[Advaita-l] [advaitin] T&D – Avidyā

[Sudhanshu Shekhar]

Namaste Michael ji.

>
However, this move is purely stipulative and depends entirely on a prior
> reification of avidyā.


It just shows that there is no logical inaccuracy in postulating
bhAva-abhAva-vilakshaNa entity.

The need for a “third ontological category” arises
> only if avidyā is first treated as a positive explanatory entity requiring
> metaphysical classification.


It is not a third ontological category. This is the point which has been
mentioned umpteen times. Ontologically, the bhAva-abhAva-vilakshaNa avidyA
is non-existent. Period.

Non-existence does not and cannot prohibit appearance. There are umpteen
examples in daily life viz. Illusory snake.


Once that assumption is questioned—as in
> Śaṅkara’s strictly epistemic treatment of ignorance as mere
> non-apprehension or error—the dilemma itself dissolves.


"Epistemic", "error" need to be rigorously defined for any meaningful
discussion.

Epistemic and error require a mind upfront. So, is the opponent saying that
ignorance pre-requires mind?

If so, then entire VedAnta stands refuted because mind being nAma-rUpa, is
a product of ignorance.

Ignorance is not a
> candidate for ontological taxonomy at all, and thus need not be located
> within or outside the bhāva/abhāva schema.
>

Why not? Illusory snake and horns of hare are both non-existent. Yet, one
appears and the other doesn't. So, a distinction is required to be made for
clear communication.

Accordingly, the appeal to “paraspara-viraha-vyāpya” does not solve an
> independent problem; it merely accommodates a problem generated by the
> prior hypostatization of avidyā.
>

It merely refutes the objection of the opponent who claims that it is not
possible to have bhAva-abhAva-vilakshaNA avidyA.

Regards,
Sudhanshu Shekhar.