Lessons on the Upanishads:13- Swami Krishnananda.

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Friday 05, Sep 2025, 20:00.
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Upanishads
Lessons on the Upanishads: 2.7.
Chapter 2: The Problem in Understanding the Upanishads-7.
Swami Krishnananda
Post-13.

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It is that the philosophy of enjoyment, hedonism and materialism started with Virochana, because he concluded that the Ultimate Reality is this body, which was very clear from the instructions he received from Prajapati. And what does this body need? It needs eating, drinking, enjoying, sleeping and all the appurtenances of physicality.

Indra also got this knowledge. He left, thinking that he had this wisdom. On the way, he had a difficulty.

“I this the Self? This thing? No, it cannot be. The Self is supposed to be a permanent entity, but this body is not permanent. So if the body gets old, the Self will also become old; if the body become sick, the Self will also become sick; if the body dies, the Self will also die. No, no, there is something wrong in this,” he thought.

Indra went to Prajapati again. Virochana did not come back; he was happy. But Indra came back.

“How is it that you have come back?” asked Prajapati.

“Sir, there is some problem. I see no good in this instruction.”

“What is the matter?”

“If this body falls sick, the Self will also fall sick. If the body dies, the Self will also die. Is this the Self?” asked Indra.

“Stay here another thirty-two years,” Prajapati said.

“Okay, I will stay,” replied Indra.

After thirty-two years, Indra went to Prajapati a second time and requested, “Please instruct me.”

“What you see in dream is the Self,” said Prajapati.

“Oh, I see; okay, good,” said Indra.

Indra left, but on the way he again had a problem: “Dream? What do I see in dream? I see in dream whatever I see in waking—the same thing. There is hunger and thirst. There is old age and decrepitude. There is even death in dream. All the difficulties and pains of life are capable of being experienced in dream also. The dream self also dies. No, this is no good.”

Indra again came back.

“Why have you come again?” asked Prajapati.

“There is some problem, sir,” replied Indra. “The dream self is fickle. It seems to be dying, just like the waking self about which you told me. I see no good in this instruction. Please give the correct instruction.”

“Stay another thirty-two years,” said Prajapati.

Indra stayed another thirty-two years, and then Prajapati told him, “What you see in the state of deep sleep, that is the Self.”

“Good” Indra said, and went away.

On the way, again a doubt arose. “What do I see in deep sleep? Nothing. It is like a negation of all things—darkness; it is veritable death. Is this the Self? No, this is no good,” thought Indra. Again he went back.

“Oh, how are you here again?” asked Prajapati.

 “Sir, this instruction is of no use. What do I see in deep sleep? I see complete darkness, negation, annihilation. So, is the Self an annihilation? No, I don't see good in this instruction; please give me proper instruction.”

“Oh, I see. Stay again and undergo discipline here,” said Prajapati. This time it was for five years. Prajapati was a little considerate.

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