ISAVASYA UPANISHAD : - Mantram -2.

ISAVASYA UPANISHAD :

or  


VAJASANEYI    SAMHITA    UPANISHAD 


Mantram-2.


Discussion-4. "Way of Renunciation" ... in  the  previous  mantram ..


In  the  previous  mantram,  the  "Way  of  Renunciation"  was  perhaps,  too  much  emphasised.

The  student  wants  to  know  if  we  are  to  renounce  'everything',  including  the  desire  to  live  a  long  life  of  useful  pursuits.

Or  is  it  that  we  must  renounce  everything  of  the  world  and  must  totally  disregard  wealth ?***


***For  the  Upanishad  says  :  "Not  by  karma,    not  by  progeny,   not  by  wealth,  is  Immortality  reached.

The  only  way  to  its  attainment  is  by  renunciation  alone    ......
" Mundaka  Upanishad,  3.2.60.


'Tyaga'  can  thus  be  either  of  the  world  of  objects,  or  of  the  motive  of  selfish  aggrandisement  and  satisfaction,  or  of  both.



Thus,  an  explanation  is  urgent  and  imperative.

Therefore,  the  teacher  elucidates  his  own  ideal  in  this  mantram.

In  case  you  are  not  able  live   the  life  of  God-Vision  achieved  through  renunciation,  then  do  certainly  "desire  to  live  a  full  hundred  years  of  productive  selfless  work"  (  first  line  of  the  mantram )


The  Master  says  :  "Performing,  verily,  work  alone  in  this  world,  should  one  wish  to  live  a  hundred  years" .

In  the  earlier  mantram,  we  were  told  that  the  "Path of  Dhyana"  can  be  pursued  efficiently  only  by  those  who  have  no  more  desires  for  wealth,  progeny  or  glory.

But  the  Rishi  at  once  realises  that  all  the  members  of  a  generation  cannot  and  will  not  maintain  this  ideal  attitude  of  discrimination  and  detachment.

The  majority  should  necessarily  be  a  type  of  people  who  will  have  intense  and  strong  desires  and,  consequently,  they  will  not  have  necessary  mental  and  the  intellectual  poise  for  an  easy  and  graceful  flight   to  the  beyond.

To  them,  the aeaternal  Preacher  prescribes  an  efficient  code  of  activity.

The  expression,  "performing,  verily,  work     'alone' is  indeed  very  powerful.

It  amounts  to  saying  that  having  been  born  as  a  man,  there  is  no  other  go  but  to  work.

Next  : Discussion-5. "Alone  ( eva),  ( kurvam  eve ),  ( karmani  eva), ........

To be continued  ...