Question: I am living abroad. I am much interested in Advaitic philosophy and currently reading works of Vivekananda. I was blessed to have some good people around me to give guidance in this journey (Though the Law of the Land where I live does not allow any public religious activities). Also lucky to receive some great books from Ramakrishna Math. I wish to write many things to you and sure this will give me a good start. Currently I request you to help me on the following two items.
1. Though I read a lot books on Advaita especially from the works of Adi Sankara and Vivekananda, I find it very difficult to meditate. I tried with the audio cassettes from Ramakrishna Mission. The mind starts wavering and all other thoughts come to my mind. I do chant Vishnu Sahasranamam early morning almost every day, and a lot of other Slokas (Panchaksharms, Bhajagovindam, etc. taken from Sri Sankara’s collection) during the evening prayer. Since I am more interested in Advaitic philosophy where the Truth is above names and forms, do these chanting retard me in the Advaitic path?
2. This item is really disturbing me for the last few days and tried find an answer from many, but no clear answers. I am sure you will be able to help me in this.
This happened when I was talking to my friend who is a pure Krishna Bakta (a devotee of Lord Krishna), about my Advaitic views. I told him that I am Krishna / Vishnu Bakta but I wish to come out of the names and forms especially with the help of Adi Sankara’s teachings. His view / argument was that, there is nothing beyond Krishna and it is not possible to get rid of the forms and names, the highest is to surrender to him (Lord Krishna). Other than Krishna all others are demigods then he quoted a verse from Adi Sankara’s teaching itself as follows:
Sripad Sankaracharya writes the follwing in his Gita-Mahatmya (glorification of the Bhagavad Gita):
“Ekam sastram devaki-putra-gitam
Eko devo Devaki-putra eva
Eko Mantras tasya namani yani
Karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva.”
“Let the world have one scripture: The Bhagavad-Gita. Let there one God be worshipped: Sri Krishna. Let there be one Mantra chanted: His holy names; and let there be only one activity: the devotional service of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna.”
After reading this I am a little disturbed and confused, whether I am in the right path or not, because the above words are from Sankaracharya himself who talk about highest Advaitism. In Gita Bhagavan says that, “Those who worship demigods will reach them (demigods), but Mukthi is not possible till you reach me”. Here when he said pray me is that me stands for the Devaki-putra or the supreme Consciousness?