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What is the ultimate authority in spirituality? - dattaswami - 09-22-2006
<b> What is the ultimate authority in spirituality?</b>
The Veda is the only authority in spirituality. It is the Word of the Lord in verse form. It was transmitted from generation to generation by the highly sophisticated tradition of oral recitation, which ensured preservation of the original verses without any corruption.
The great sage Vyāsa says in the third Brahma sūtra “Śāstra yonitvāt”. Śāstra means Veda, which is the Word of the Ruler (śāsaka). The Bhagavad Gītā also says that the Śāstra is the authority. The Bhagavad Gītā was given by Lord Kṛṣṇa who is God Himself. It is said that the Bhagavad Gītā is the essence of the Veda. One needs to carefully understand the meaning of this. Sugarcane juice is in the sugarcane but the sugarcane is not in the sugarcane juice. The sugarcane has more in it than merely juice. Thus when we say that the Bhagavad Gītā is the essence of the Vedas, it means that the meaning of the verses in the Bhagavad Gītā must be found in the Veda. However the entire Veda may not be found in the Bhagavad Gītā. The Bhagavad Gītā is thus a subset of the Vedas.
Therefore if the meaning of a verse in the Bhagavad Gītā is not traceable to the Veda then it is safe to assume that that verse is not part of the original text and that Lord Kṛṣṇa never spoke this verse. Such a verse must have been added later on. Thus even in comparison with the Bhagavad Gītā, the Veda alone stands as the authority. Any Saṁskṛtam verse from any book written by any sage or saint, (Smṛti) should not oppose the Veda. That which is not told in the Veda, cannot be accepted even if the Smṛti (Śruti smṛthi virodhetu) presents it. The statements and logic of the Smṛtis can be accepted only as long as it does not contradict the Veda. This has been clearly told by Śaṅkara (Śruti mataḥ tarkaḥ).
The logic behind accepting only statements which agree with the Veda is similar to the logic by which only the statement of a sane man is accepted and not that of a foolish man. The criteria of sanity or rationality that we impose in evaluating the veracity of a statement or experience of any person in day-to-day life is comparable to the criteria of agreement with the Veda of any spiritual work, experience or logic.
The Veda can be compared to the constitution of a nation. A law-maker or a lawyer in the court has to ensure that each law made and enforced is in keeping with the constitution. Any law that directly opposes the constitution cannot be accepted at any cost. In a court of law, only two lawyers are allowed to argue in the court. A lay man should employ an advocate on his behalf in the court as he is not competent enough to argue his own case. Similarly only two scholars of Vedas can argue on a concept relating to the Veda. A lay man or a person with little knowledge should not argue with a Vedic scholar (vivādaśca samayoḥ). A lay man can be easily taught. A Vedic scholar can also be easily taught. However when it comes a person with partial knowledge, even Lord Brahma cannot convince him (brahmāpi na rañjayati)
At the Lotus Feet of His Holiness Sri Dattaswami
Anil Antony
www.universal-spirituality.org
Universal Spirituality for World Peace
antonyanil@universal-spirituality.org
What is the ultimate authority in spirituality? - Yusef_aka_Joseph - 09-22-2006
Wow, dattaswami
That is a very good point in which you brought up, and I am impressed with your new layout in referencing your sources!!
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Therefore if the meaning of a verse in the Bhagavad Gītā is not traceable to the Veda then it is safe to assume that that verse is not part of the original text and that Lord Kṛṣṇa never spoke this verse. Such a verse must have been added later on. Thus even in comparison with the Bhagavad Gītā, the Veda alone stands as the authority. Any Saṁskṛtam verse from any book written by any sage or saint, (Smṛti) should not oppose the Veda. That which is not told in the Veda, cannot be accepted even if the Smṛti (Śruti smṛthi virodhetu) presents it. The statements and logic of the Smṛtis can be accepted only as long as it does not contradict the Veda. This has been clearly told by Śaṅkara (Śruti mataḥ tarkaḥ).
The logic behind accepting only statements which agree with the Veda is similar to the logic by which only the statement of a sane man is accepted and not that of a foolish man. The criteria of sanity or rationality that we impose in evaluating the veracity of a statement or experience of any person in day-to-day life is comparable to the criteria of agreement with the Veda of any spiritual work, experience or logic.
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Although we are of different faiths, Truth it seems, is the only common ground in which all of us can stand!
Well done!
Salam
What is the ultimate authority in spirituality? - dattaswami - 09-22-2006
Quote:Wow, dattaswami
That is a very good point in which you brought up, and I am impressed with your new layout in referencing your sources!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Therefore if the meaning of a verse in the Bhagavad Gītā is not traceable to the Veda then it is safe to assume that that verse is not part of the original text and that Lord Kṛṣṇa never spoke this verse. Such a verse must have been added later on. Thus even in comparison with the Bhagavad Gītā, the Veda alone stands as the authority. Any Saṁskṛtam verse from any book written by any sage or saint, (Smṛti) should not oppose the Veda. That which is not told in the Veda, cannot be accepted even if the Smṛti (Śruti smṛthi virodhetu) presents it. The statements and logic of the Smṛtis can be accepted only as long as it does not contradict the Veda. This has been clearly told by Śaṅkara (Śruti mataḥ tarkaḥ).
The logic behind accepting only statements which agree with the Veda is similar to the logic by which only the statement of a sane man is accepted and not that of a foolish man. The criteria of sanity or rationality that we impose in evaluating the veracity of a statement or experience of any person in day-to-day life is comparable to the criteria of agreement with the Veda of any spiritual work, experience or logic.
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Although we are of different faiths, Truth it seems, is the only common ground in which all of us can stand!
Well done!
Salam
Thank you for the reply;
Only the true divine knoweldge from Lord in Human form can clear the all the doubts of human beings.
Divine knoweldge coming out of Lord in Human form is the basis of spirituality.