MANDUKYA UPANISHAD with GAUDAPADA’S KARIKA: 55. Swami Advayananda.
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Sunday 11, May 2025, 11:00.
MANDUKYA UPANISHAD
GAUDAPADA’S KARIKA
Agama Prakarana – “The Scriptural Treatise”
GAUDAPADA’S KARIKA: PART 4/4:
ALAATA-SHANTI PRAKARANA (100 mantras):
Quenching the Firebrand:
The Illusion of CAUSALITY
The Sage’s COMPROMISE:
Karika Section 7: Mantras 42-46 (5 No.)
Mantram - 4.42: The Sage’s Compassionate Compromise
Post-55.
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1
Upalambhaat samaachaaraat, = Due to people’s experience and behaviour,
2
asti vastutva vaadinaam; = and their inclinationtowards objects (e.g. rituals)
3
jaatih tu deshitaa buddhaih, = the man of wisdom instructs on ‘birth’ (causality)
4
ajaateh trasataam sadaa. = for the sake of those ever afraid of the “Birthless”.
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This is an outstanding example of practical wisdom shown by the Vedantic sage. Although he is absorbed in non-dual Consciousness and has just proved that the seer of Truth can live apart from Time, Space and Causality, yet he is aware that the same three conditions govern the lives of the majority of his brothers and sisters in the world.
What does he see prevailing among people to his right and to his left?
People all around him are bound helplessly by the three conditions. It is not by them fault as such but by the nature of their constitution. They cannot help it. Wisdom dictates
that these three conditions require to be taken into account before the Truth can be instructed to them:
1a
i) Upalambhaat: “due to experience”. The first condition is what the common man experiences day to day. His experience is very much in terms of the solid reality of the objective world. He is not able to rise above his sense perceptions. He is unable to accept the world as Unreality, but it is not out of malicious opposition to Truth, but out of honestly not being able to reach the heights demanded by the high vision of Reality.
1b
ii) Samaachaaraat: “due to behaviour”. Secondly, there are people out there who want to adhere to Dharma. They follow their traditions and customs as best as they can. Their behaviour is patterned in accordance with these traditions, which are not inimical to the scriptures. These are not cunning, crooked and wicked opponents of Vedanta. They
are only victims of an established cultural thought pattern in society.
2
iii) Vastutva: “inclinations towards objects”. Thirdly, these people, of good intent, are engrossed in doing things, such as rituals, Japa, Kirtans and Bhajans, pilgrimaservice activities. They need these due to their temperament. That is where they are centred, and that is what makes them tick. That is their “comfort zone”. They do not wish to
abandon their present moorings, and venture into anything unfamiliar, least of all the rarified heights of non-duality!
3
It is to such people that the sages have to address themselves. They form the audience of the sages. To reach into their hearts, a compromise is needed: From their lofty
pinnacles, the sages have to descend to the level of the common man to guide him. The means available to them and the capacity of the people to be instructed have to come to a
meeting point.
It is for such practical considerations that sages adopt explanations using Causality, Time and Space to get their message across. Special methods and programmes are set up for them to follow which will purify their minds and raise their level of receptivity.
This is done so that the general people may make spiritual progress and come to a point from where they will be able to grasp the subtle spiritual knowledge on their own.
4
Trasataam: “afraid”. The generality of devotees, in spite of their earnest efforts, sincerity and goodness of heart, are very afraid of going into unknown territory and incomprehensible intellectual realms, such as are demanded by the “Birthless” Brahman.
The sage’s words should not overwhelm anyone who seeks help in his spiritual efforts. Swami Vivekananda and Swami Sivananda used to declare to people, “Godrealisation is your birthright, and you shall have it!” Gradual unfoldment of the Truth is the principle they followed. With this as his intention, the teacher is permitted by the Shastras to adopt appropriate means to impart his teaching according to the level of understandingof his students.
Why is this compromise permitted?
Mantram - 4.43: service activities. They need these due to their temperament. That is where they are centred, and that is what makes them tick. That is their “comfort zone”. They do not wish to abandon their present moorings, and venture into anything unfamiliar, least of all the rarified heights of non-duality!
3
It is to such people that the sages have to address themselves. They form the audience of the sages. To reach into their hearts, a compromise is needed: From their lofty
pinnacles, the sages have to descend to the level of the common man to guide him. The means available to them and the capacity of the people to be instructed have to come to a
meeting point.
It is for such practical considerations that sages adopt explanations using Causality, Time and Space to get their message across. Special methods and programmes are set up for them to follow which will purify their minds and raise their level of receptivity.
This is done so that the general people may make spiritual progress and come to a point from where they will be able to grasp the subtle spiritual knowledge on their own.
4
Trasataam: “afraid”. The generality of devotees, in spite of their earnest efforts, sincerity and goodness of heart, are very afraid of going into unknown territory and incomprehensible intellectual realms, such as are demanded by the “Birthless” Brahman.
The sage’s words should not overwhelm anyone who seeks help in his spiritual efforts. Swami Vivekananda and Swami Sivananda used to declare to people, “Godrealisation is your birthright, and you shall have it!” Gradual unfoldment of the Truth is the principle they followed. With this as his intention, the teacher is permitted by the Shastras to adopt appropriate means to impart his teaching according to the level of understanding of his students.
Why is this compromise permitted?
Next
Mantram - 4.43: Dilution of the Truth is Negligible
Continued
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