Monday 26 November 2012

A QUESTION TO VEDANTHINS (esp ADVAITHI’S )



I will greatly appreciate if ANY LEARNED VEDANTHI  could solve this apparent paradox. I ha thought about it for many years (4-5 frm the time I read it) but couldn’t get proper answer from anybody .
Read the following excerpt from here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_of_evil_in_Hinduism)
 In the Advaita school of Vedanta, this problem is dealt with in detail by Sankara in his commentary on the Brahma Sutras, 2.1.34-36:
Brahma Sutra 2.1.34: "No partiality and cruelty (can be charged against God) because of (His) taking other factors into consideration."
Sankara's commentary explains that God cannot be charged with partiality or cruelty (i.e. injustice) on account of his taking the factors of virtuous and vicious actions (Karma) performed by an individual in previous lives. If an individual experiences pleasure or pain in this life, it is due to virtuous or vicious action (Karma) done by that individual in a past life.
Brahma Sutra 2.1.35: "If it be argued that it is not possible (to take Karma into consideration in the beginning), since the fruits of work remain still undifferentiated, then we say, no, since the transmigratory state has no beginning."
The opponent now argues that there could have been no "previous birth" at the very beginning of creation, before which Karma could not have existed. Sankara replies that it is not so, for the number of creation cycles is beginningless, vide the next verse:
Brahma Sutra 2.1.36: "Moreover, this is logical, and (so) it is met with (in the scriptures)."
Sankara provides references from the Vedas concerning the beginninglessness of Creation: "The Ordainer created the sun and moon like those of previous cycles" (Rig Veda 10.190.3). This shows the existence of earlier cycles of creation, and hence the number of creation cycles is beginningless.

Thus Sankara's resolution to the Problem of Injustice is that the existence of injustice in the world is only apparent, for one merely reaps the results of one's moral actions sown in a past life, which is compatible with the Justness of an Omniscient and Omnipotent God.
On the higher level of Existence, however, there is no evil or good, since these are dependent mainly on temporal circumstances. Hence a jnani, one who has realized his true nature, is beyond such dualistic notions.
Sankara used this as an argument for the existence of God. He argued that the original karmic actions themselves cannot bring about the proper results at some future time; neither can super sensuous, non-intelligent qualities like adrsta—an unseen force being the metaphysical link between work and its result—by themselves mediate the appropriate, justly deserved pleasure and pain. The fruits, according to him, then, must be administered through the action of a conscious agent, namely, a supreme being (Ishvara).[1]

I think From the above excerpt  following inferences can be made
1. World is beginningless. (But u say God created the world??)
2.  Pain and pleasure experienced by a person is result of his karma in his previous births. 
3.But karma is not a blind force  God(Ishvara) a conscious agent administers this process. (side note this is the major difference between Buddhist view and Sankara’s view Buddhists)
Then what is the role of god in our life?? Apparently he doesn’t create the world (World is beginning less) but he acts as a conscious agent who distributes pleasure and pain according to their Karma. But wait wait!! it is not the same as acting like a judge?? Judging the amount of pain and pleasure people deserve?(based on their deeds i.e. karma) Now comes the real challenge:
In the above situation what does it mean to say “God gets pleased if we pray him” or “he will definitely help who believe in him” ?? Any act of God intervening in human process (other than his work of assigning pleasure and pain according to Karma) where he helps somebody doesn’t it mean he is doing partiality? If he helps somebody because that person prays god than god is intervening n people’s life than how can he remain just. Here originally Gods rule his similar to Judge (he judge’s people based on their karma and assign what they deserve in life). Then if u say he will not intervene in our life than what is the necessity to worship him?? Our life is determined by our deeds then y worry about god?


1 comment:

  1. Hello Mr. Subramanya Paddillaya. It is by sheer chance that I stumbled across your weblog while rolling around in the culvert that the internet is. While reading you, it is quite interesting (and to a certain extent a relief) to find an atheist who is well versed in at least some of the shad darshana's.

    On further reading your question above, it was quite tempting to respond to it based on what little knowledge I have, but I did not want my answer to become a monologue. Hence, I was wondering if you might be up for a conversation, and hence see whether we can debate on the existence of God via a chat online!

    If you are up for this intellectually stimulating exercise, please let me know. We can connect.

    ReplyDelete