~ ~ ~  

Although Eric's take is interesting, IMO, it's based on
a lot of misperception and misconstruction.  His idea seems
to be that the teachings of advaita lead to escapism,
that they are premised on a belief, and that they are
a religion just like any other religion.

I understand his slant, but what he says isn't accurate.
First of all, in India, everything is considered to
be sacred.  A famous quote from Swami Dayananda, "Some
religions say there is only one God.  We say, 'There
is only God.'"

IOW everything which is seen and perceived is a manifestation
of that One.  There is nothing mundane.  Every single solitary
teeny tiny piece of the manifestation is sacred and should
be treated with respect.

Also, the teachings don't say the 'world is unreal,' as say,
the horn of a rabbit is unreal, i.e. it doesn't exist.  What
the teachings say is the world is neither ultimately real,
nor is it ultimately unreal.  Its reality lies somewhere
in between.

What is it?  I've sometimes heard Swami Dayananda say,
"It's magic!"  And it is.  How can something so complex,
so varied, and so ordered come from just one thing?  It
is a kind of magic; and it is also a manifestation of
an infinite intelligence which can be observed to be
woven through and through everything that is seen
and perceived.  Magic!  Infinite, ordered, intelligently
put together magic!

Then, to address something else Eric refers to.  I would
not say that the ancient teachings of advaita encourage
one not to take part in the world, not to try and make
things better.  Look at the Bhagavad Gita for example.
That is a whole teaching of how to realize the truth of
advaita while living in the world and taking action.

So, although I understand what Eric is saying, I don't
think he has looked very deeply into these matters.

Ancient teachings of advaita encourage a person to do
one's 'dharma.'  What is one's dharma?  It varies from
person to person.  But certainly trying to address the
problems of the world which Eric mentions can be part of
a person's dharma.

And doing one's dharma does not preclude understanding
that the ultimate nature of reality is nondual.  Doing
one's dharma can actually help a person to recognize
that.  And if one has recognized that the ultimate nature
of reality is nondual, one actually is in a much better
position to deal with whatever comes up in one's life,
be it personal, or geopolitical.

So I wouldn't say that the teachings of advaita are escapist,
nor do they lead to a type of disrespect for the creation.
Quite the opposite in fact.

Durga

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Finding out what is real is essential to see through this comparison of the different viewpoints--all the many varying concepts and beliefs --the comparison of one to another as either good and bad.  Asking 'WHO sees ALL of the viewpoints' is key.  We could argue one against the other indefinitely but who sees ALL of them ?? What has to be there first for any of them to be even seen??  THAT is what advaita points to--certainly not the negation of suffering (or the Real) as was mentioned--a kind of la-la keep your head in the sand viewpoint--Suffering can only happen with the belief of a separate someone who suffers. Seeing (by simply looking closely) that there is no one, changes everything.  Pain is seen, joy is seen but there is NO owner therof--
The self-righteousness about the superiority of one viewpoint over another ceases-ALL appear in THAT and As THAT.  

Melinda