Back to the Truth: 5000 years of Advaita

488 Pages·2015·3.27 MB·English

by  Waite

Back to
THE
TRUTH
5000 Years of ADVAITA
Back to
THE
TRUTH
5000 Years of ADVAITA
DENNIS WAITE
Winchester, UK
Washington, USA
A wonderful book. Encyclopedic in nature, and destined to become a classic.
James Braha, author
It will surely prove to be a most helpful guide to the contemporary reader. Alan
Jacobs, President of the Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK, and author
This excellent and long awaited book is essential reading for anyone at all
interested in the subject. It is a clear and refreshing overview of the whole genre
that is Advaita - not just one aspect of it - offering the facts, from the historical
past right up until today, when nondualistic teachings abound but often
emphasise different aspects of the historical teachings. Roy Whenary, author
A beautiful, articulate and extensive, yet compact anthology of pointers
adverting to Truth. This compilation in itself is all that is needed for true
understanding. Justus Kramer Schippers, teacher and author
Well written and meticulously researched. It forms a valuable and much needed
basis for an in depth investigation into the ancient Advaita Vedanta teachings. It
is a major achievement and should appeal to a wide audience of serious seekers
and other students of life. Möller de la Rouvière, author
This is definitely one of the most complete and exhaustive books on advaita ever,
and yet remains eminently readable. It is the first book that I have seen that not
only deals with advaita but also expands upon the various different types and
styles of teachings including contemporary ones, analyses and compares them
and helps the seeker in selecting the one that matches his temperament the most.
A rare book, of great practical value to any sincere spiritual seeker, and a
“must”. Dr. Nitin Trasi, author
The text is lucid, the references relevant and wide ranging, and the overall effect
expansive and clarifying. This book is recommended to experienced Advaitins,
as well as to those whose initial interest has led to a desire for a comprehensive
review of the principles underlying this remarkable philosophy. John Lehmann,
Principal, School of Advaita, Philosophy Foundation, Waltham, Massachusetts,
USA
Dennis has poured his love of Truth and humanity into this precise and luminous
work. Highly recommended. Isaac Shapiro, teacher and author
I had that delicious feeling you get once in a while when you’re reading a book
where you know you’re a party to something truly profound… I have no doubt
that this book will become the standard reference work for the advaita
movement, both past and present.
Paula Marvelly, author
Brilliantly succeeds in challenging the validity of the beliefs we use to protect
our non-existent ego from total annihilation.
Chuck Hillig, author
A detailed, clear and balanced study of what this ancient wisdom means to us
modern seekers, particularly with respect to the differences between the
traditional school based on the scriptures and the more direct approach which
finds favour with many spiritual seekers today. The Mountain Path (Journal of
Sri Ramanasramam)
Excellent for “beginners” and newcomers to Advaita simply because he covers
all the bases with scrupulous honesty. But his writing is also excellent for long
time seekers and those who have already “gotten it,” Philip T. Mistlberger,
teacher and author
This is the most comprehensive, academic book on the so called “tradition” of
nonduality we have seen. Brian Lake and Naama Livni, teachers
A profoundly astute and masterful guide to the field of Self-discovery. An
authoritative scholar, Dennis writes with supreme clarity as he skillfully
expounds, logically analyzes and insightfully integrates the wisdom of classical
and contemporary teachers with the principles of Advaita. Katie Davis, teacher
and author
Dennis Waite is the West’s pre-eminent explicator of Advaita Vedanta. He
brings to light many of Advaita’s “hidden” teachings, which have never been
circulated outside of specialist schools. Fascinating! Dr. Gregory Goode, PhD
(Philosophy), Philosophical Counselor and nondual teacher.
Rigorous and exhaustive; a grand tour of the advaita world, both ancient and
neo. Robin Dale, author
Dennis Waite has rendered the complex concepts of Advaita in terms that can be
easily absorbed and appreciated by the western mind. The presentation is
logical and educational, simple yet profound.
Dr. Kuntimaddi Sadananda, disciple of Swami Chinmayananda and a principal
teacher at the Washington Chinmaya Mission.
A book that will be invaluable to the many students of Advaita, and more
importantly, to many of the teachers as well. Aja Thomas, director of the Atma
Institute in Oregon, teacher of Advaita and Sanskrit, author
This book is essential reading for all who are walking the path where every step
is destination. Karl Renz, teacher and author
Scholarly, accurate and precise, Dennis’ books are a tremendous contribution to
the field of Advaita,. David Carse, author
Dennis Waite explains Advaita with delight and rigor. Jerry Katz, author and
owner of NonDuality Salon (http://nonduality.com/)
A wonderful book – which truly provides everything that one wants to know
about the philosophy of nonduality. Ram Chandran, owner of the Advaitin
Egroup
FOREWORD
I
s it really possible to formulate into words something which is ultimately
indefinable, indescribable and utterly beyond all human comprehension? It is
an interesting dilemma. And yet, the teaching of Advaita (“not two”) is
essentially the philosophical framework that attempts to do just that – to make
some sort of sense of the mysterious universe in which we live.
Advaita is no New Age set of platitudes, however; it is the timeless and
eternal message that has been revealed to us ever since the beginning of recorded
history through scripture, poetry and the voices of the great philosophers and
mystics. And what is that message? It is the revelation that everything – you, me,
the world around us and beyond – is a manifestation of the Self, God, the All and
the One.
There has of late, somewhat ironically, been a great deal of confusion
regarding the interpretation of Advaita. Indeed, the spectrum of delineations is
becoming more and more dissipated, ranging from the purist theories of
Traditional Advaita right through to the more radical approach of Neo-Advaita,
with a number of other “schools” in between. Traditional Advaita essentially
takes its authority from the Upanishads, as well as the great Indian teacher
Shankara. It postulates that there is a “path” that we must follow, albeit an
apparent one, which helps us come to know the essence of our true selves, to
realize the Self within us. Practices are undertaken to aid this discovery, which
may include study of the scriptures, meditation, surrender and self enquiry.
Neo-Advaita (of which Tony Parsons is its greatest exponent) says there is
no path. You are already that which you seek. You are THAT.
So which is correct? The answer is it depends. Traditional Advaita is right in
that it addresses the seeker, still caught up in the illusion of his or her own ego.
Nevertheless, it can become bogged down with complicated Hindu theory,
enmeshed in an antiquated guru hierarchy. Neo-Advaita is right in that it
bypasses all of that by simply addressing the Self. However, no concession is
made for the seeker, staggering through phenomenality, still believing that he or
she is the doer.
A much more amenable approach, called the Direct Path, has been gaining
ground recently. Distilled by the great teachers Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta
and Atmananda Krishna Menon, it takes the recognition that we are already the
Self as its point of departure and yet suggests simple “techniques”, such as the
use of rigorous logic, to help deconstruct the ignorance that obscures our innate
divinity. In modern times, it finds expression through teachers such as Greg
Goode and Francis Lucille. For many, the Direct Path has also become the most
accessible means to self remembering and forms a midway balance between the
Traditional and Neo-Advaita extremes.
Dennis’s landmark book investigates all of these different approaches –
Traditional and Neo Advaita, the Direct Path, as well as other nuances of
interpretation – so that it is possible to dispel much of the current bewilderment
and finally get to grips with the true Advaita teaching once and for all. More
importantly, however, his extensive work addresses ideas that go far beyond
issues pertaining to which school is technically correct or not. Through
meticulous research of the world’s profoundest spiritual and philosophical texts,
as well as personal correspondence with many contemporary Advaita teachers,
Dennis has effectively compiled the source of reference in this field.
I have no doubt that “Back to the Truth” will become a classic of its kind.
Moreover, it is written by someone who makes no claims for himself by
proselytizing or promoting himself as to whether he is “self realized” or not.
What Dennis has done is to present, diligently and humbly, a model of the
ultimate reality based on ancient and contemporary teachings, tempered by
personal observation and authentic experience. After all the confusion and
competition between many of the teaching “camps” in recent years, his erudite
insight into the non-dual philosophy is a welcome and much needed relief. His
exemplary work will most certainly become the authoritative interpretation of
modern-day Advaita.
Paula Marvelly, March, 2006
PREFACE
T
he literal meaning of the word “religion” is “to bind back” (from the Latin
re-ligare); i.e. to return to the reality of our true nature. All religions have
the same objective and, though most will deny this, the same truth. Reality
itself cannot be spoken of, however (that would necessitate that we, doing the
speaking, would have to stand outside of reality), and herein lies the ultimate
problem and the root of all contention between the different teachings. The ways
in which this difficulty is tackled vary. For the majority of Christians, Muslims
and Hindus, the provisional and relative truth of a separate God (or Gods) is
accepted as final. Taoism makes the valid but unhelpful claim that ‘the Tao
which can be spoken of is not the true Tao’. Zen Buddhism utilizes the tool of
the koan to try to trick the mind into acknowledging the impossibility of thinking
about reality and thereby trigger an intuitive understanding but, again, this
approach is only suited for a very few.
Philosophy is the secular approach that uses reason and logic to look for
meaning in our lives and to explore the nature of reality. It does this without
reliance upon faith in something that initially lies outside of reason.
Nevertheless, the aim of both religion and philosophy is one, as Swami
Nikhilananda has pointed out: “The goal of philosophy may be Truth, and the
goal of religion, God; but in the final experience God and Truth are one and the
same Reality.” (Ref. 193)
Advaita is both a philosophy and a religion in the original meaning of the
word. It is one of the few teachings that provide what is effectively a graded
approach that is suitable for practically everyone, excluding only those who will
not listen. There is a path for those who wish to use only the clearest reasoning
to approach an understanding of the nature of reality and there is one for those
who merely want to surrender all of their day to day worries to a personal God.
Whatever the nature or circumstances of the individual, there is a strategy to suit.
This is achieved through the utilization of a number of models or metaphors
representing what might be regarded as “levels” of reality. The novice spiritual
aspirant is initially taught that the grossest level or approach represents the true
situation. As his understanding grows, however, this provisional story is shown
to be untrue and a new picture, which is more subtle, is given. Ultimately, each
new view of reality has to be rescinded since none could ever be true in any
objective sense but the giving up of the grosser standpoint entails the sublation
of false ideas and ignorance – and it is this very ignorance that is preventing the
intuitive realization of the truth.
This book will describe these various techniques and illustrate, using extracts
from the very best of traditional scriptures and the writings of modern teachers,
how they are used to take us to the brink of understanding. It can then be but a
short intuitive step to realization rather than the impossible leap across a gulf of
ignorance that may be left for seekers following other, less clear paths, where
dogma or lack of understanding may have obscured the route.
Advaita, being the non-dual reality, necessarily points to the essential truth in
all religions. Paula Marvelly points out that: “All religions and faiths contain an
esoteric heart, a mystical belief that I AM is in fact synonymous with God.”
(Ref. 353) As Gandhi said: “If the same divinity constitutes the core of all
individuals, they cannot but be equal. Further, divinity in one person cannot in
any way be unjust to the same divinity in another person.” (Ref. 215) Sayings
from the bible such as those of God to Moses (“I am that I am”) or of Christ
(“The kingdom of heaven is within you”) express the fundamental truth of
Advaita, the non-dual reality of Brahman.
Contrary to the claims of a recent television series, the Truth is not out there.
For those wishing to discover God, it is not a question of looking forever
outwards, making new discoveries about the universe or speculating about the
nature of heaven. It is rather a matter of turning back and looking within. As the
Kena Upanishad says (II.1.1): “Now and again a daring soul, desiring
immortality, has looked back and found himself.” (Ref. 74) It is an inward search
that is needed; a return to the background reality of our very existence back to
the Truth.