KATHA UPANISHAD - 53. Swami Advayananda.

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Wednesday  03, Apr 2024 06:05.

Chapter 1. Section - 2: (25 Mantras) 

THE CHOICE:

Mantram - 1.2.24:The Man of Sinful Conduct :

Post - 53.

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Mantram - 1.2.24:The Man of Sinful Conduct :

1.   

Na aviratah dush-charitaat =  He who has not desisted from bad conduct; 

2. 

na ashaantah, =  whose senses are not under control,  

na asamaahitah; =  whose mind is not concentrated, 

3. 

na ashaanta maanasah vaa api = whose mind is also not free from anxiety – he 

4.

prajnaanena enam aapnuyaat. = cannot attain this Self even through knowledge. 

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From the seeker possessing the desirable quality of wanting God alone, we now 

move to the other end of the scale to the Dush-Charitaat, the man of “undesirable conduct” 

who does not want to even hear the Name of God. 

He has everything that a seeker should not be:

1.

 The man of bad conduct engages in Nishidha (prohibited) as well as Kamya (desire

ridden) Karmas; he neglects Nitya and Nimitta Karmas (daily and occasional duties) which he 

is supposed to do. 

2.

 Not quietening the senses; and not having the mind focused on the goal. A restless 

mind that is uncontrolled indulges in sinful tendencies. Without Shama and Dama (internal 

and external checkpoints) the mind is not focused or concentrated. It rejoices in Adharma. 

3.

 Even if mind is well trained, it has its eye on the fruit, on the trophy that it expects 

to get for the Sadhana that is done. There is a business-like mentality of being rewarded. 

A mind that is set on the future, i.e. result-oriented, is not fit for the vision of the 

Self. It does not give time for evolution to unfold itself. It is impatient, wanting to grab the 

fruit now itself. He wants to achieve things fast, and carries the same mentality into the 

spiritual realm as well. Just as a footballer performs well only if his whole mind is on the ball, 

.not on the glory after winning; and as a student writing an exam has to have his mind on the 

knowledge acquired, and not on the marks he is going to get – so also, a seeker has to keep 

focused on God for God’s sake, with no other motive contaminating his search. 

There is a Buddhist saying which goes: “Don’t ask how far; just keep walking!” 

4.

This Self is not for such people, even if they have all the knowledge! 

We should therefore do Sadhana for the love of it. We must enjoy being 

dispassionate, not feel that we are losing out on anything. Self-denial should never be done 

grudgingly. For this reason, a Bhakta is taught never to want even Liberation, since it takes 

away his ‘presence of mind.’ Hanuman was not interested in Vaikuntha. Only such 

disinterested, yet passionate devotee who enjoys what he does, can reach the Self. One 

who is pre-occupied with results cannot attain It. 

 

In the Bhashya, Shankaracharya adds one more requirement – the presence of a 

Guru. The path is so subtle, and self-delusion can be so overwhelming, that a Guru is needed 

to prevent one from being content with little gains and miss the Self. 

Acharyaji concluded in grand style with a beautiful simile: “A caterpillar is on a 

eucalyptus leaf. It does not like being there, but it has no other choice. It has to eat what is 

there, even though its mouth is burning with the eucalyptus taste. But if you place a 

mulberry leaf next to it, it will, so to speak, fly to it without hesitation to enjoy its favourite 

flavour. Similarly, we should wean the mind away from sensuality by offering it better 

pastures of Sattwic joys. Once it tastes the higher, it will not be dragged to the lower.” 

*****

Next

Mantram - 1.2.25:Simile: The Lord at His Meal 

Continued

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