Introduction to the Upanishads - 8. Swami Krishnananda.

-

 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, June 08, 2021. 9:29.PM.
Post-8.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.

The reason or the rationale behind this study, this activity, is something beyond reason itself. The reason behind the need for study for the nature of the nature of the Atman – you have to say this reason is super-rational. What can be more important than your own self? Is any burden of material value superior to your own existence? Has the world any meaning minus you? Let your existence be isolated completely. You will find that the world will stand as a series of zeros or ciphers unless there is a single stroke of a figure that makes sense and which is the Atman who does things.

2.

There is a screen covering the consciousness of this pure subjectivity in oneself – that screen is called Avarana, the third defect of the mind. Dross – physical impurity, is removed by Karma Yoga or performance of unselfish action. The fickleness of the mind is subdued by Upasana or devout worship. And Avanara or the veil is removed by Jnana or wisdom of life. The Bhagavadgita is a standard gospel on the art of Karma Yoga, unselfish spiritual activity. The Epics and the Puranas highlight the path of devotion, Bhakti or Upasana, love of God. Upanishads deal with Jnana or wisdom of the ultimate reality.

3.

So, this teaching that is going to be imparted to you is not to be taken as a diversion from the ordinary regime of life, but a very serious matter which will polish your personality, chasten your individuality and make you a perfect individual, not only in your own self but also in human society. The teaching in academy of this kind is a spiritual discipline, it is not just intellectual information.

4.

So I have told you something briefly about the nature of Karma Yoga or unselfish action, performance of duty for duty's sake, as a standard method laid down before us by the ancient master for cleansing the mind of all dross of extraneous desires in the direction of objects of sense; and Upasana is the love of God that you evince in your own self by daily worship performed in whatever way you would like to carry on.

To be continued ....


==========================================================================================

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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MUNDAKOPANISHAD : CHAPTER-3. SECTION-2. MANTRAM-4. { "Other means of Self-realisation." }

-
Image
MUNDAKOPANISHAD CHAPTER-3. SECTION-2. MANTRAM-4.  { "Other  means  of  Self-realisation." } Nayam-atma  bala-hinena  labhyo na  ca  pramadat  tapaso  va' py-alingat, etair-upayair-yatate  yastu  vidvan tasyaisa  atma  visate  brahma-dhama. na  =  not; ayam  =  this; atma  =  Paramatma; bala-hinena  =  by  the  weak  ( in  spirit ); labhyah  =  is  attained; na  =  not; ca  =  and; pramadat  =  insincerity,  careless-ness; tapasah  =  from  penances,  austerities; va  =  or; api  =  and; alingat  = ( literal  meaning - without  proper  sign ),  improper,  unintelligent; etaih  =  by  these; upayaih  =  practices,  means; yatate  =  strives; yah  =  that; tu  =  but; vidvan  =  wise  man; tasya  =  to  him; esah  =  this; atma  =  Paramatma; visate  =  attains; brahma-dhama  =  the  state  of  brahmam. "The  Self  is  not  gained  by  the  weak  ( in  body,  mind,  and  intellect  or  Spirit ),  n
Read more

Mundakopanishad : ( Seven tongues of fire ).Mantram-4.

-
Image
Mundaka-Upanishad Chapter-1. Section-2. ( Rituals ) Mantram-4. ( Seven  tongues  of  fire ) "kali  karali  ca  manojava  ca  sulohita  ya  ca  sudhumra-varna, sphulingini  visvaruci  ca  devi  lelaya-mana  iti  sapta  jihvah." kali  =  kali ( the black  one ); karali  =  karali  ( the  terrific  one ); ca  =  and; manojava  =  as  swift  as  mind; ca  =  and; sulohita  =  deep-red-coloured; ya  =  who; ca  =  also; sudhumra  varna  =   the  smoke - coloured; sphulingini  =  the  sparkling; visvaruci  devi  =  the  variegated,  the  bright,  all  shining; ca  =  and; lelaya-mana  =  flickering; iti  =  that; sapta  =  seven; jihvah  =  tongues. "The  seven  flickering  tongues  ( jwala-s )  of  flames  are : 1. Kali,  the  black  one; 2. Karali,  the  terrific  one; 3. Manojava,  the  swift-as-mind  one; 4. Sulohita,  the  deep-red  one; 5. Sudhumra-varna,  the  smoke-coloured  one; 6. Sphulingini
Read more

Tat Tvam Asi – You Are That! – Chandogya Upanishad

-
Image
04/06/2019 Tat Tvam Asi – You Are That! – Chandogya Upanishad Uddalaka had a son called Svetaketu. When he was twelve, his father said to him, “It is time for you to find a spiritual teacher. Everyone in this family has studied the holy scriptures and the spiritual way.” So Svetaketu went to a teacher and studied the scriptures for twelve years. He returned home very proud of his intellectual knowledge. His father observed him and said, “My boy, you seem to have a high opinion of yourself; you are proud of your learning. But did you ask your teacher for the spiritual knowledge that enables you to hear the unheard, think the unthought and know the unknown?” “What is that knowledge, Father?” asked Svetaketu. “Just as by knowing a lump of clay, everything that is made of clay can be known, since any differences are only words, and the essential reality is clay. In the same way, by knowing a piece of gold, all that is made of gold can be known, since any differences are only wo
Read more