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Re: Basics of the three schools of Vedanta

From the Bhakti List Archives

mani2 • July 2, 2002 


--- In bhakti-list@y..., "tg_ramkumar"  wrote:
> Dear Mani
> 
> When you say, the Supreme Self "controls" the individual selves, do 
> you mean that the Supreme Self itself directly influences the 
> activities and thoughts of the individual selves or do you mean 
that 
> Supreme Self merely facilitates or enables but does not directly 
> choose individual selves' thoughts and activities?

This issue is discussed in Bhagavad Ramanuja's Vedarthasangraha
as well as in the 'parAyatta-adhikaraNa' of Sribhashya. The view
of Ramanuja is summarized by Vatsya Varadacharya as 'tatra-apekshya,
tataH anumatya'.  Broadly put, the Supreme Self, though no doubt
capable of totally being in control, is at first neutral (udAsIna)
regarding the activity at any particular instant of the individual
self.  He waits for the individual to choose a course of action,
as it were. Once the individual has decided on a particular course of
action, the Supreme Self "permits" (anumatya) the individual to
proceed and facilitates the course of action to continue.

This safeguards the freedom of the individual without violating
the ultimacy of the Supreme Self.

There are various complications and nuances that must be
explained when examining this doctrine in detail. The role
of karma, the nature of the Supreme's neutrality, etc., all
are interesting issues. Some of these are discussed in 
SrutaprakASikA, Desika's 'adhikaraNa sArAvali', and the
commentaries thereon. 

Mani


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