Vedanta - Discussion Forum I (introductory))

[gangajal]

<!--QuoteBegin-Sunder+Jan 26 2005, 11:25 AM-->QUOTE(Sunder @ Jan 26 2005, 11:25 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> Is this three gunas in Maya (Prakrithi) or in Brahman?
Thus Saguna is Brahman when He identifies Himself with the Gunas, and is by His own nature a Nirguni. Hence Advaita maintains the reflection concept. Brahman when reflected on Maya (Shuddha Sattva) is Ishvara or Narayana, and the very same Brahman, when reflected on Avidya (Ashuddha Sattva) is Jeeva. (Ishvara controls Maya, whlie Jeeva is in control of Avidya.)
Thus, whenever you mention Saguna, it is the reflection of NIRGUNA which associates itself with Gunas. It does not HAVE the Gunas. A guna cannot be HAD and DROPPED voluntariliy.


"What color is the sky ?", asked the teacher.
A tiny hand shot up. "Blue", said the boy.
"No," said the little girl, "the sky is really black. We see it as blue."
The teacher smiled and gave each a candy.
She then looked up at the sky, which was a vast expanse of Space. It was neither black, nor blue, not had any colors it could call its own. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sundar ji,

1. You have asked a significant question about where the Gunas are, in Maya or Brahman? Let me ask you a question about this. If Brahman is ALL, as you admit, then can there be a separate Maya or Prakriti for Gunas to reside in? You have given the Panchadasi's defintion of Ishwar and Jiva. The only point is whether Gunas are outside or inside Brahman. If they are outside then you are saying that Brahman is NOT all.

2. I would say that the boy, the girl and the teacher are all right from different points of view.