Re: "MunnOr mozhindha murai thappAmal kEttu"

From the Bhakti List Archives

• July 15, 1998


                 Srimathe Narayanaya Namaha
     Sri Rukmini sametha Sri Venkatakrishna swaminE namaha
                 Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

     I agree in totality with what Sri. M.K.Krishnaswamy writes, however,
     in the 3rd line of the verse Sri ManavALa mAmunigaL says "tham nenjil
     thOtrinadhE solli, idhu suddha upadhEsa varavAtradhenbar -
     moorkarAvAr". The person, who boasts or for that sake even preaches
     whatever he feels correct without an analysis, at his own will is an
     unworthy fellow.

     So, the emphasis here is,that, one should not start preaching on his
     own without any proper understanding or any basis. The only way of
     properly understanding any subject is thro' questioning and debate.

     Hence there was no restriction on questioning any thing. We are allowed to
     venture into Scholary debates and arguments before we understand with
     thorough knowledge, what our AzhwArs and AchAryAs have said.

     Now with the above, let us go back to the discussion on " Instructions to
     the neophyte", from where I believe this topic of discussion has emerged.

     I had quoted the verse " MunnOr mozhindha" for this discussion, only to
     highlight the above point. The situation there was, while one accepts that
     he has to listen to what the AchAryAs said, but the mind wanders and
     speculates on its own. This problem is due to the unstability of the mind
     and to overcome this let us do the debate and arguments to clarify
     ourselves.

     With whom one can do the debates and arguments to attain the required
     knowledge ? That is the AchAryan, who has a good G~nanam and performs all
     his AnushtAnams in a right way (recollect the verse "GnAnam AnuttAnam
     ivai")

     Once we indulge in the debates and arguments with a Guru who fits the
     description as above, we can have clear knowledge and the problem of the
     mind wandering and speculation can be overcome.

     This is the abiprAyam of this siriyavan. Please do correct me if I am
     wrong.

     adiyEn RAmAnuja dAsan