and known object. The reflected consciousness in the mind becomes revealed in its pure state. This is...
  11. Makaranda

    Thank you, thats very kind of you :)

    Thank you, thats very kind of you :)
    • Makaranda
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  12. Makaranda

    The Buddha Explains Universal Mind

    I think perhaps you missed my point. You have claimed that stilling the mind leads to an understanding of the non-duality of reality. I replied that this is not (necessarily) the case. Why? Because the experience itself is neutral; it does not declare itself as either dual nor non-dual. We...
  13. Makaranda

    The Buddha Explains Universal Mind

    Its not so, because there are countless practitioners of meditation with the capacity to silence the mind who are neither non-dualists or enlightened. Further, the Sankhya-Yoga school emphasises samadhi as a means for getting kaivalya, and yet Sankhya-Yoga is a dualistic philosophy- which is to...
  14. Makaranda

    The Buddha Explains Universal Mind

    What is your definition of Advaita?
  15. Makaranda

    Hindu and Westerner

    nancy, as one of those "western" Hindus, my first advice to you is to slow down. Ask yourself, why would you want to become a Hindu? What is the motive? If you are very new to Hinduism, is it not a good idea to spend a lot of time researching the religion first? Otherwise you might find...
  16. Makaranda

    Japa

    I have found the best mantra for japa to be aham brahmasmi and the best of all malas to be the sakshi chaitanya by whom the three states of waking, dream, and sleep are connected and pervaded. :)
  17. Makaranda

    Our Virtual Ashram

    Hello everyone! I hope you are all well. :) My apologies for not keeping you all updated on my India journey, I have been very preoccupied with the experience (and cataloguing it photographically). My trip is nearing its end- just over a month left. I am currently staying on a houseboat in...
  18. Makaranda

    Can you eat meat and be Buddhist ?

    Where there is supply there is demand. Without demand for meat, the meat supply will decrease. As Norman has pointed out, buying meat means there will be more meat, which means more suffering down the line. Change has to happen on the personal, individual level, which in turn has a greater...
  19. Makaranda

    Jagat Mithya

    I said the appearances have no independent existence, not that they have a similarity or equality of existence. If we grant appearance and substance both the same order of existence\reality then there are two vastus, and that contradicts Advaita. But if we say that the appearance is nothing but...
  20. Makaranda

    Tat Tvam Asi

    Shiv, . The reason why I have recommended to you certain websites is because there are a number of glaring, significant misunderstandings of Advaita basics in your posts, which would take a long time for me to unravel, which is neither practical or desirable on this forum (and not least because...
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