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Re: Question on Ramana Maharishi/Advaita.
In article <4frkkq$bum@babbage.ece.uc.edu>,
M Suresh <msuresh@dadd.ti.com> wrote:
> I have read a few books on the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharishi. More
> than once he has mentioned that the greatest power is at the command of
> one who has known his self.
>
> For example in his book "A Search in Secret India", Paul Brunton writes
> about his conversation with Ramana Maharishee :
>
>"The Maharishee speaks again, his words breaking into my thoughts."
[..........]
> YET THE GREATEST IS AT THE
> COMMAND OF THE MAN WHO HAD PENETRATED TO HIS INMOST DEPTH. There are men
> of giant intellects who spend their lives gathering knowledge about many
> things. Ask these men if they have solved the mystery of man, if they
> have conquered themselves, and they will hand their heads in shame. What
> is the use of knowing about everything else when you do not yet know who
> you are? Men avoid this enquiry into the true self, but what else is
> there so worthy to be undertaken?"
i understand that there are two words used in vedic literature:
vidya and avidya. Avidya is not exactly the absence of knwowledge.
avidya is science that we know of, the knowledge about material
affairs. and vidya is knowledge of self-realization. In Isovaasyopanishath
the distinction is explained.
Sri Ramana Maharshi talks about the vidya the true knowledge about
Self. He does not bother about avidya. You might be aware that he himself
suffered (or should i say his body suffered) all the pains associated with
the physical world.
