Sri Syadasti Syadavaktavya Syadasti Syannasti Syadasti Cavaktavyasca Syadasti Syannasti Syadavatavyasca Syadasti Syannasti Syadavaktavyasca, commonly called just Sri Syadasti, is a Discordian Saint and Apostle.
Background[]
His name is Sanskrit, and means: "All affirmations are true in some sense, false in some sense, meaningless in some sense, true and false in some sense, true and meaningless in some sense, false and meaningless in some sense, and true and false and meaningless in some sense."
In logical terms, it is a pentalemma (not a heptalemma because the Law of Fives is applicable), an affirmation similar to the tetralemma, which is a rhetorical tool used by Buddhist sages. Verse 18.8 in Nāgārjuna's Mūlamadhyamaka-kārikā.[1], for instance, reads as follows:
Everything is real, not real,
Both real and not real,
Neither real nor not real.
This is the Buddhas’ progressive teaching (anuśāsana).
In Dо̄gen's Uji, Master Daji is quoted as relating a version of it to one of his students who is illuminated upon hearing it:
Great Master Hongdao of Mt. Yao [Yaoshan], instructed by Shitou, Great Master Wuji, once went to study with Zen Master Daji of Jiangxi. Yaoshan asked, "I am familiar with the teaching of the Three Vehicles and twelve divisions. But what is the meaning of Bodhidharma coming from the west?" Zen Master Daji replied:
For the time being have him raise his eyebrows and wink.
For the time being do not have him raise his eyebrows and wink.
For the time being to have him raise his eyebrows and wink is right.
For the time being to have him raise his eyebrows and wink is not right.
(Note that 'for the time being' is a bad translation of Uji (有時), the ontological complexity of which is the core subject of the text. It means the duality of time and being or existence which are interdependent. Time and existence cause each other. Dо̄gen uses Kanji for this sense of the expression and Hiragana when it is used to mean 'sometimes', the usual meaning.)
He is an Indian Pundit and Prince, born of the Peyotl Tribe, son of Gentle Chief Sun Flower Seed and the squaw Merry Jane. Patron to psychedelic type Discordians. Patron of the Season of Confusion.
One must take careful note that each proper noun in this lineage is also an epithet or a direct reference to a plant.
NOTE: Sri Syadasti should not be confused with Blessed St. Gulik the Stoned, who is not the same person but is the same Apostle.
Holyday[]
Holyday: Syaday.
One-trick pony?[]
PS - Sri Syadasti (etc.) has been criticised as being somewhat of a one-trick pony, since his main recorded teaching is really just his name. Arguments have been made that Sri Syadasti's parents are really the ones who should be considered as the third Apostle (or, since really only one of them could hold the position, they should be allowed to wrestle or ro-sham-bo for it).
Talk like this is nothing less than idle sniping. The wisdom contained in Sri Syadasti's name is substantial. Read his name (in English, if the Sanskrit is a problem), really think about it, and then take a look at "simple" statements like "I am pro-choice" and "I believe in God(dess)" You'll see how disabling the notion is to many of our logical constructs.
Besides this, however, Sri Syadasti is the inventor of the famous Shaggy Dog Joke, which he once used (a la Diarmuid's Last Jest) to (at first) enthrall (and then later) impose catatonia upon a group of captors to enable his escape. Be warned, however, that the joke is only to be used for Good, and not for Evil.
It is worth bearing in mind the following words which were spake unto Mal-2 and Lord Omar, whilst meditating
Tell constricted mankind that there are no rules, unless they choose to invent rules. Keep close the words of Syadasti: 'TIS AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NO MINDS. And remember that there is no tyranny in the State of Confusion. For further information, consult your pineal gland.
Jainism[]
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