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Swami Vidyaranya’s eÉÏuÉlqÉÑÌ£ü ÌuÉuÉåMü JIVANMUKTI VIVEKA Part 1 “PRAMANA PRAKARANA” The Evidence for Liberation While Living MODERN-DAY REFLECTIONS On a 13 th CENTURY VEDANTA CLASSIC TEXT Reflections by Swami Gurubhaktananda 48.1 2020 AN ADVANCED TEXT ON VEDANTA PHILOSOPHY JIVANMUKTI VIVEKA – “Liberation While Living” by Swami Vidyaranyaji BOOK Chap TITLE OF CHAPTER ENGLISH TITLE No. No. Vers. 1 Pramana Prakarana The Evidence for Jivanmukti 13 2 Vasana Kshaya Prakarana Effacement of Latent Impressions Prose 3 Manonasha Prakarana Dissolution of the Mind Prose VIVEKA 4 Swarupa Siddhi Prayojana Purposes of Attaining Jivanmukti Prose JIVANMUKTI 5 Vidvat Sannyasa Prakarana Renunciation of the Knower Prose Total 13 AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY THE COMPILER The compiler wishes to acknowledge the “Home Study Course” offered by the Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF) to students of Vedanta in any part of the world via an online Webinar service. These “Reflections” are based on material he has studied under this Course. CIF is an institute for Samskrit and Indology research, established in 1990 by Pujya Gurudev, Sri Swami Chinmayananda, with a vision of it being “a bridge between the past and the present, East and West, science and spirituality, and pundit and public.” CIF is located at the maternal home and hallowed birthplace of Adi Shankara, the great saint, philosopher and indefatigable champion of Advaita Vedanta, at Veliyanad, 35km north-east of Ernakulam, Kerala, India. CIF is recognised as a Centre of Excellence in Samskrit Research (Shodha Sansthan) by the Rashtriya Samskrit Sansthan, a Deemed University under the Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India, and as a Research Centre by the Mahatma Gandhi University and by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). CIF is actively engaged in a multitude of academic projects. For more information on courses and activities, please visit www.chinfo.org. The Editor/Author – 10th Dec 2020 Mahasamadhi of Swami Sahajananda, DLS SA Om Namah Shivaaya! Text 48.1 eÉÏuÉlqÉÑÌ£ü ÌuÉuÉåMü - AkrÉÉrÉ 1/5 JIVANMUKTI VIVEKA PART 1: PRAMANA PRAKARANA “The Evidence of Jivanmukti” A 13th Century Text by Sri Swami Vidyaranya REFLECTIONS By Swami Gurubhaktananda Based on the 55 Lectures delivered by Swami Advayanandaji (referred to as “Swamiji” in the book), In-charge, Chinmaya International Foundation, Veliyanad, Kerala. from 10th June 2015 – 28th May 2016 Adi Shankaracharya Swami Sivananda Swami Tapovanji Swami Chinmayananda SERVE LOVE GIVE PURIFY MEDITATE REALISE Copyright & Author’s Details Author: Swami Gurubhaktananda, born 1954 as Bipin R. Kapitan, Durban, South Africa. Email: [email protected] © 2020 All Rights Reserved. Copyright held by Swami Gurubhaktananda. About This Edition: Web Edition: 10th Dec 2020 – Mahasamadhi of Swami Sahajananda, DLS SA. Website: Hosted by Chinmaya Int’nl Foundation: www.chinfo.org Series Title: “Modern-day Reflections” Series Subject: Vedanta Philosophy. Declaration by the Author: The material in this series is under inspiration of the Home Study Course of Chinmaya International Foundation, Kerala, and consists of the Author’s reflections on the Course. He is deeply indebted to the Chinmaya Mission for its excellent programme of the Home Study Course taught to many students all over the world through online Webinar lectures. Personal Dedication 1. To my Parents, Smt Sharadaben & Sri Ratilalbhai Kapitan who inspired me to study in life, to stick to the path of Dharma and pursue the highest ideals; and swamped me with their abundant Love; 2. To Pujya Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj the Late Ex-President of the Divine Life Society of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, who constantly encouraged and supported this effort; 3. To Pujya Sri Swami Tejomayanandaji (Guruji) for his boundless vision and inspiration to create a vibrant organisation; 4. To Sri Swami Advayanandaji my Acharyaji at Sandeepany 2011-2013, who imparted his bountiful knowledge and wisdom with rare selfless Divine Love, as the Rishis of yore would wish to see. Where required, Acharyaji is referred to as “Swamiji” in the book. ***** JIVANMUKTI VIVEKA Part 1: PRAMANA PRAKARANA “The Evidence of Liberation” JIVANMUKTI VIVEKA Part 1: Pramana Prakarana “The Evidence of Liberation” CONTENTS AN INTRODUCTORY OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK 07 THE TEXTBOOK FOR THIS STUDY 11 PART 1A: PADYA – THE CLASSIFICATION OF SANNYASA 12 (Covering the 13 metrical verses in Book pgs. 1-4) * Verse 1: The Mangalacharan or “Invocation” 12 Diagram: Varieties of Renunciation 15 Verse 2: The Subject Matter of “Jivanmukti Viveka” 16 Diagram: The Bhumika & Desire Scale 18 Verse 3: The Cause of Renunciation is Dispassion 19 V 4 & 5: The Four Types of Sannyasis 19 THE THREE DEGREES OF DISPASSION Verse 6: 1. Description of “Weak”, Temporary Dispassion 22 Verse 7: 2. Description of “Strong” Dispassion 23 Verse 8: 3. Description of “Stronger” Dispassion 24 MATCHING RENUNCIATION TO DISPASSION Verse 9: Two Types of Renunciates of the “Strong” 25 Verse 10: Two Types of Renunciates of the “Stronger” 26 THE TOPIC FOR THIS TEXT Verse 11: Focus is on the Paramahamsa Sannyasin 27 Verse 12: Two Types of Paramahamsa Sannyasins 28 Verse 13: The Principal Citation from Brihadaranyaka Up. 29 PART 1B: GADYA – PROSE DISCUSSIONS & CITATIONS 32 CHAPTER 1 VIVIDISHA SANNYASA (Book pgs. 4-8) * 32 1: The Two Lokas (Goals) Section 1.1: Many Goals, Many Lokas 32 Section 1.2: Anatma Lokas 33 Section 1.3: Atma Loka 33 Section 1.4: More Evidence for “Atmaloka” 34 1 Section 1.5.1: The Place of Study & Worship 34 Section 1.5.2: Conclusion on the Principle Citation 35 Section 1.5.3: Proof Using the Yogee Meaning of “Loka” 36 Section 1.5.4: Naradji’s Quotation 36 2: Vividisha Sannyasa Section 1.6.1: Definition of Vividisha Sannyas 37 Section 1.6.2: Type 1 Vividisha: Renunciation Alone 43 Section 1.6.3: The Right of Women to Renunciation 44 Section 1.6.4: The Renunciation of Maitreyi 45 Section 1.6.5: The Flexibility of the Hindu Tradition 46 Section 1.6.6: Type 2 Vividisha: Formal Sannyasa Vows 47 Section 1.7: The Concluding Statement on Vividisha Sannyasa 47 CHAPTER 2 VIDVAT SANNYASA (Book pgs. 8-20) 48 Section 2.1: Introducing Vidvat Sannyasa 48 Section 2.2: The Definition of Vidvat Sannyasa 48 1: Maitreyi Brahmana Section 2.3.1: The Example of Sage Yajnavalkya 49 Section 2.3.2: Maitreyi & Yajnavalkya Make a Divine Pact 50 2: Kahola Brahmana Section 2.4.1: Brahmanas taking up Renunciation 51 Section 2.4.2: ‘Brahmana’: Who it Does Not Refer to 52 Section 2.4.3: ‘Brahmana’: Who it Does Refer to 53 Section 2.5: “Brahmana” - Vividisha or Vidvat Sannyasi 53 3: Shareera Brahmana Section 2.6: The Two Sannyasis Distinguished 55 Section 2.7: The Need to Reduce External Activities 55 Section 2.8: Objection: Sagehood Glorified 56 Section 2.9: Knowledge vs. Sagehood 58 Section 2.10: Sagehood – the Maturing of Knowledge 58 Section 2.11: The Difference in the Sadhanas 59 Section 2.12: The Fourfold Classification of Sannyasa 59 Section 2.13: The Vidvat Sannyasin 61 4: The Insignia of Sannyasa Section 2.14.1: Signs in Categories Other than Vidvat Sannyasa 61 Section 2.14.2: Signs in Vidvat Sannyasa 62 Section 2.15.1: The Sub-Divisions of Paramahamsas 63 Section 2.15.2: Citation on Vividisha Sannyasa 64 Section 2.16.1: Citation on Vidvat Sannyasa 65 Section 2.16.2: Vidvat Sannyasa – the Climax of Experience 66 2 Section 2.17.1: Citation from Brihaspati Smriti 68 Section 2.17.2: Citation from Mahabharata (Itihasa) 69 Section 2.17.3: Citation from Narada Parivrajaka Upanishad 69 Section 2.18: Root of Intense Desire for Knowledge 70 Section 2.19: The Scope & Power of Self-Knowledge 71 Section 2.20.1: The “Knot” Rent Asunder 73 Section 2.20.2: The “Doubts” are Destroyed 73 Section 2.20.3: The “Karmas” are Annihilated 74 Section 2.21: “Non-Doership” – the Escape Route 74 Section 2.22.1: Acting Without “Doership” 75 Section 2.22.2: The Purpose of Vidvat Sannyasa 76 Section 2.22.3: The Vedantin’s Reply 77 Section 2.23: End of Section 77 CHAPTER 3 SELF-EFFORT & JIVANMUKTI (Book pgs. 20-32) 78 Section 3.1: Fundamental Questions on Jivanmukti 78 Section 3.2: The Origin of Bondage & Liberation 78 Section 3.3: Where Do the Defects Reside? 80 Section 3.4: Neutralisation of the Defects 80 Section 3.5: The Obstruction Presented by Prarabdha 81 Section 3.6: Jivanmukti as the Fruit of One’s Prarabdha 82 Section 3.7: Prarabdha Needs External Assistance 83 Section 3.8: Self-Effort vs. the Force of Prarabdha 83 Section 3.9: Prarabdha vs. an “Even Stronger” Force 85 Diagram: The “Three Forces” 86 Section 3.10: Consequences of Rejecting Scriptural Means 87 Section 3.11: Supposing Scriptural Means Fail? 88 Section 3.12: Dialogue – Sage Vasishtha & Sri Rama 89 Section 3.13: The Value of Human Self-Effort 89 Section 3.14: The Two Kinds of Effort 90 Section 3.15: Advantage of an Early Training 91 Section 3.16: Sri Rama – Helpless in the Net of Vasanas 91 Section 3.17: Vasanas – Removable Only by Self-Effort 93 Section 3.18: The Three Options for “Treating” Vasanas 93 Section 3.19: Option 2A: Dealing with Good Vasanas 94 Section 3.20: Option 2B: Dealing with Evil Vasanas 95 Section 3.21: Option 1: Dealing with Both Good & Evil Vasanas 95 Section 3.22: Magnifying the Power of Self-Effort 96 Section 3.23: The Mind as a Child under Training 97 Section 3.24: Two Ways of Training – Gentle & Forceful 98 3 Section 3.25: Do Not Doubt the Results 99 Section 3.26: Sadhana Should Continue after Results 100 Section 3.27: How Long Should One Practice? 101 Section 3.28: How to Recognise the Condition? 101 Section 3.29: When ‘Dirt’ Departs, Jivanmukti Arrives 102 Section 3.30: End of the Chapter 103 CHAPTER 4 JIVANMUKTI & VIDEHAMUKTI (Book pgs.