Vedanta

Dear Haribhaktas,

shrImadAnandatIrthArya mukha nihsR^itaM

shravaNaM dR^iShTatattvasya mananaM dhyAnameva ca visheShAnandasamprAptyai|anyasyetAni dR^iShTaye |

Some say - It is not correct to say that Devatas continue their studies even today. For, it is said that the process of shravaNa, manana etc is for the realization of the Brahman. Devatas are those people who have already realized Brahman. As it is said - ‘naiva devapadaM prAptA brahmadarshanavarjitAH’ - no one who has qualified to become a devata is bereft of the knowledge of the Brahman. So, there is no purpose for taking up further studies for Devatas. To this the answer is - We agree that Devatas are qualified souls who have already realized Brahman. Then why do they continue their studies even after realization? The devatas continue their study because study undertaken even after realizing Brahman would bring them special bliss in the state of liberation. They do this out of their own will and not under any compulsion. For those people, who have not yet realized Brahman, the study of scriptures is compulsory to get the realization of Brahman.

harayE namaH,

R.Rachuri

www.uttaradimath.org

Dear Haribhaktas,

shrImadAnandatIrthArya mukha nihsR^itaM

AvastunirNayAt.h shravaNaM mananaM caiva kartavyaM sarvadaivahi |

mati shruti dhyAnakAlavisheShaM gururuttamaH |  vetti tasyoktamArgeNa kurvataH syaddhi darshanaM ||  Anuvyakhyana 3.3

Purport:

Even the great devatas continue to listen and contemplate upon the Supreme Brahman as expounded in the shAstras even after obtaining the knowledge about Brahman.

Here one need not doubt that there is no end to this process of listening and contemplation as even the great devatas also continue to study the shAstra even after getting the knowledge about Brahman. One is required to carry on this process of study only until one gets the decisive knowledge about Brahman.

Here one may ask - “Is it possible to get such decisive knowledge? Or even if we agree that it is somehow possible, how can we decide that we have got the necessary knowledge about Brahman and there is no need for further study? We can never reach that stage because, even after getting the knowledge of Brahman, there is every chance of getting into doubt by listening to contradictory viewpoints”.

The answer to this question is as follows - Only a realized guru, who knows fully, the nature and capabilities of the disciple, would be able to foretell for how long a pupil has to continue the study of the scriptures. Thus, one can know the duration and course of one’s study from the directions of his own Guru. There will be a point of time when the pupil gets unwavering knowledge about Brahman and also gets a strong conviction which is unshakeable even under most testing circumstances. From that point onwards further study becomes optional.

haraye namaH,

R.Rachuri

www.uttaradimath.org