MANDUKYA UPANISHAD with GAUDAPADA’S KARIKA : 10. - Swami Advayananda ji.

Chinmaya Mission :

Chinmaya Koolkids had an eventful February with two key activities that aimed to make a positive impact in the community. 

Firstly, the team came together to cook and serve meals for 90 individuals at the Laurelwood Transition Center. This facility is dedicated to providing transitional housing, education, and other support services to those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The team's efforts provided much-needed sustenance to those in need and served as a reminder that the community cares for their well-being.

Secondly, Chinmaya Koolkids partnered with Letters Against Isolation to create and deliver cards to senior centers. The cards were designed to spread positivity and offer words of encouragement to seniors who may be feeling isolated or lonely during the pandemic. The project aimed to help seniors feel connected to their community and remind them that they are not alone during these challenging times.

These two activities highlight the team's commitment to making a positive impact in the community by supporting those in need and spreading kindness and positivity wherever possible.

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Monday, March 20, 2023. 06:45.

MANDUKYA UPANISHAD 

With Part -1/4 of Goudapada's Karika

Agama Prakarana - "The Scriptural Treatise"

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THE “FOURTH” QUARTER – TURIYA

Upanishad Section 2 :  Mantras - 7.

Mantra - 7: The Fruit of the Process of “Negation”

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Mantram - 7: The Fruit of the Process of “Negation”

(with translation )

Negation Phase 1: The Experience – What it is Not (Athatvya Vritti Lakshanam)

1 Na antah prajnam;   =  Not conscious of the internal world;

2 na bahih prajnam;   =  nor conscious of the external world;

3 na ubhayatah prajnam;   =  not conscious of both worlds; 

4 na prajnaana ghanam;   =  nor just a mass of consciousness;

5 na prajnam; not conscious   =  ( i.e. aware of everything at once);

6 na aprajnam; nor unconscious   =  (i.e. not aware of anything);

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Negation Phase 2: The Experience – How it is Indicated (Tatastha Lakshanam)

7 adrishtam;  =   beyond perception, the unseen;

8 avyavahaaryam;   =  beyond empirical transactions;

9 agraahyam;   =  beyond the grasp of the sense organs;

10 alakshanam;   =  beyond inference, indefinable, incomprehensible;

11 achintyam;   =  beyond thoughts, ideas, or concepts;

12 avyapadeshyam;   =  beyond description;

13 ekaatma pratyaya saaram;   =  proved by the sole belief in One Self in all three states. 

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Assertion Phase 3: The Experience – As it Actually Is (Swaroopa Lakshanam)

14 prapancha upashamam;   =  free from the world of all phenomena;

15 shaantam;   =  tranquil, unchanging;

16 shivam;   =  auspicious, divine, beneficient;

17 advaitam;   =  non-dual, One without a second –

18 chaturtham manyante;   =  this is what is considered as the Fourth Quarter.

19 sah aatmaa,   =  This is the Atman;

20 sah vijneyah.   =  This is to be realized.

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Bhashyam (Vyakyanam) :

18-19 

As before, we start at the bottom end. We are ready to learn about the Fourth 

Quarter which is named ATMAN. It is also named the Turiya. Its sphere lies beyond the 

previous three Quarters, yet it is their foundation. As it is such an important Quarter, and is 

so different from the other three, it is introduced at length in the Bhashya as follows: 

Introduction (from Bhashya) :

A/ 

This Quarter, known as the Turiya, is devoid of any characteristic qualities that 

can make the use of words possible. It is not describable through words. For this reason, the 

method of “Negation”, of Neti-Neti or “not this, not this”, is adopted. Various attributes are 

negated. This is called the Athatvya Vritti Lakshanam method in Vedanta.

[In the course of the discussion, Obj 5-8 arise. These are placed at the end. ]

B/ 

The four quarters that we have been speaking of are this very Self in those 

aspects. The Supreme Reality is the Fourth Quarter, and the false appearances of Vishwa, 

Taijasa and Prajna are the first three Quarters. We have seen the unreality of the first 3 

Quarters, they being merely enjoyment and the enjoyer, both of which are unreal. Their 

unreality consists in them being cause and effect to each other. They are like the snake.

Now we deal with the rope, the supreme state of Reality, non-causal. By eliminating 

the other states, we come to know this Fourth state called Turiya. 

The Negation Process Brings Immediate Results

C/ 

If the three states were totally different from Turiya then you would be right in 

saying that their negation is futile. But they are not unrelated. They are the doorways to 

enter the Turiya. There is no other way to enter the Turiya. 

Then again, the very moment we negate the other states, that same moment we are 

in the Turiya. It is a simultaneous realisation of the Truth. This also implies that the cessation

of misery and sorrow occurs at the same moment. This is a very big benefit of attaining the 

Turiya.

D/ 

As soon as the rope is distinguished from the snake, nothing else needs to be 

done to eliminate the snake from the rope. The job is over simply by correct identification.

E/ 

Once the knowledge of the Self has removed the ignorance, one need not search 

for any other result or benefit to come from it. That is what knowledge does, and it is the 

only thing that it does. The example given is of an axe splitting a log of wood. Once the log is 

split, the job of the axe is over. There is nothing else that needs to be done by the axe. [Sri 

Shankaracharyaji expresses this in the form of a philosophical joke.]

F/

 The same applies to a pot that is covered by darkness. If the darkness is removed, 

the pot is visible. The removal of the darkness is all that is necessary.

G/ 

In the same way, in the case of Turiya, the knowledge needed is simply to find a 

way to uncover the ignorance that obscures the Turiya, and that is what the negation 

process does. As soon as everything that covers Turiya is removed, that very instant 

represents the moment of enlightenment or the cessation of all duality, misery and sorrow.

H/ 

Ignorance does not continue for a moment longer. Mental knowledge ceases on 

cessation of duality; the Triputi (knower, the known and knowledge) all merge into one.

Conclusion: 

All the treacherous interactions with the world of objects, which 

are simply unreal superimpositions on the Self, cease forthwith with the 

application of valid knowledge to negate all Duality.

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Next : Negation Phase 1: 1-6 : 
To be continued

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