KAIVALYA UPANISHAD : 7. Swami Advaitananda

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Friday, June 10, 2022. 05:00.

From the Atharva Veda (26 Mantras) : “The HOMOGENEITY of Brahman”

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Mantram 5: The Seat of Meditation

"Vivikta-deshe cha sukhasana-sthah  shuchih, sama- griva-shirah-sharirah; 

atyashrama-sthah  sakalendriyaani nirudhya  bhaktya swagurum pranamya."   

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Translation :

7 vivikta-deshe cha sukhasana-sthah              =  In an undisturbed place, and  resting in a comfortable posture;

8 shuchih, sama- griva-shirah-sharirah;        =  clean and pure, keeping erect  the neck, head and body;

9 atyashrama-sthah  sakalendriyaani nirudhya  =  in a mental attitude of Sannyasa,  having controlled all the senses;

10 bhaktya swagurum pranamya.                    =   saluting with reverence one’s own teacher .

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Commentary :

In this verse the common posture and attitude is outlined for both types of Sadhakas

explained above – i.e. those wishing to get liberated in this birth itself (the Jivanmuktas) or

those wishing to go to Brahmaloka first before proceeding further (the Kramamuktas).

7 A spot where and a time when is chosen to avoid all disturbance. It is better to be

secluded from people, so there is no tendency to ‘show off’ in the presence of others.

8 The place should be clean and pure, with no distractions to the mind. For example

it should not be too close to a kitchen as aromas can be a temptation; nor too close to a

toilet whence aromas can be of the opposite type.

The posture should be comfortable, no strain, but not to make one sleepy. Keeping

the head, neck and body in a straight line will avoid sleepiness. Be clean.

9 The mind must be prepared by keeping a spirit of renunciation. “My want is God

alone” – this should be the attitude. Externally one may or may not be a Sannyasin, but the

spirit of Sannyas should be present when sitting for meditation. All bodily needs should be

transcended, the senses well-controlled and withdrawn from objects of temptation.

10 The Guru’s form is worshipped at the outset to obtain his blessings. The higher

ideal is held up to overcome the lower one. The Guru gives one an umbrella of support.

Gurudev says, “The heart can only love and serve; the head can only judge and respect.

Brought together, they fuse to become a rare and sacred alloy called ‘Reverence’,

constituting love and respect together.”

The point of focus is the heart-centre. This is the centre that represents spirituality,

unfoldment, blossoming, etc. Here again Gurudev beautifully says, “The heart stands for the

nobler emotions in man that make him human – that arena in the human mind from where

the noble urges of love, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, tolerance, etc, flow out.”

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Next : Mantras -  6/7a: Goal 1: Upasana of Formless Shiva (Nirguna)

To be continued

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