Wednesday, May 17, 2006

From q12

Congratulations on this excellent site. As you so rightly say, clarity of principle is all important. This is what the School conspicuously school lacks in some all important areas.

For example, there is no agreed answer to basic questions like: What is the School for? What is its purpose? What are its objects? We all have our own differing ideas.

Yes, the School has published Rules which purport to set out objects, including 'to promote the study of natural laws', but few would suppose that these coincide with its real objects.

Its real object might be something along the lines of: 'to promote self realisation for all, through the study and practice of Advaita Vedanta.'

Against this background debates about the School might be better directed and informed. A dialogue about objects would, in itself, be a valuable exercise.

This comment was originally posted by q12 here.

1 comment:

Kevin said...

This is a really important point you make. If we don't know where we are going or what rules we will follow, how can we move forward? I recently gave a talk on "Advaita Vedanta", covering the basics of its history and philosophy. One student came up afterwards and said what a relief it was to finally understand what the School was about. She and her friend had spent half of the first term worrying about the 'hidden agenda' which, as she said, "spoiled the term a bit".

I think what she was saying was that she trusts the School, but that the mystery creates doubt.