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Re: Sankara

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Mani Varadarajan • July 7, 1999 


> Dear Bhagavatas,
> NamO nArAyaNA.
> 
> I would like to highlight and discuss the merits of the phrase
> "In the history of the evolution of ideas" used by Sri. Sudarshan in
> reference to Vedenta based philosophies. 
> 
> Please note the following:
> 
> 1.These philosophies represent mutually exclusive expositions on the
> nature of reality.  

Are you saying that that Visishtadvaita, Advaita, and Dvaita have not
mutually influenced one another? I don't think there can be any doubt
that Visishtadvaita has taken ideas from Advaita and vice versa.
In the old days, followers of these philosophies were not watertight 
"castes" like they are now.  People speculated, thought, and talked
amongst themselves.  While I agree that a theory that thought has
evolved along the lines of Advaita -> Visishtadvaita -> Dvaita (or
anything similar) can hardly be historically justified, one has
to admit that ideas have been shared between these traditions, and
are not entirely "mutually exclusive", despite the protests of the
"purists".

Mani