27th October, 1936

Talk 274.

The Muslim Professor asked how Vaishnavism can be reconciled to Advaitism.
M.: The Vaishnavites call themselves Visishtadvaitins. This is also Advaita ^[?]. Just as the individual body comprises the soul, the ego and the gross body, so also God comprises Paramatma, the world and the individuals.

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D.: Does not bhakti ^[?] imply duality?
M.: Swa swarupanusandhanam bhaktirityabhidheeyate (Reflection on one's own Self is called bhakti). Bhakti ^[?] and Self-Enquiry are one and the same. The Self of the Advaitins is the God of the bhaktas.

D.: Is there a spiritual hierarchy of all the original propounders of religions watching the spiritual welfare of the humans?

M.: Let them be or let them not be. It is only a surmise at the best. Atm a is pratyaksha ^[?] (self-evident). Know it and be done with speculation. One may admit such a hierarchy; another may not. But no one can gainsay the Atma.

D.: What does Sri Bhagavan think of Pravritti and nivritti margas?
M.: Yes. Both are mentioned. What of that?
D.: Which is the better of the two?
M.: If you see the Self - pure and simple - it is nivritti ^[?]; if you see the Self with the world, it is pravritti. In other words, inward- turned mind (antarmukhi manas ^[?]) is nivritti; outward-going mind (bahirmukhi manas) is pravritti. Anyway, there is nothing apart from the Self. Both are the same. Similarly also, with the spiritual hierarchy; they cannot exist apart from the Self. They are only in the Self and remain as the Self. Realisation of the Self is the one Goal of all.