Re: Question: scriptural basis for dharma-bhUta-jnAna
From the Bhakti List Archives
• April 2, 2002
Martin Gansten writes: > The attributive function of consciousness is also a reasonable conclusion > based on scriptural passages denoting the self as conscious, or a 'knower' > (j~na, j~naat.r), such as Prashna Up. 4.9, or Brahmasutra 2.3.18. Dear Martin, Ramkumar and others: Sorry for the late reply, but there is another vAkya from the Upanishads that lend credence to the theory of dharma- bhUta-jnAna. I cite here Dr. S.M. Srinivasa Chari's book on the Upanishads: The knowledge of the jiva according to Upanisadic teaching is an essential attribute of the jiva. The Brhadaranyaka in a significant statement mentions that the knowledge of the jivatman is imperishable: na hi vijnatah vijnatuh viparilopo vidyate (Br Up 4.3.30) Though this text is interpreted differently by both Samkara and Madhva, the fact that the Upanisad mentions the two terms vijnata (vijnatah) and vijnati (vijnateh) in the same statement denotes two separate ideas viz., the first one applicable to the jivatman which is the knower or vijnata and the second to its knowledge or vijnati. Another vAkya that hints at this theory is Svetasvatara Upanishad 5.9, where the jiva is declared to be a finite, atomic entity, a "part of the hundredth part of the point of a hair divided a hundredfold". Yet, this finite jiva can "attain infinity", meaning it can comprehend infinity: vAlAgra SatabhAgasya SatadhA kalpitasya ca | bhAgo jIvaH sa vijneyaH sa ca anantyAya kalpate || If the jIva did not "possess knowledge", which is what dharma-bhUta-jnAna means, how could it comprehend infinity? It is well-established that the jIva is atomic in essence, and that its knowledge is subject to variation. For it to be atomic as well as attain infinity, it must possess knowledge that is functionally different from this, that can expand to infinity. This is the 'dharma-bhUta-jnAna', as opposed to the 'svarUpa-bhUta-jnAna' which is the essential nature of the jIva. I don't know if Sri Ramanuja actually employs these vAkyas in elucidating these ideas; but they do support his central thesis. aDiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan, Mani -------------------------------------------------------------- - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH - To Post a message, send it to: bhakti-list@yahoogroups.com Group Home: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bhakti-list Archives: http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/ Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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