The Mundakoupanishad : Post-36. - Swami Krishnananda.

Chinmaya Mission

On 18th July 2023, the Computer Learning Centre for underprivileged children at the Ashram was inaugurated by Swami Avyayananda, the resident Swami of Chinmaya Gurudham. The center is operated by an NGO - Nai Disha Educational and Cultural Society, and the courses provided to the children are certified by NIIT. The children were addressed by Swamiji, who emphasized the importance of focus, gratitude for available opportunities, full utilization of those opportunities, and regular attendance.

Swamiji highlighted that the establishment of the learning centre was made possible by the collective efforts of various individuals and factors, and the children should express their gratitude to everyone involved, especially to God, as nothing would have been possible without divine grace. He further encouraged the children to apply their learning in the service of humanity, which, in turn, is a service to the Lord. After offering prayers to Gurudev and imparting words of wisdom to the children, Swamiji formally inaugurated the Computer Centre.

Within a short span of one week, nearly 60 children commenced their journey towards digital literacy at the newly inaugurated center.

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Sunday,  06  Aug  2023. 06:30.

Chapter-2, Section-2.

Mantram-8 : { Fruits of realisation of Brahmam  }

POST-36.

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Mantram-8.

"Bhidyate hrdaya-granthih chidyante sarva-samsayah'

kshyante casya karmani tasmin drste paravare."

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Translation

"When He is seen both in the higher and the lower,

the knots of his heart becomes united;

all doubts are dispelled;

and all his karma-s 

is consumed."

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Commentary

Bhidyate hrdaya-granthis chidyante sarva-samsayah, kshayante casya karmani tasmin drste paravare (2.2.8): 

The knots of the heart have already been explained—Brahma-granti, Rudra-granti and Vishnu-granti. They are actually avidya, kama and karma: ignorance, desire and action. These knots are broken at once by the rise of the knowledge of Brahman. 

Chidyante sarva-samsayh: 

All doubts are dispelled in one second. You will have no doubt in your mind; everything is so clear, as if in the midday sun. 

Kshayante casya karmani: 

All the karmas will be destroyed. All the effects of karma that cause rebirth will be burnt into ashes. 

Tasmin drste paravare: 

When does this happen? This happens only when you behold the Great Being which is high and low combined.

Here the word ‘karma' is used in the plural. A controversy has arisen by commentators interpreting the word ‘karmani' as plural. How many karmas are there? Plural implies more than two. In Sanskrit grammar, plural is not dual, it is more than dual. In the English language, more than one is plural. But in Sanskrit, more than one is dual, and more than dual is plural. Here karmani is plural, which means more than two. Does it mean that more than two karmas are destroyed, or are only two karmas destroyed? 

There are three kinds of karma—sanchita, agami and prarabdha. Usually it is said that prarabdha cannot be destroyed, and only sanchita and agami are destroyed, which are the store of karma and also the effects of karma that are performed in the present birth. They are destroyed, but the karma that has given birth to this body cannot be destroyed as long as the body lasts. This is the usual view of philosophers.

Then why is the word ‘karma' used in the plural? Some commentators say that prarabdha is also destroyed. By saying that, they imply that though the jivanmukta purusha actually appears to be living in a body, moving about, speaking, eating, and doing things like anybody else, he is above this body. To others, the body may look like a moving vehicle; but for his own self, his consciousness has spread throughout all bodies. The jivanmukta does not see himself in one body only. The consciousness of “I am going”, etc., has been transcended by him. The jivanmukta purusha's consciousness is in everybody's body, and there-fore whether or not the prarabdha karma is working is immaterial for him because it is virtually destroyed. So, all the three are destroyed. This is another meaning that is given to this word ‘karmani'. However, it matters little for us because we have all the three karmas with us. 

Tasmin drste paravare: Having reached that Supreme Being, your karmas are destroyed.

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Next

Mantram-9.

To be continued

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