KENA UPANISHAD ( ENDS HERE ) : “Know That Alone as Brahman” - 26. Swami Tejomayananda.

Chinmaya Mission : 

The Summer Camp for Bala Vihar and Junior CHYK kids was held on April 20th and 21st, 2023, at the Chinmaya Mission in Melbourne. The event aimed to provide an exciting and educational experience for children to learn more about their culture and spirituality.

During the camp, the Bala Vihar kids enjoyed listening to Lord Hanuman's stories and engaging in fun activities to develop the Hanuman spirit within them. Meanwhile, the Junior CHYK kids were given the opportunity to explore and understand their true selves.

The second day of the camp included various activities, such as storytelling, discussions, Sanskrit learning, shloka chanting, bhajan singing, and craft-making with lively children. The event ended on a high note, with delicious food and lasting memories.

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Friday, April 28 , 2023. 08:15.

Chapter 4 - 9 Mantras. (The Story Interpreted)

An Illustrative STORY

The Inner Essence

Post -26.

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Mantram - 4.9 : The Phala Stuti – the Fruits of Brahma Vidya

1. 

yo vaa etaam evam veda,   =  Verily, he who knows It thus,

2. 

apahatya paapmaanam;   =  all his sins are destroyed;

3. 

anante swarge loke jyeye,   =  And in the limitless, heavenly and highest realm, 

4. 

prati-tishthati,   =  Is he established –

prati-tishthateeti.  =  yes, there he is certainly established!

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It is a formality in Upanishadic literature to always draw the attention of the reader 

to the fruits or benefits of what has been taught. This encourages the reader to begin the 

practice at once. It also serves as a tribute to the knowledge conveyed.

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1 The fruits of Brahma Vidya are:

i) The Destruction of Sin:

2 Paapa is sin or demerit, caused by Ignorance. The process is: 

a. from Ignorance we get erroneous notions; 

b. from these notions arise false desires; 

c. desires cause us to do erroneous, selfish actions; 

d. such actions cause Paapa or sinful tendencies in us. 

This entire chain is broken up and destroyed by Knowledge.

ii) Limitlessness or Immortality: 

3a. 

Attaining immortality means being freed from the cycle of births and deaths, or 

this endless worldly existence. This can go on forever if we do not acquire knowledge and 

come out of it. Brahma Vidya ends this chain of births and deaths.

iii) The Attainment of the Highest Realm:

3b. 

The state of being in union with Brahman, our true identity, instead of being in 

ego-consciousness, is a state described as Absolute Bliss. In brief, this is due to the absence 

of all duality in that state. It is an independent state of happiness.

In the text the word Swarga is used. Usually that would be translated as “heaven”. 

However, that word is qualified by Ananta, meaning endless. Heaven is never endless; one 

always returns from there when merits are exhausted. Therefore, Ananta Swarga together 

can only be taken to mean Brahman.

4.

 To be established in this state, in the limitless, infinite Brahman, is the true Goal of 

this human birth. It is the greatest fruit of spiritual life.

Thus ends the Kena Upanishad, an Upanishad in which yet another aspect of Brahma 

Vidya is focused on – the aspect of attaining Brahman through beholding Him in every 

thought and object in the world. By focusing on the spiritual essence of all creation, one 

arrives at the Truth. This is the special message of Kena Upanishad.

Thus Ends the Kena Upanishad

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