ae of Liberation : Not-Iwo is Not One Anantanand Rambachan A Hindu Theology of Liberation SUNY series in Religious Studies Harold Coward, editor A Hindu Theology of Liberation Not-Two Is Not One ANANTANAND RAMBACHAN Published by State University of New York Press, Albany © 2015 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY www.sunypress.edu Production, Diane Ganeles Marketing, Anne M. Valentine Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Rambachan, Anantanand, author. A Hindu theology of liberation : not-two is not one / Anantanand Rambachan. pages cm. — (SUNY series in religious studies) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4384-5455-9 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN 978-1-4384-5456-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN 978-1-4384-5457-3 (ebook) 1. Advaita. 2. Hinduism—Social aspects. 3. Liberation theology. I. Title. B132.A3R362 2015 294.5'17—dc23 2014007246 10987654321 For my beloved teacher Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati at whose feet I studied Advaita as a pramana for knowing myself Contents Abbreviations Xl Introduction What Is Advaita? R R Is Advaita a Theological Tradition? The Need for an Advaita Theology of Liberation N F Not-TIwo Is Not One O Structure of Text O C PART ONE Chapter 1: The Quest for Fullness 17 Human Problem as Suffering 17 The Universal Desire for Happiness 18 Suffering as Mortality Anxiety 19 Suffering and the Transient Nature of Experiences 21 Suffering as the Experience of Inadequacy 22 Inadequacy and the Multiplication of Desires 23 The Persistence of Inadequacy 25 Overcoming the Problem of Inadequacy: The Limits of Action 27 Despair as Opportunity 30 The Uncreated Infinite 31 The Human Problem as Ignorance (Avidy4) 33 Chapter 2: The Validity of Non-Duality 35 Vedas: The Source of Liberating Knowledge 35 The Threefold Criteria for Valid Knowledge 36 vill Contents The Subject Matter of the Vedas 37 The Action and Knowledge Sections of the Vedas 39 Relationship between the Means of Knowledge and Object 40 The Liberating Power of Words 43 The Value of a Teacher 46 The Necessity of Faith (Sraddha) 48 A Teaching Tradition 51 Chapter 3: The Full Self 53 The Method of Distinguishing Knower and Known 54 The Singularity of the Self 56 The Immortality of the Self 57 The Self as Free from the Limits of Time 58 The Unity of the Self 59 The Self as Free from Space Limits 60 The Relationship Between Cause and Effect 61 Overcoming the Brahman-World Dualism 65 The Purpose of Creation in Advaita 67 Chapter 4: The Liberated Life 71 Suffering and Ignorance 71 Knowledge and Liberation 72 The Meaning of Sarnsara 73 Ignorance and Its Consequences 74 Untying the Knots of the Heart (Ignorance-Greed- Greedful Actions) 76 The Social Implications of Liberation 79 Identity with All Beings as Love 79 Compassion 80 Generosity 81 Interdependent Existence 83 Control-Give-Have Compassion 86 Part Two Chapter 5: Liberation from Patriarchy 91 Paradoxical Attitudes toward Women 92 The Significance of Women in Relation to Men 96