KATHA UPANISHAD - 43. Swami Advayananda.

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Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF), research wing of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

Adi Sankara Nilayam, Veliyanad, Eranakulam, India, Kerala

Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF)

Day 4 at Vedanta Unveiled Camp

The day was enriched with enlightening sessions and new launches.

Swamini Vimalananda explored the concept of totality and individuality, emphasising the presence of Consciousness in all manifestations of life. Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda expounded on the concept that God is all-pervading—present everywhere—yet often unseen. This is because we are not introduced to Him. Once we come to know Him, we will see Him and Him alone. Swami Advayananda's session highlighted the omnipresence of absolute Truth and the importance of a pure mind for its Realisation.

The day witnessed notable releases: Swamini Vimalananda released the pen drive of Panchadashi Chapter 9, presenting the first copy to Prof. P. Geervani. The title is also available on Shravana Mangalam. Participants attended the virtual launch of 'Chinmaya Parichay' by Pujya Swami Swaroopananda During the evening session, Pujya Guruji released the Svadhyaya Series Course on Upanishad Ganga.

The Paduka Puja and the Chuttuvilakku completed the day with spiritual depth and tranquillity.

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Tuesday, 28 Nov 2023 07:20.

Chapter 1. Section - 2: (25 Mantras): THE CHOICE:

Mantram - 14: Boon 3: A Reminder Re-Phrased

Post - 43.

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Mantram - 1.2.14: Boon 3: A Reminder Re-Phrased

Nachiketas says to Lord Yama:

1 Anyatra dharmaat anyatra adharmaat = Other than virtue and other than vice; 

2 anyatra asmaat krita akritaat; = other than cause and effect;

3 anyatra bhootaat cha bhavyaat cha = other than the past and the future –

4 yat tat pashyasi tat vada. = tell me of that thing as you see It.

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Nachiketas indirectly reminds Yama of the boon. His interruption here seems to be 

saying to Yama: “It is very well for you to praise me, but that will not help me reach the Self. 

Please tell me about the Self in detail, not just an overview of It.”


He rephrases it as though he wants to disguise his reminder! Nachiketas’s singlemindedness and focus on what he wants is exemplary – especially now when he has been

praised to the hilt by none other than Lord Yama himself. He has the singleness of purpose 

to ignore all the praise and gets straight to his point.


The re-phrasing of the boon takes the form of three aspects of the Truth:



1 Different from Dharma and Adharma: 

This may be interpreted as virtue and vice; 

or as Paapa and Punya (merit and demerit), for that is the purpose for which most people 

follow Dharma; or as the known and the unknown, since to follow Dharma one has to first 

know what it is.


Nachiketas is aware that Dharma and Adharma (as well as the other two pairs 

mentioned in the verse) are concerned with Duality. Different from it would be Non-duality.


2 Different from Krita and Akrita: 

This is taken to mean the cause and effect; or literally it could mean the created and the uncreated. The cause here is the Unmanifest or Hiranyagarbha; the Self is beyond this, it is the Causeless Cause.


3 Different from Bhuta and Bhavya: 

It is beyond the past and the future. For  something to exist only in the present means it must be beyond time. It is in the eternal present, the NOW. 

4 All three expressions, or pairs, direct our minds to something beyond anything that 

has an empirical existence, i.e. to Non-duality. That is what Nachiketas would like to know 

more about, and only Yama can tell him what that is.

The original boon asked directly about what exists after death, implying what is it 

that exists besides the gross body and the subtle body equipment? The re-phrased version 

here asks indirectly about the same Truth – i.e. it asks what is beyond the pairs of opposites 

which govern the body and mind levels. What is beyond Dharma and Adharma, beyond 

Causation (cause and effect) and beyond Time (past and future)? This points to the Self.

*****

Next

“OM” UPASANA

Mantram - 1.2.15: The Goal of All Spiritual Efforts – “OM”

To be continued

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know the self, know the self in Nature, know the self in Jiva, Further Oneness.

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