In The Life Divine, we find that, on almost every page, Sri Aurobindo proves, through his various statements and from every angle, how Shankara’s Mayavada Theory cannot hold ground. It would rather seem to us that Sri Aurobindo’s proving his point on Mayavada is repetitive. One of our fellow aspirants remarked to me that Sri Aurobindo is relatively mild in his condemnation of other Schools, such as Vishistadwaita & Dwaita. But he is severe on Shankara, on the other hand. May it be because Mayawada had obsessed the Indian spiritual psyche for nearly 2000 years that to dislodge it from its moorings requires repetitive smiting?
My friend, who was an Adwaitin (Mayavadic) but turned to Sri Aurobindo for many years, feels that our master can take a little more kindly disposition towards Shankarites! Any consolatory message for Mayavadins?
Yes. That is quite a pertinent observation. But first we must understand that his remarks are not about Shankara and Buddha as a person, – he holds the former as the greatest intellectual mind and the latter as someone with a tremendous vital influence. His observations are not personal nor against these great luminaries whom he regards elsewhere as among the greatest. He refutes only the main principle of their doctrines as it is generally understood, as it has a very strong other-worldly world-negating influence upon the Indian psyche. Of course, it is based on his own experiences. His main goal in these refutations is to free the Indian psyche from the spell of Mayavada and its consequent fatal results. He is, in a way, reinstalling Sri Krishna and his ideals in the heart of India, as that alone can make India progress towards the future.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
