25
votes
Accepted
Dvaita vs Advaita vs Vishistadvaita vs Shuddhadvaita vs any other
Q. I hear these terms Dvaita, Advaita, Vishistdvaita, Shuddhadvaita, and may be any other XYZdvaita, etc in most of the questions but I am not very sure what do they refer to.
There are six Darshan (...
20
votes
Accepted
Did ancient Yogis float in the air and what is the method to do it?
First we should know our body is not just physical body, but has five sheaths (Pancha Kosha). What we see externally is Annamaya Kosha (food sheath). After death we shed Annamaya kosha and jiva with ...
19
votes
Accepted
Moksha for the Soul of Brahma
Yes, the current Brahma attains Moksha at the end of his life. As I discuss in this answer, the Srimad Bhagavatam describes what happens to the inhabitants of Brahmaloka, including Brahma himself, at ...
19
votes
I want scripture-based explanation for "God is Everywhere"
Vedas state "Sarvakhalvidam Brahman" which means "Everything is Brahman." So, everything is Brahman in the absolute level. Chandogya Upanishad states:
सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्म तज्जलानि...
19
votes
Accepted
Have any Hindu philosophers attempted to solve the Riddle of Epicurus?
The cruelty and evil seen in the world are the results of Karmic factors of Jeevas and God can't be blamed for that. It is stated in Brahma Sutra 2.1.34 as:
Inequality (of dispensation) and ...
17
votes
Accepted
What are all doctrines or philosophies discussed in Brahma Sutra?
Here are the main philosophical schools discussed by Vyasa in the Brahma Sutras (which you can read here:
Vedanta: The Brahma Sutras are the defining text of Vedanta school, so in some sense all the ...
17
votes
Did ancient Yogis float in the air and what is the method to do it?
By practicing Yoga and pranayama (control of prana vayu) a Yogi can float in the air, walk in air. This is called Vayu-Siddhi or mastery over air. It can be achieved in the third stage of pranayama ...
17
votes
Do some people have more Grace of God and some have less?
I am not answering from the scriptures right now. I am only using Sri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa's "Kathamrita" as the reference.
Such apparent differences can be explained by taking into account our ...
15
votes
According to one thought "If you can't explain anything simply that means you don't understand it"
human beings don't know about god am I right?
See what Kena-Upanishad says about your question.
यस्यमतं तस्य मतं मतं यस्य न वेद स:। अविज्ञातं विजानतां
विज्ञातमविजानताम ॥3॥
YasyaMatam ...
14
votes
K.S. Bhagavan's critique of Adi Shankara
In brief, the situation is:
A rationalist has analyzed a text written in C++ into English because both look similar. He has critisized C++ for "bad grammar". Certain extremists are behind his life ...
14
votes
Accepted
What's the meaning & relevance of LIC logo "yogakshemam vahamyaham"?
Q. What's the source and meaning of this verse?
Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the source of this verse:
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्।।9.22।।
And ...
13
votes
Accepted
'Playing football takes us nearer to heaven rather than reading Bhagavad Gita' but how and why?
Swami Vivekananda meant that a strong body can help you have the frame of mind needed to understand things like the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, and thus ultimately attain Jnana. Here's the quote in ...
12
votes
Why isn't there one Absolute Reality?
Q. In the annals of Sanaatana Dharma why isn't there One Absolute Reality? Every "seer of truth" saw/interpreted the way they saw it.
Absolute Reality is only one but it is expressed differently ...
12
votes
What is the source of this (Kayena vacha...) text? or Where does it come from?
The verse occurs in this chapter of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Here is what the sons of Rishabha tell Nimi (the solar dynasty king whom I discuss here):
I consider that one whose intelligence is ...
12
votes
Accepted
Why did Vedvyasa mention his shishya Jaimini's opinion/saying in Brahma Sutra?
It's because Vyasa and Jaimini were working together. Vyasa and two of his disciples, Jaimini and Kasakritsna, together composed a unified work called the Mimamsa Shastra, designed to analyze the ...
12
votes
Is it possible for one to have animal birth after human birth?
Yes, this is a possibility according to the Vedanta schools of Sri Madhva and Sri Vallabha. This view is based on the following shloka:
O son of Kunti! Falling into demoniac wombs, in life after ...
12
votes
Accepted
BG 4.40 - What does Kṛṣṇa mean by saṁśayātmā (doubting mind)?
The word संशयात्मा does not literally mean doubting mind. But it has an inner meaning. Samshayatma means a cynic who does not agree with the scriptures.
If we consider only shloka you are quoting, ...
11
votes
Accepted
According to ShankarAchArya in Advaita, is the universe "unreal" or "unworthy"?
There is a common popular misconception in People that according to Advaita World doesn't exist at all. It is not true.
When we are deciding reality of things as per Advaita. Then, Advaita itself ...
11
votes
Accepted
What are Vivartavada and Ajatavada?
1. Vivartavada:
Sanskrit word विवर्त means [1] transformation, more precisely [2] apparent form in Vedanta philosophy. Vivartavada means the doctrine of apparent transformation.
According to Adi ...
11
votes
Accepted
Are there Hindu scriptural references for "Simulation hypothesis" or the "theory of simulation"?
I discuss in my answer here, AtharvaVeda states Universe as like projection in space-time:
पूर्ण कुम्भोदिः काल आहितस्तं वै पश्यामो बहुदा नु सन्तः । [AtharvaVeda 19.53.3]
A full pot has been ...
11
votes
Accepted
What is the philosophical comparison between non-dualism of Vedanta and Agama?
There is a beautiful philosophical explanation of absolute reality and its relation to the world in the Agamas of Kashmir Shaivism. However, it is not very popular like other philosophical schools in ...
11
votes
Accepted
Should Prajapati (Lord Brahma) be regarded as a Supreme Self or a Transmigrating Jiva?
Adi Shankara in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Bhasya 1.4.6 raises this exact issue by citing both sides of Shruti and also gives solution for the seemingly contradiction:
अत्र विप्रतिपद्यन्ते - पर एव हि...
11
votes
Accepted
Why is Yoga called union when it is the mind that actually dissolves?
The union of Atma and Paramatma is called Yoga which you have already stated. Such a definition is found in several scriptures.
From Devi Bhagavatam 7.35 for example:
Himâlayâ said :-- "O Mahes'...
11
votes
Why do enlightened people contradict each other?
Swami Sivananda writes in his "May I answer That" book, Page 93, Question 247 -
Prophets are born from time to time to remove a catastrophe and
establish Dharma. They preach according to ...
10
votes
Can a person change his caste in Hinduism?
The answer depends on what you think is meant by caste. The answer is no if you think of caste as jati or community. The answer is yes if you think of caste as varna which should depend on conduct.
...
10
votes
Similarities and differences in the four vedas
In order to understand similarities and difference in four Vedas, I think it is necessary/recommended to know why and how Veda is divided into four Vedas. Following answer will help you to know & ...
10
votes
Accepted
Who was the solar dynasty king who was turned into a spider?
The spider in question is a Shiva Gana named Malyavan.
The Chola dynasty of kings is said to have sprung from the Surya Vamsa, at least according to this Wikipedia page.
The last king to be mentioned ...
10
votes
Why is Sankaracharya accused as Pracchana Bauddha (crypto-buddhist) by many Vedantins?
It is very natural that Vaishnavas do not like Sankara's interpretation of Vedanta. You can read my answer to another question here:
Did Shankara reject some doctrines of Atman or Brahman in order to ...
10
votes
Did ancient Yogis float in the air and what is the method to do it?
Yes, a Yogi can float in the air by using yogic power. Their are eight type of siddhis also known as ashta aishwarya can be attained by yoga as described in Shrimada Bhagavatam, Chapter 11.15. Yogi ...
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