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F E E L A T H O M E www.azindiatimes.com PAGE - 13 Apr 2019 1-844-AZINDIA By Sundaranand Mahadevan sundaranand.mahadevan@gmail.com Embracing a School of Thought The Indian system has three main schools of thoughts - Dvaita, Advaita, Vish- ishtAdvaita. A philosophical school of thought must define the terms: Individual (Jiva), God (Brahman/Ishvara), Universe (Jagat), Bondage (Sam- sara), Liberation (Moksha), Means to Liberation (Sadhana). Refer the tabular chart below for your reference. All these three school of thought have the same data - Veda as scripture. How- ever, the definitions of individual, God, Universe and the inferences/implications (Samsara/Moksha) are different. Which school of thought must I em- brace? Let me narrate a small parable. In the Indian Kingdom, there was a wise man, who happened to be a Judge in the King’s court. Representatives from each school of thought laid down their arguments supporting the superiority of their Siddhanta (tenet). The Judge was beaming with joy and said all of them are right. The Final Judge decision: “ From each one point of view, your argu- ments seem logical, so all of you are right ”. How can many schools of thoughts be right, all at the same time? When one is right, the other must be wrong, or one must be more right than others? While a majority of Americans eat meat, when you request them to Kabab their dog, they will vehemently oppose and claim that dog is family while enjoying a medium rare steak or ham. How can eating a cow be cultured and eating dog less educated/polished? Another common argument “Do you want to be buried or burnt after death”? The Hindus claim that anything subject to fire becomes supe- rior, while in many parts of the world, people claim that just as humans enjoyed flora and fauna, when it comes to their own death and decay, they want flora and fauna to enjoy their decomposed body. Both seem logical and right in their measure. I have been fascinated by “ Elements of Thought ” - a model developed by Dr. Richard Paul and his colleagues at the Center and Foundation for Critical Thinking . This model breaks down a thought into various elements. Please go to www.criticalthinking.org and become familiar with the model. In the “ Element of Thought ” model, Dr. Paul and his team, talk about a founda- tional element called “Point of View”. Point of View is a person’s fundamental beliefs, values, and biases. It is a person’s frame of reference, perspectives, and orientation. Many external factors shape the fundamental beliefs, values, and biases - the country and culture one is born into, the family upbringing, the concepts one is exposed in the formative years of their life, etc. Elements of thoughts - the ideas we use, the assumptions we make, the infer- ences we see and the implications/consequences we are willing to accept - all are guided and nurtured by a foundational element called “Point of View.” The funny thing is we all look at the same things - the Universe of Objects and Things (we have the same data) and yet we arrive at different conclusions. In the Indian school of thought, we have our own own Technical Term for “Point of View,” and it is called Vasana. Vasana is a collection of impressions in our mind, accumulated over many births (do you see we have brought some of our assumptions with it ). Let us perform a small experiment. Let us nail a pin on a wooden plank when we commit to an action and remove it when we do a compensatory action. While we have action and its equal reaction, is the net effect nullified? No, we do see an impression (a hole) in the board. As we keep acting/reaction with a motive, im- pressions (holes) keep on piling up, and the total of all impressions is called our “ point of view” or character . So, if the “Point of View” guides our entire journey of thoughts, how can we embrace “Absolute Truth”? What is Absolute Truth? Once you adopt a point of view, it is a version of Truth, shaped by our own beliefs, values, and prejudices. It is challenging to bring an army of Theologist and influence them to accept a Unified Theory. Einstein said, “ We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them ”. As long as we hold on to labels, we cannot grasp Absolute Truth. If we have to understand the absolute, we have to drop all ideas and concepts we hold on in our bosom. We have to lose our point of view, not just for a finite moment, but once and for all. To know The Absolute, you have to be The Absolute. To evolve and grow, I suggest the following guidelines: Use the “ Element of Thought ” model and “ Intellectual Standards ” (www. criticalthinking.org ) to understand the basic framework of thought, use them to discover inconsistencies in our thinking. Pick a school of thought that resonate within us, that which comes naturally. Un- derstand that “ mental conditioning ” - our Vasanas - has influenced us to pick a school of thought. Once we know the definitions, assumptions, concepts, inferences/implications in the school of thought, ask fellow seekers of another school of thoughts to ex- plain their definitions, assumptions, concepts, etc. Enjoy this dialogue and learn together. See the entire Uni- verse as a Sangha , a place to learn, grow and nurture, as brothers and sisters. Understand that ideas/con- cepts are just ways to under- stand things better. They are just pointers, do not get fix- ated on these ideas/concepts as absolute Truths. We think for a purpose. If there is no purpose, there is no need to force thinking. If we understand this principle, 80% of our stress is gone . We cannot grasp Absolute Truth through the lens of “Point of View.” In the Vedic system, the focus is on cleansing impurities in our mind. It says “ Use the assistance of Veda and Teacher ” and drop both of them as you elevate your Consciousness. They are like boats, helping you to cross the river, and once you have passed, you leave the ship and move on. You don’t carry the boat on your head. What effort is required to see the sun (Brahman) that is seemingly covered by the cloud (impurities in our mind)? The breeze of Guru’s knowledge & scriptures removes the darkness of ignorance in our mind, and the sun shines effortlessly, there is no effort required to see the sun. In Vedic language “ It (Truth) reveals Itself to Itself. ” Advaita VishishtAdvaita Dvaita Jiva Limitless, All Pervading Limited, Atomic Limited, Atomic Brahman Limitless, no attributes Limitless, with Attributes in superlatives Limitless, with Attributes in superlatives Jagat Mithya (Appears but does not exist) Real and Part of Brahman Real and Separate from Brahman Samsara The Misconception that I am dependent The Misconception that I am Independent The Misconception that I am Independent Moksha Discover Liberation by removing misconception, purely a cognitive understanding, no need to go anywhere Merge with Brahman in Heaven Eternally Serve Ishvara in Heaven Sadhana Jnana Yoga Bhakthi Yoga Bhakthi Yoga