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From: Venkat Nagarajan (NAGARAVE_at_fin.gov.on.ca)
Date: Thu Jan 13 2000 - 08:21:24 PST
Dear Bhagavatas, Vedanta, which is a holistic, systematic, and rational exposition on the nature of reality, is highly idealistic. Both the description of the ultimate reality and means to realising it are idealistic. Vedantins in the past were the quintessential profound idealists (the most profound being Sri. Vedanta Desika.) Even till about 30 years ago there were a few idealists living in the dharambhumi (our great nation.) Nowadays the people of our nation, whether they reside in the dharmabhumi or elsewhere, have lost their ideals. That is, If one envisions an ordered array of classifications going from quintessential profound idealist to quintessential pedestrian dilettante (one who knows a little about many things but nothing of substance about anything), in my opinion the vast majority of those (including me) who claim to have some link with vedanta are closer to or converging towards the classification of quintessential pedestrian dilettante. I for one am very sad to see this happening. How do others feel? Is there is any remedy? (The 2nd question is directed at those who have a similar view; those who do not have a similar view please ignore this question.) ramanuja dasan, venkat