Is the radical non-dualism of Advaita Vedanta fundamentally at odds with Christian monotheistic belief? Sara Grant, R.S.C.J., argues that it is not. However, unlike her religious and monastic contemporaries at work in India such as Henri Le Saux and Bede Griffiths, she does not rely on a mystical convergence to unsay the dichotomies between traditions. Rather, she argues that Advaita’s foremost proponent, Sankaracarya, developed a philosophy that was wholly dependent on the concept of relation. Her analysis of this concept in the work of Sankara is one of Grant’s unique contributions to the study of Indian philosophy. Grant further contends that an analogous concept is at work in the theology of Thomas Aquinas and that this pivotal concept has similarly received undue attention. In the work of her dissertation, Grant forges an early scholarly effort at inter-religious dialogue and comparative theology. Read the complete article here.
“A Convergence of Faith: The Concept of Relation in the Work of Sara Grant, RSCJ,” by Stephanie Petersen-Corigliano
Christianity was born some three thousand years after the Upanishads were composed. The life of Jesus makes no sense to me. The Father in Heaven He speaks of is God number three, the third of the three Gods who were who were born in the Middle East. What are you saying? What is the point of what you say? What kind of decency does Bede Griffiths have if he chooses to live in India to convert Hindus to Christianity?
Philosophical mumbo jumbo goes right over my head.
But what’s the idea?
Is it to make Christians comfortable with Advaita?
Or is it to open conversion shops at Sankara Maths?
As a free Hindu climbing the stairs of spiritual evolution anyway I please, one thing I know for sure…
Christians cannot get rid of the load of dogma they carry all over.
According to middle-eastern mono-gawd-ism(s), Advaita is blasphemy. It is wishful thinking of “liberals” that their dogma can somehow be equated with dharma. Brahman is not the same as Angry Old Man in the sky. Why will I *want to* unite/merge with an angry despot? Also, Christianity with its Trinity, Almighty Satan, guilt-tripping and fear-mongering has nothing in common with dharmic traditions.
What is Advaita Vedanta?
“Brahma Satyam; Jagan Mithya; Jivo Brahmaiva Na Aparah” – Brahman is real, permanent; this world is unreal, impermanent; and the Jiva or the individual self is non-different from Brahman.
Whatever is, is Brahman. Brahman Itself is absolutely homogeneous. All difference and plurality are illusory, temporary.
The Atman is self-evident (Svatah-siddha). It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny the Atman, because It is the very essence of the one who denies It.
Brahman is not an object, as It is Adrisya, beyond the reach of senses, mind or intellect. It is not another. It is all-full, infinite, changeless, self-existent, self-delight, self-knowledge and self-bliss. It is Svarupa, essence. It is the essence of the knower. It is the Seer (Drashta), Transcendent (Turiya) and Silent Witness (Sakshi). It is always the Witnessing Subject. It can never become an object as It is beyond the reach of the senses. Brahman is non-dual, one without a second. It has no other beside It.
Sat-Chit-Ananda constitute the very essence or Svarupa of Brahman, and not just Its attributes.
The world is not an illusion according to Sankara. The world is relatively real (Vyavaharika Satta), while Brahman is absolutely real (Paramarthika Satta). The unchanging Brahman appears as the changing world because of a superimposition of non-Self (objects) on Self (subject – Brahman). This is called Avidya.
The Jiva or the individual self is only relatively real. Its individuality lasts only so long as it is subject to unreal Upadhis or limiting conditions due to Avidya. The Jiva identifies itself with the body, mind and the senses, when it is deluded by Avidya or ignorance. Just as the bubble becomes one with the ocean when it bursts, so also the Jiva or the empirical self becomes one with Brahman when it gets knowledge of Brahman. When knowledge dawns in it through annihilation of Avidya, it is freed from its individuality and finitude and realizes its essential Satchidananda nature. It merges itself in the ocean of bliss. The river of life joins the ocean of existence. This is the Truth.
Because samsara (or duality) exists due to ignorance or Avidya, Knowledge (Jnana) alone can make an individual realize his true nature. Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga etc., are necessary only to purify the individual and to help remove this Avidya. All other paths culminate in Jnana.
Brahma Jnana is not about acquiring any external knowledge (as Brahman can’t be an object of knowledge), it just about removing the Avidya or Maya.
From: http://www.shankaracharya.org/