KATHOUPANISHAD - 75. Swami Advayananda.

Chinmaya Mission 
January 13 at 5:21AM · 

Chinmaya Mission Madurai extended a generous gesture by providing essential ingredients, sugarcane, and lunch to 150 families of differently abled individuals. The initiative aimed to support these families by ensuring they had the necessary items to celebrate the Pongal festival. By offering these provisions, the trust helped make the celebration accessible, fostering a sense of community and joy. This act of kindness was part of the trust’s ongoing efforts to uplift and assist families in need, particularly those with differently abled members, creating an opportunity for them to experience the festive season with ease and togetherness.

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

Thursday 16, January 2025, 10:15.
KATHA UPANISHAD  
Part 2 – Total 49 Mantras 
Chapters 2.1, 2.2 & 2.3 
Chapter 2.1: (15 Mantras) 
BRAHMAN – ABSOLUTE INTELLIGENCE 
Mantram - 2.1.10: Brahman is Both “Here” & “There”
Post - 75.

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

Mantram - 2.1.10: Brahman is Both “Here” & “There”

1 

Yat eva iha tat amutra = Whatever indeed is here, is there. 

2 

yat amutra tat anu iha; = whatever is there, is likewise here. 

3 

mrityoh sah mrityum aapnoti = He goes from death to death (transmigrates) 

4 

yah iha naanaa iva pashyati. = who sees any difference between ‘there’ and ‘here’. 

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

1-2

 The human tendency is to differentiate and categorise things in the process of getting to know them. This tendency makes it difficult for the Vedantin to put across the idea that in the matter of Brahman one cannot do this. Brahman is non-dual and therefore cannot be differentiated. He can only be known as one homogenous Whole. 

 He is both “there” and “here”; He is in the Unconditioned state and the Conditioned tate respectively; He is transcendent as well as immanent respectively; He is beyond as well as within creation. 

Here: Refers to what is close to us, this physical world, our gross body, something already attained, the Jiva or individual soul. It is the Gantru or “the goer” or “traveller”. There: Refers to what is far away from us, namely, the higher worlds up to Brahman, the Divine Being that is to be attained, the Supreme Brahman or Satchidananda. It is the Gantavya or “the destination”. 

‘Here’ and the ‘There’ could also mean the microcosm (Vyashthi) and the macrocosm (Samasthi). The word ‘Iva’, meaning “as though” conveys the idea that here and there are imaginary divisions. We do not have to go far to find ourselves – we are right here

3-4

The conclusion is that seeing Plurality by seeing differences between here and there, is sufficient cause for continuing endlessly in this cycle of births and deaths. In Yama’s language, it is not ‘from birth to death’, but ‘from death to death’. Lord Yama, the Lord of Death, must have done a course in Advertising! 

*****

Next
2.1.11: Mind – Centre-Stage for Sadhana
Continued

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