Upanishads : "The cream of Vedas"

----------------------------------------------- Wednesday, December 09, 2020. 10:25. AM Chapter 4: Cosmology 2. There seems to be some great point in the doctrines of realism as well as idealism, which are the dominant schools of philosophy. The realist holds that objects come first, experience comes afterwards. But the idealist thinks that experience comes first and the object afterwards. There is a great quarrel among these schools of thought, but there need not be any quarrel. Both these standpoints seem to be correct because they speak from different positions and different points of view altogether. There is a metaphysical idealism implied behind even the empirical realism of perception of objects. We perceive the world, no doubt, as something external to us, and we know very well that the world was there even before we were born; therefore, realism is right. The world of objects in its physical form precedes the experience thereof by the individual experiencer. But idealism is al...

  ------------------------------------ Friday, November 20, 2020. 01:28. PM. Chapter 4: Cosmology 1. ----------------------- Now this is, in a different way, the subject of the Taittiriya Upanishad also, wherein we are given a cosmological treatment of the entire bondage of the soul, and the process of the liberation of the soul from this bondage. As the Aitareya told us that the one Atman alone was, nothing else external to the Atman existed, it became the many as the Universal and entered into it, and projected itself as the various divinities, became the jivas, had these experiences, etc., so does the Taittiriya Upanishad tell us. ------------------------ The original being is satyam, jnanam, anantam; or we may say satyam, jnanam, anandam—(satchidananda), where there is a simultaneous experience of everything, not a successive experience of particulars as we have today. This is the interpretation given by the commentators of the passage which reads as “saha brahmana vipaschita”...

----------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, November 18, 2020. 11:50.. AM. Mandukya Upanishad : Chapter-1. Agama Prakarana ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Sri Gaudapada's glossary : Upanishad Mantram - 12. Karika Slokam-s 24 to 29. ---------------------------------- Upanishad Mantra -- 12. "amatras caturtho’vyavaharyah prapancopasamah sivo’dvaita  evam aumkara atmaiva,  samvisaty atmana’tmanam  ya evam veda ya evam veda." -----------------------------------  Tattvam (Essence) : The fourth is soundless: unutterable, a quieting down of all relative manifestations, blissful, peaceful, non-dual. Thus, OM is the Ātman, verily. He who knows thus, merges his self in the Self – yea, he who knows thus.  Om śantih; śantih; śantih. Om Peace! Peace! Peace!  --------------------------------- Conclusion : Silence after “A-U-M” is the True Self: The fourth aspect is the soundless aspect of Om. It is not utterable and is not comprehended ...

  ========================= Tuesday, November 17, 2020. 09:04. AM. (Spoken on January 14th, 1973) Post-1. ----------------------------------- Today we shall take an excursion into the Upanishadic method of meditation, which is the predominant note of all Vedantic texts. ------------- The Upanishadic approach to Truth is out-and-out philosophical and mystical. The Upanishads take a comprehensive view from three angles of vision: the external, the internal, and another feature which transcends them both. --------------------- The Mandukya, the Taittiriya and the Aitareya Upanishads may be taken as examples of this type of approach, which also receives elaborate treatment and profound consideration in the Chhandogya and Brihadaranyaka Upanishads. The Upanishadic method is something not unknown to students of Vedanta, but yet the Upanishads have a peculiarity of their own which demands a very acute understanding and a thoroughgoing philosophical approach from the student. This is what ...

  -------------------------------------------------------- Monday, November 09, 2020. 08:10. AM. Chapter 3: Ishvara and Jiva - 8. ---------------------------------------------------------- When the divinities entered the body, perhaps they did not enter the physical body first. It must have been the astral body, though this is not very clearly stated in the Upanishad, because there is a gradual hardening of the individuality through the causal and the subtle states into the physical state. The physical one is the grossest manifestation and the most exteriorised form of the appetition of the individual. It is here, in this physical condition in which we are, that we are in the worst of conditions because we are completely isolated, cut off from things, as it is clear to every one of us. In the subtle condition, at least there is an apparent feeling of affinity of one for the other. But in the so-called waking condition of physicality, there is a complete isolation; you have nothing ...

  ======================= 08.11.2020 The Sure Signs of Spiritual Growth! : -------------------------------------- .  "May I ask you a question, Swamiji?” This came from a young lady, smart, well-dressed, presumably well read too. “Hmmmm,” said Gurudev. stroking his beard. ⠀ ⠀ “We have heard you in so many talks. You have given us so many tips, hints, guidance for improving ourselves. But Swamiji, how will we know if we are really improving? How will we know whether we have come out of our old ruts? How will we know, Swamiji?” ⠀ ⠀ Gurudev continued stroking his beard. He looked obliquely at the young lady who was sitting to his right. “When the doctor gives you medicine for your ailment, how do you know whether you are getting better? Do you run to him every now and then and ask him, “Hey, Doc, am I getting better?” ⠀ ⠀ When you start getting better you WILL know it. You start feeling more energetic, stronger, fitter. "Similarly, when you progress on the path of self improveme...

  -------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, October 29, 2020. 07:26. AM. Chapter 3: Ishvara and Jiva - 7. ---------------------------------------------------------- But the human individuality also is found inadequate to the purpose because of the fact that it is conditioned by the five sense organs and the mind, which works in terms of the activities of the senses. The restless activities of the senses for contact with objects throughout the day, in all the walks of life, are for the appeasement of the hunger of the soul. Whatever work we do in this world, whatever status we are occupying is for the satisfaction of the appetite of this soul which is asking for a union with that which it has lost. But we fail miserably in this attempt because our activities in life are not a remedy for the trouble in which we are at present. We seem to be satisfied only because we have not understood what our problems are. We are totally ignorant of our actual situation. --...

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday, October 27, 2020. 12:56.. PM. Mandukya Upanishad : Chpter-1. Agama Prakarana ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Sri Gaudapada's glossary : Upanishad Mantra-s - 8 to 11. Karika Slokam-s 19 to 23. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Karika Slokam - 22 : "Trisu  dhamasu  yat-tulyam  samanyam  vetti  niscitah, sah  pujyah  sarva-bhutanam  vandyas-caiva  mahamunih." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Translation : Trisu  dhamasu   =  three states; yat  =  which; tulyam  =  similarities; samanyam  =  the  common; vetti  =  knows; nischitah  =  for certain; sah  =  that (person); pujyah  =  respectable; sarva  bhutanam  =  all  beings; vandyaha  =  adorable; ca  eva  =...

  -------------------------------------------------------- Monday, October 19, 2020. 07:26. AM. Chapter 3: Ishvara and Jiva - 6. ---------------------------------------------------------- We are not asking for any kind of contact, really speaking. We are thoroughly mistaken, and that mistake itself is lost sight of completely. This complete oblivion of the very reason behind this hunger is called avidya. These terms do not occur in the Upanishad. I am explaining from the terminologies of the later philosophies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ignorance precedes every kind of action in the direction of the possession of the requirements of the senses. We run after things on account of an ignorance, which covers our consciousness, of the reason behind the very existence of this hunger. There is only one need that we have, and not more than one—the need to become one with That from which we have been separated, and out of whic...

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sunday, October 18, 2020. 10:52.. AM. Mandukya Upanishad : Chpter-1. Agama Prakarana ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Sri Gaudapada's glossary : Upanishad Mantra-s - 8 to 11. Karika Slokam-s 19 to 23. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Karika Slokam - 21 : "Makara-bhave prajnasya  manasa-manyam-utkatam, matra-samprati-pattau  tu  laya-samanyam-eva  ca." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Translation : makara  bhave  =  becomes 'M'; prajnasya  =  of prajna; mana  samanyam  = similarly of being  a  measur; utkatam  =  become  evident; matra  =  letters; samprati pattau  =  relating  to; tu  =  but, while; laya  samanyam  = similarly  of  being  the  ground  of  dissolution; eva  ...

  -------------------------------------------------------- Monday, October 12, 2020. 12:08. PM. Chapter 3: Ishvara and Jiva - 5. ---------------------------------------------------------- 1. When this individual experience takes place in the body of the human personality on account of the entry of these divinities in the manner mentioned, something else also happens. There is immediately a grabbing attitude of the individual in respect of the food that is necessary for the satisfaction of the appetite. The food also was created in the form of this objective universe, and it has to be grasped by the senses. 2. The particular function in the human individual especially by which food is grasped and assimilated is the apana. The food that we throw into the alimentary canal is digested and absorbed by the apana vayu in our system; the organs cannot have this kind of experience. For example, by speaking about food we cannot be satisfied; by seeing food we will not be satisfied; by hearin...

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sunday, October 11, 2020. 08:33.. AM. Mandukya Upanishad : Chapter-1. Agama Prakarana ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Sri Gaudapada's glossary : Upanishad Mantra-s - 8 to 11. Karika Slokam-s 19 to 23. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Karika Slokam - 20 : "Taijasa-syotva  vijnana  utkarso  drsyate  sphutam, matra-samprati-pattau  syadu-bhayatvam  tatha-vidham." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Translation : taijasasya  =  of taijasa; utva  vijnane  =  identified with 'U'; utkarsah  =  (their)  superiority; drsyate  =  is  seen; sphutam  =  clearly; matra  =  letters; samprati-pattau  =  relating  to; syat  =  is; ubhayatvam  =  (thair) middleness; tatha  vidham  =  so  also. ----------...

  -------------------------------------------------------- Saturday, October 03, 2020. 9:57. AM. Chapter 3: Ishvara and Jiva - 4. ---------------------------------------------------------- 1. Here is the peculiar characteristic of the individual explained in contradistinction with the original status of the divinities in the body of the Cosmic Being. The Upanishad mentions that when the divinities were originally projected from the body of the Cosmic Being, there was first the location of the function, for instance, the mouth; then there was the urge of the expression of that location in the form of speech; and then the divinity Agni, the presiding deity over speech, manifested itself—and so on with every other function. 2. Thus, the god or the divinity came afterwards; the function came first, so that the controlling principle of even the divinities was co-extensive with the existence of the Universal Being Himself. The gods were not independent, but were dependent on the Total fr...

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, September 17, 2020. 9:30.. AM. Mandukya Upanishad : Chapter-1. Agama Prakarana ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Sri Gaudapada's glossary : Upanishad Mantra-s - 8 to 11. Karika Slokam-s 19 to 23. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Karika Mantram -19. "Visvasya-tva-vivakasayam-adisamanya-mutkatam, matra samprati-pattau syadapti -samanya-meva ca." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Translation :  Visvasya = of visva; atva vivaksayam  =  identified with 'A'  adi = of primacy; samanyam = the similarity; utkatam = evident; matra = letters; samprati-pattau  =  relating to; syat  =  becomes; apti samanyam  =  similarity of pervasiveness; eva ca  =  also and. ----------------------------------------------------------------...

  -------------------------------------------------------- Saturday, September 19, 2020. 8:10. PM. Chapter 3: Ishvara and Jiva - 3. ---------------------------------------------------------- 1. Now the metaphor continues. The Great Being projected a bull before them and said, “Here is the abode for you. This is the body for you. You enter this body and satisfy your hunger and your thirst.” The divinities looked at the bull and said, “This is not suitable. This is not a proper abode for us.” Then He projected a horse. They looked at the body of the horse and concluded that the horse, too, was not a proper body for real satisfaction. Then He projected a human body. “This is correct,” they said. “We want this body only,” and they entered it. 2. The Aitareya Upanishad is very precise. It does not go into long details of the evolutionary process of the individual body. But certain other Upanishads, such as the Maitrayani for instance, give us hints of there having been a gradual ascent,...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, September 17, 2020. 9:30.. AM. Mandukya Upanishad : Chapter-1. Agama Prakarana ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Sri Gaudapada's glossary : Upanishad Mantra-s - 8 to 11. Karika Slokam-s 19 to 23. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Upanishad Mantram - 11. "Susupta-sthanah prajno makaras-tritiya matra miter-apiter-va minoti ha va idam sarvam apitis-ca  bhavati ya evam veda." ------------------------------------------------------------------ Translation : Susupta-sthanah             =   deep state of sleep experience;  prajnah                          =    prajna makaras-tritiya matra     =   'M' Iis the third letter; miter                ...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Moniday, September 07, 2020. 02:33. PM. Mandukya Upanishad : Chapter-1. Agama Prakarana ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Sri Gaudapada's glossary : Upanishad Mantra-s - 8 to 11. Karika Slokam-s 19 to 23.. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Upanishad Mantram-10. "Svapnan -  sthanas - taijasa ukaro dvitiya matrot -  karsad - ubhayatvad - votkarsati ha vai jnana - santatim samanas - ca bhavati nasya - brahmavit kule bhavati ya evam veda." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Translation : Svapnan -  sthanas        =  having sphere of activityin the dram-state; taijasah                         =   taijasa; ukarah  dvitiya matra   =  'U' is the s...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, August 28, 2020. 7:17 AM. Mandukya Upanishad : Chapter-1. Agama Prakarana ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Sri Gaudapada's glossary : Upanishad Mantra-s - 8 to 11. Karika Slokam-s 19 to 23.. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Upanishad  Mantram - 9. "Jgrito - sthano vaisvanaro - 'karah prathama matra - "pteradi - matt - vad - va -"pnoti ha vaisarvan - kaman - adis - ca bavati ya evam veda." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Translation : Jagarita sthanah      =  having sphere ( of activity )is waking state field ,                 ; vaisavanarah           =  vaisavanara ( virat ); akarah                  ...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, August 20, 2020.3:50.AM. Mandukya Upanishad : Chapter-1. Agama Prakarana ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Sri Gaudapada's glossary : Upanishad Mantram-8. Karika Slokam-s 19 to 23.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Upanishad Mantram-8. "So'yam - atma - dhyaksaram - onkaro  adhimatram pada matra matras - ca pada  akara ukaro makara iti" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Translation : Sah ayam atma = The same Self; adhyaksaram = from the stand - point of the total syllables; omkarah = it is the syllable Aum; adhimatram = from thje stand - point of individual letters; padah = the quarters are; matrah = the letters; ca matrah = and the letters; padah = the quarters; akarah = A; ukarah = U; makarah =(and)  M; iti = that. -...

-------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, August 19, 2020. 4:52. AM. Chapter 3: Ishvara and Jiva - 2. ---------------------------------------------------------- 1. To give an illustration, it is perhaps exactly as one would experience in dream. There is a split of consciousness into the knowing subject and the world of experience; but the split has not taken place. If it had really taken place, we would not wake up into the integrity of our mind. But nevertheless, there is an experience of such a transformation, change and division having taken place. 2. The first consequence of this division is, as the Upanishad puts it, an intense hunger and thirst. Well, this is a very beautiful word, implying much more than what our usual hunger and thirst would connote. The hunger and thirst of the divinities who wrenched themselves, as it were, from the total of the Universal can be called, in the language of our modern philosophers, the constitutional...