Teachings of Vedas and Upanishads

animesh · March 12, 2001

How about having a topic for contributing what we learn from Vedas and Upanishads?

animesh · March 12, 2001

In Taittiriopanishad, guru is instructing his pupil at the end of their course:

Always say what is true.

Do your duties.

Continue, without neglect, the daily study of the Veda.

Now that you have come to the end of your stay with your teacher, live the life of a householder.

Do not swerve from Truth and Dharma, and do something useful in the social economy.

Achieve greatness, and do not fail to refresh your memory in respect of what you have learnt.

Remember the gods and your ancestors.

Honour your mother. Look upon her as God.

Honour your father. Look upon him as God.

Honour your teacher as God.

Honour your guest. Look upon him as if God came to receive your attention.

May you ever exercise your understanding and, distinguishing the good from the blame-worthy, avoid the latter and ever do what is good.

Follow all that was good in your teacher’s life. You will meet with better men than even the teachers with whom you have lived. Show them due respect.

Give gifts with faith, not neglectfully but with joy, with humility, and with kindness.

We should not speak ill of food. We should not throw away food. We should cltivate plenty of food. We should let no one who comes for food be turned away.

animesh · March 27, 2001

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In the sixth chapter of Chandogya Upanishad, it is written that the

cause of this universe was Sat which means Being with Consciousness.

Svetaketu has his doubts in this matter. He wants his father Uddalaka to

clarify the doubts.

Swetaketu: How can this vast universe with its multitudinous

variety be produced in this simple way?

Uddalaka: Fetch a fruit of the big fig tree

Swetaketu: Here it is.

Uddalaka: Break it. What do you see?

Swetaketu: These little seeds.

Uddalaka : Crush one of the little seeds. What do you see

inside?

Swetaketu Nothing

Uddalaka Yet in the subtle substance inside that little seed,

which your eye does not even perceive, existed all this big branching

tree. Do you wonder at it? Likewise all that exists, this universe, was

in that Sat which thou too art. Believe it, dear child, thou art that."

Swetaketu: If the Sat is all pervading, why is it not perceived

clearly?

Uddalaka asks Swetaketu to put a lump of salt in some water. After some

time:

Uddalaka: Do you see salt?

Swetaketu: No

Uddalaka: Taste the water. Does it taste salty?

Swetaketu: Yes.

Uddalaka: So the salt is present even if it is not seen. In the

same way, Sat is not seen though it is immanent in everything in the

universe.

Swetaketu: How are we to gain knowledge of the Sat which is

imperceptible?

Uddalaka: Attachment is like a cloth over one's eyes. When this

cloth is removed, Sat can be perceived.

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animesh · March 27, 2001

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In the sixth chapter of Chandogya Upanishad, it is written that the

cause of this universe was Sat which means Being with Consciousness.

Svetaketu has his doubts in this matter. He wants his father Uddalaka to

clarify the doubts.

Swetaketu: How can this vast universe with its multitudinous

variety be produced in this simple way?

Uddalaka: Fetch a fruit of the big fig tree

Swetaketu: Here it is.

Uddalaka: Break it. What do you see?

Swetaketu: These little seeds.

Uddalaka : Crush one of the little seeds. What do you see

inside?

Swetaketu Nothing

Uddalaka Yet in the subtle substance inside that little seed,

which your eye does not even perceive, existed all this big branching

tree. Do you wonder at it? Likewise all that exists, this universe, was

in that Sat which thou too art. Believe it, dear child, thou art that."

Swetaketu: If the Sat is all pervading, why is it not perceived

clearly?

Uddalaka asks Swetaketu to put a lump of salt in some water. After some

time:

Uddalaka: Do you see salt?

Swetaketu: No

Uddalaka: Taste the water. Does it taste salty?

Swetaketu: Yes.

Uddalaka: So the salt is present even if it is not seen. In the

same way, Sat is not seen though it is immanent in everything in the

universe.

Swetaketu: How are we to gain knowledge of the Sat which is

imperceptible?

Uddalaka: Attachment is like a cloth over one's eyes. When this cloth is removed, Sat can be perceived.

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animesh · March 27, 2001

Sorry for posting twice. When I clicked on "Submit Reply" button, I got "Can not find server" error. So, I thought that my post had not been added and posted again.

Jahnava Nitai Das · March 28, 2001

Please continue posting portions of this Upanishad. It is very nice to read in this manner.

animesh · March 28, 2001

I request others also to contribute to this thread. I know that many others on this forum have got far more knowledge of vedas and upanishads than I have got. Esp., you jndas ji.

animesh · March 28, 2001

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<TITLE>Book VII from the Chandogya Upanishad </TITLE>

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<H3 ALIGN="CENTER">From Book VII of Chandogya Upanishad </H3>

Here is a dialog between Devarshi Narad and the great sage Sanatkumar.

Narad: Give me knowledge, Sir.

Sanatkumar: Tell me what you know and I will then develop it further for you.

Narad: I know the four vedas, ithihasas and puranas, grammar, arithmetic, divination, chronometry, politics, logic, the devavidya and brahmavidya of the scriptures, archery, rule, astronomy, the art of dealing with snakes, and the fine arts. I am conversant with mantras, but I do not know the Self (atman) well. But I have heard that any man who knows the Self transcends unhappiness; and I am unhappy. Would you then enable me to transcend unhappiness?

Sanatkumar: Everything that you have been studying is no more than a name. Revere the name.

Narad: Is there anything greater than name?

Santkumar: Speech is greater than the name; for speech makes the Vedas and all the other books you have mentioned. Also heaven and earth, wind and space, water and fire, gods and men, beasts and birds, grasses and trees, animals right down to worms, moths and ants, right (dharma) and wrong, truth and falsehood, good and evil, pleasant and unpleasant - these are all made known by speech. Revere speech.

Narad: Is there anything greater than speech?

Sanatkumar: Mind is greater than speech. Mind contains both speech and name. If a man has a mind to study mantras, he studies them; if he has a mind to perform sacred actions, he performs them; if he has a mind to wish for sons and cattle, he then wishes for them; if he has a mind to wish for this world and the next, he then wishes for them. Revere mind.

Narad: Is there anything greater than mind?

Sanatkumar: Will is greater than mind. When a man wills something, then he has it in mind, then he utters speech and formulates it in a name. All these meet in the will. Will is their foundation. Heaven and earth were willed into existence; wind and space were willed into existence; water and fire (tejas) were willed into existence. Because these were willed into existence, rain was willed into existence. Because rain was willed into existence, food was willed into existence. Because food was willed into existence, prana was willed into existence. Because prana was willed into existence, the sacred formulas were willed into existence. Because the sacred formulas were willed into existence, sacred actions (karma) were willed into existence. Because sacred actions were willed into existence, the world was willed into existence. Because the world was willed into existence, all is willed into existence. Revere will.

Narad: Is there anything greater than will?

Sanatkumar: Thought is greater than will. When a man thinks, then he wills, then he has it in mind, then he utters speech and formulates it in a name. All these meet in thought. Tought is their foundation. If a man knows a great deal, but is unthinking, people say of him: 'He is nothing. On the other hand, if even if a man knows only a little, but knows how to think, people are anxious to listen to him. Revere thought.

Narad: Is there anything greater than thought?

Sanatkumar: Meditation (dhyana) is greater than thought. Whenever men achieve greatness on earth, they may be said to have received their due portion of the fruits of meditation. So while small men are quarrelsome, do slanderous gossips, the great men may be said to have received their due portion of the fruits of meditation. Revere meditation.

Narad: Is there anything greater than meditation?

Sanatkumar: Understanding (vijnana) is greater than meditation. For it is with understanding that one understands the Vedas, stories, grammar, arithmetic, divination, chronometry, politics, logic, devavidya and brahmavidya of the scriptures, the way to approach disembodied spirits, archery, rule, astronomy, the art of dealing with snakes, and the fine arts. It is with undersatnding that one understands heaven and earth, wind and space, water and fire (tejas), gods and men, beasts and birds, grasses and trees, animals right down to worms, moths and ants, right (dharma) and wrong, truth and falsehood, good and evil, pleasant and unpleasant, this world and the next. Revere the understanding.

Narad: Is there anything greater than understanding?

Sanatkumar: Strength is greater than understanding. If a man is strong, he will engage in manly effort; and, so engaged, he will serve the wise. Serving the wise, he will become familiar with them. He will become one who truly sees, hears, thinks, is aware, acts and understands. It is by strength alone that the earth and sky and atmosphere subsist, that the mountains subsist, that gods and men subsist, that beasts and birds subsist, that grasses and trees subsist, that animals right down to worms, moths and ants subsist, that the world itself subsists. Revere strength.

Narad: Is there anything greater than strength?

Sanatkumar: Food is greater than strength. If a man abstains from food, although he might still live, he would not be able to see, hear, think, be aware of anything, act or understand. Once he starts to eat again, however, he will be able to see, hear, think, be aware of things, act and understand. Revere food.

Narad: Is there anything greater than food?

Sanatkumar: Water is greater than food. If the rains are deficient, living creatures become ill, thinking that there will be a decrease in food; but if the rains are abundant, living creatures will be over-joyed, thinking that there will be plenty of food. Earth and atmosphere and sky are nothing but water transmuted into different forms; the mountains, gods and men, beasts and birds, grasses and trees, animals right down to worms, moths and ants are nothing but water transmuted into different forms. Revere water.

Narad: Is there anything greater than water?

Sanatkumar: Heat (tejas)is greater than water. For heat seizes hold of the wind and warms up space. Then with lightning flashing upwards and sideways, the thunder roars. And so people say: 'There is thunder and lightning; it is going to rain.' It is heat that gives the first indication of coming rains and that pours down water. Revere heat.

Narad: Is there anything greater than heat?

Sanatkumar: Space is greater than heat. For in space are the Sun and moon, lightning, stars and fire (tejas). Through space, a man calls, through space he hears, and through space he answers. In space does a man take his pleasure, and in space is he distressed: in space is he born and for space is he born. Revere space.

Narad: Is there anything greater than space?

Sanatkumar: Memory is greater than space. If there were a crowd of people who had no memory, they would hear nothing, have a mind to nothing, and recognize nothing. But if their memory was intact, then they would hear, have a mind to do something, and recognize people and things; for it is by memory that one recognizes one's sons and cattle. Revere memory!

Narad: Is there anything greater than memory?

Sanatkumar: Hope is greater than memory. For it is only that when kindled by hope that memory learns the sacred formulas, performs sacred actions, wishes for sons and cattle, wishes for this world and the next. Revere hope.

Narad: Is there anything greater than hope?

Sanatkumar: Brahman is greater than hope. It is the breath of life. Everything is fixed in this breath of life. By life does life itself go on; life gives life, - gives it back to life.

And so if a man is harsh towards his father or mother, brother or sister, teacher or a priest, people will curse him.

But if, when the breath of life has left some people, then if someone were burn them up completely, no one would say to him, 'You have killed your father,' or 'You have killed your mother,' - or your brother or sister or teacher or a priest.

For truly the breath of life (brahman) is all these things; and the man who sees that it is so has it thus in mind and understands that it is so, and becomes enlightened and closer to Brahman.</BODY>

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Bhakta Shakta · March 29, 2001

--

"Uddalaka: So the salt is present even if it is not seen. In the

same way, Sat is not seen though it is immanent in everything in the

universe."

--

I don't understand how this analogy is syllogistic.

Salt dissolves witin water therefore it can't be seen.

What does Sat dissolve with? The five elements?

animesh · March 29, 2001

Hi Bhakta Shakta ji,

Uddalaka wanted to prove that even if something is not seen, it can be present. Salt is not seen because it is dissolved in water. According to Uddalaka, Sar is not perceived because of worldly attachment. So, using figurative language, you can say that it gets dissolved by worldly attachment.

Jahnava Nitai Das · March 30, 2001

Though Brahman is not seen, it pervades the entire material existence. Krishna uses the word avyakta-murti, or unmanifested form, to describe how He pervades all existence.

animesh · April 24, 2001

From Yajur Veda

________________

Find the eternal object of your quest

within your soul.

Enough have you wandered during the

long period of your quest!

Dark and weary must have been the

ages of your searching in ignorance

and groping in helplessness;

At last when you turn your gaze

inward, suddenly you realize that the

bright light of faith and lasting truth

was shining around you.

With rapturous joy, you find the soul

of the universe, the eternal object of

your quest.

Your searching mind at last

finds the object of the seach within

your own heart.

Your inner vision is illuminated by this

new realization.

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