[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Re: ARTICLE : Shankaracharya and the Bhagavat Purana
Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar@braincells.com> wrote in article
<ghenE174GL.G3n@netcom.com>...
> of its' sections deals with this very subject. After observing that the
> conventional wisdom is that Shankaracharyas philosophy is opposed to
Bhakti
> and that he is an enemy of Vaishnavas,
Actually, neither of the statements above are really accurate, but then I'm
not sure what you are referring to with the term "conventional logic."
Assuming it to be the views of the Vaishnava schools, I can say with
certainty that Gaudiiyas don't regard Shankaraachaarya to be an "enemy of
Vaishnavas." There are many advaitins who consider him to be an incarnation
of Lord Shiva, and this is also accepted by Gaudiiya Vaishnavas, and Lord
Shiva's position as the Bhaagavatam and other scriptures indicate is that
of a devotee of Vishnu, certainly NOT as an enemy of Vishnu or His
devotees.
I don't think that anyone asserts that Shankaraachaarya's philosophy is
"opposed to bhakti" either. Obviously, they do have a place for it in their
philosophy, but their conception of bhakti is radically different from that
of the Vaishnavas, for whom bhakti is both the means and the end The
Shankarites accept bhakti simply as one of many paths, or, as you have
stated before, as a prerequisite to jnaana.
It is true that for most Vaishnavas, the philosophy of advaita is an
obstacle to attaining unalloyed devotional service, at least for one who
believes in it wholeheartedly. Probably this is what you meant.
regards,
-- K
