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Veeraswamy Krishnaraj: Tolerance with love is to speak in tongues of all faiths, hold in the heart the Truth of all faiths and see

all faiths in the face of humanity.

 

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About the author:

Veeraswamy Krishnaraj, M.D; F.R.C.P (Canada) is a board certified pediatrician in active practice until the end of 1998. He immersed himself in study of Hinduism in depth. He has sufficient knowledge and understanding of Hindu religion that he is confident to publish this book. He kept the words simple, supple, illuminating and to the point, while retaining the original flavor, beauty and grace. Compound words in Sanskrit are a nightmare for the beginner, as they are spliced together compactly in one continuous stretch of characters. He parsed the compound words into digestible syllables or words with superscripts and sequential numbers and rearranged the words in the verse in a readable form in English. In this book, he claims ownership of shortcomings and cedes the rest to Bhagavan. 

This book is good for students, and devotees reading the Bhagavad-Gita in Satsang (true company). Two verses nestle in two boxes in one page with no break or carry-over to the next page. Diacritics help the reader enunciate the words like a Sanskritist. The English words are reader-friendly. Wherever there is a need for elaboration, an addendum supports it.

Simplicity, authority, universality, and profundity are the hallmark of the Bhagavadgita, the Bible of the Hindus. The Bhagavadgita is the Song of the Lord. It provides guidelines for daily living with no dogmas and ritual overtones. It encourages and supports your individuality. It also explains the consequence of errant ways. Total surrender to Bhagavan releases the devotee from the ills of life on earth. Hinduism as a term is an external appellation from non-Hindus. Its true name is Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Law or Eternal Order) commensurate with Rta (Cosmic Order). The beauty about the Bhagavadgita is its appeal is universal.

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09/21/2017

 

Chapter Five:  Yoga of Renunciation of  Action

5.1: Arjuna said:

O Krishna, You praised (extolled) the yoga of renunciation of action and then the yoga of action. Of these two, tell me for sure which is better.

 

Arjuna wants clarification from Krishna. Krishna praised both karma yoga and Sannyāsa for gaining liberation even for an accomplished jnāna yogi. Arjuna wanted to know for sure which one is better.

5.2:  Sri Bhagavan said:

Both renunciation of action and performance of action lead to salvation. Of the two, karma yoga (yoga of action) is better than renunciation of action.

 

Karma yoga can become part of one's daily activities more easily than renunciation of action. A total renunciation of action is a difficult proposition. Between Karma yoga and Jnāna yoga, Jnāna yoga is more difficult because it has an intellectual flavor. Not that it is better or only the intelligent ones can continue to practice it; but it is not suitable for every one. It takes study of Vedanta and its application to the nature of the world; it takes more discipline, control of the mind and the senses, and an integrated person to perform Jnāna yoga. Vedic doctrine of liberation forms the basis for Jnāna and Karma yoga, while devotion to a chosen or desired deity is the centerpiece of  Bhakti yoga.

Karma yoga is cleansing of the mind by selfless work and has two conditions:  Vairagya (nonattachment) and practice. As a motto, Karma yogi says, “Not me, but you, service before self (my interest).”   “No pain, no gain” means pain (effort) for the yogi and gain for the recipients of yogi’s wisdom

 

5.3:  It is common knowledge the enduring renouncer (nityasannyāsi) neither detests nor desires; he is free from dualities, O Mighty-armed one; and he finds release easily from bondage.

 

Sannyāsa is the fourth stage in the life of the twice born; Brahmacharya (student), Grihasthya (householder), and Vanaprathya (hermit) are the preceding stages. The fourth stage namely Sannyāsa (the renouncer) is giving up of all the duties of  preceding stages and dharma that goes with them. The aim is to gain moksa or liberation. The Ksatriyas and Vaisyas can go up to stage three, that of a hermit, and the Sudra has to stop at stage two, that of a householder. A Brahmana only,  by convention, can practice Sannyasa. The Grihastya stage is the most important stage of all, because it supports all other stages. In Vanaprathya the practitioner gives up artha, kāma and dharma (accumulation of wealth, raising a family and performing his duties); and his sole aim is moksa or liberation of soul.

 

There are six kinds of renouncers, Avadutta, being the most austere.

 

Item

Kutichaka

Bahudaka

Hamsa

Paramahamsa

Turiyatita

Avadhuta

Tuft

Yes

Yes

Matted hair

No Tuft

unshaven

No rules

Sacred thread

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No obligation

Staff

Yes

Yes

Yes

Bamboo staff

No

No obligation

Water vessel or Kamandalu, Pitaka (pedestal),  Khanitra (shovel), Sikya (sling)

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No obligation

Loin cloth

Yes

Yes

Yes. piece of cloth covering his mouth

Yes. single clothing

No clothes

No obligation

Vessel, Spade, Sikya

Yes

Yes

yes

Cupped palms are his bowl

No

No obligation

Forehead mark

Vertical line

three horizontal lines or vertical mark

Horizontal or vertical

 

 

No obligation

Holy ashes on body

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No obligation

Food

eats well food. received from one house

eight mouthfuls gathered from different sources like a bee. choose food at random from any house.

eight mouthfuls gathered from eight different houses like a bee

A total of five mouthfuls gathered from five houses like a bee. Eat one meal only at night.

Prefers fruit; three mouthfuls from three houses. eats like a cow without use of hands. take food from all classes. fed by others.

eats when and if food is offered. He is like a python; the food comes to him and he does not ask for food

Asramas

4th stage

4th stage

4th stage

4th stage

Beyond 4th stage

Beyond 4th stage

possessions

Limited

Limited

Limited

Limited

may discard sacred books, staff, vessel, cloth etc.

None

language

Speaks

speaks

speaks

speaks

 Mostly silent

No rules

Worship

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No worship, No pilgrimage

No

Heaven

Bhuvarloka

Svargaloka

Tapoloka

Satyaloka

Final Beatitude

Final Beatitude

 

An Avadutta will not cross, wade, or swim in a river for he only takes air baths. He will not climb a tree to pick a fruit. He waits like a python for the food to come to him; he has to be fed; If he is not fed he will not eat and goes hungry.   Please go to  Avadhuta  for more details.     

 

5.4:  The ignorant, but not the learned (Panditah) say that Sankhya (yoga) and (karma) yoga are different. One who is expert in one gets the benefit of fruits of both.

 

            The aim of the various kinds of yogas is to destroy ego and find one’s true identity, that is Atman; and the result is the experience, Kaivalya, bliss and liberation. Kaivalya is the state of absolute freedom and splendid isolation; Purusa detaches itself from prakriti. Before one experiences Kaivalya or Samadhi, one should make sure that one meets certain qualifications, known as Angas (which means limbs or body parts):

(1) Yama (don’ts): sexual abstinence (celibacy), ahimsa (noninjury), no lies, no theft, no greed. 

(2) Niyama (dos): meditation on Brahman or Isvara; silence (mauna); study of Vedas (svādyāya), Upanishads, and moksa-promoting books; repeating of mantra OM; Tapas (ascetic practice); Sauca (clean body and mind) ; Santosha (contentment); Isvara Pranidhāna (submission to God, God-Pleasing actions).

(3) Asana*: body positions and postures.

(4) Prānayama: breath control .

     (5) Pratyahara (withdrawal): no contact between senses and objects of senses. This should come natural to him.

(6) Dharana: concentration and focus of mind on an object or idea .

      (7) Dyana: meditation.

      (8) Samādhi: Convergence, one-pointedness, Subject and object (Yogi) unity.

 

Asana*: Go to file Tantra Three Tirumantiram for details on Asanas.

 

 

As you see, this is demanding. Once somebody has gone through the angas and jnāna yoga, he is already a renouncer. In another commentary, I will describe Bhakti yoga, Saranāgati and Prapatti (self-surrender and resignation to God) which the Alvars practiced. Once a Yogi (Jivakoti) attains Samadhi, he has for ever left behind human consciousness and functions at a higher Consciousness. An Isvarakoti can ascend and descend between Higher Consciousness and lower consciousness. Isvarakotis are divine incarnations like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Ramana Maha Rishi.

Ascending these angas or steps is stepwise and progressive with no skips and jumps: first Yama, Niyama and Asana bring the body under control; second the breath comes under control; Pratyahara brings the senses under control; Dharana, Dyana and Savikalpa Samadhi bring the Manas (mind) to cessation (Ni-vritti) and buddhi alone shines. Further progress from Savikalpa to Nirvikalpa Samadhi takes the Yogi to a state of union of his atma with Brahman.

 

Most of the schools of yoga, voluntary (non-profit) and commercial organizations, teach only what sells easily: Asana, Pranayama, Dharana and Dyana. It is hard to sell and practice the foundation pieces, Yama and Niyama. Kaivalya and Samādhi without Yama and Niyama are hard to achieve.

Swami Sivananda says:

If you want Samadhi, you must know well the process of Dhyana. If you want Dhyana, you must know accurately the method of Dharana. If you want Dharana, you must know perfectly the method of Pratyahara. If you want Pratyahara, you must know Pranayama. If you want Pranayama you must know Asana well. Before going to the practice of Asana, you should have Yama and Niyama. There is no use of jumping into Dhyana without having the various preliminary practices. (page 154, Kundalini Yoga)

 

 

This is what Woodroffe says:

    

The statement of such obvious truths would hardly be necessary were it not that there are still some who see in all Yoga mere " Shamanism,  feats of breathing,  acrobatic posturing," and so forth. On the contrary, no country since the Middle Ages and until our own has laid greater stress on the necessity of the association of morality and religion with all forms of human activity, than India has done.

The practice of Yama and Niyama leads to renunciation of, and detachment from, the things of this world and of the next,  arising from the knowledge of the permanent and impermanent, and intense desire for and incessant striving after emancipation, which characterizes him who is Mumuksu, or longs for Liberation. --The Serpent Power, page 191-192, para 1.

 

    

5.5: The place which is achieved by Sankhya Yogi is attained by karma Yogi also. He, who sees Sankhya yoga and karma yoga as one, sees (the truth).

The place = sthānaṁ4 = State of Liberation.

यत्सांख्यैः प्राप्यते स्थानं तद्योगैरपि गम्यते ।

एकं सांख्यं च योगं च यः पश्यति स पश्यति ॥५- ५॥

yat  sāṁkhyaiḥ prāpyate sthānaṁ tad yogair api gamyate
ekaṁ sāṁkhyaṁ ca yogaṁ ca yaḥ paśyati sa paśyati  5.5

sāṁkhyaiḥ2 = by Sankhya; yat1prāpyate3 = that is reached; sthānaṁ4 = place [state of Liberation]; tat5 = that; yogai6 = by the Yogis; api7  = also; gamyate8  =is attained; ekam9  = one; khyam10  = Saṅkhya; ca11  = and; yogam12  = Yoga; ca13  = and; yaḥ14  = who; paśyati15  =sees; sa16  = he; paśyati17  = sees really.

 

5.6: But renunciation without karma yoga, O Mighty armed one, is difficult to attain. One engaged in karma yoga is a munih or sage and attains Brahman without any delay.

 

Attaining to Brahman with karma yoga is easier than with Jnāna yoga.  Reaching Brahman is different from merging with Brahman. In Sankaracharya’s Advaita theory the jiva becomes one with Brahman, once ignorance lifts, and knowledge of Brahman is not far off. In Ramanujacharya's theory, atomic souls (Jiva) are distinct and separate entities, although the original source was Brahman; once it becomes an atomic entity (anu), it will not merge with God or Brahman, on liberation; but they remain as separate entities in closeness to Brahman. In Vaikuntha or Heaven, it lives a life in close friendship with Vishnu, on gaining moksa or liberation after death. Ramanuja does not believe in Jivan mukti, that is liberation before death, while Videhamukta is moksa or liberation of the life monad or anu after death.

 

   Sayings Sri Ramakrishna
Emancipated soul = Jivan Mukta. Corporeal liberation, liberation while alive is an important tenet of Saivism.

953. How does the emancipated soul live in the world?  

 

He lives in the world like the diver-bird. It dives into water, but the water does not wet its plumage; the few drops of water which may possibly stick to its body are easily shaken off when it once flaps its wings.   

Comment: Water here means merits and demerits which accumulate karma with resultant rebirth. In Jivan Mukti, the liberated soul does not accumulate karma, though he is engaged in worldly acts.

Tantrics of Kularnava Tantra believe in merging with Brahman, the Mother Goddess (here called Brahmamayi). The individual soul merges into the Mother as a river merges into the sea, losing its identity. It is called Brahmakaivalya or Nirvana. The Great Mother (Brahman/Brahmamayi) who is Consciousness without attributes, body, and parts, beyond the grasp of mind and speech, assumes forms for the sake of Sadhakas. Tantrics believe that the Brahmamayi assumes the form of Vishnu, Siva, and Brahma under names Brahmamayi, Vishnumayi, Sivamayi or Rudramayi. She is the creator, maintainer and destroyer.

Vaikuntha is a vast region in the sky, supreme and effulgent. It is 18 crores Yojanas (14 billion miles) above the earth. All other regions, except Goloka, are below Vaikuntha. Honey flows freely in the land of Vaikuntha. Wish-yielding trees burst forth continuously with all-season extravaganza, all at the same time. The residents enjoy bounty of nature including singing birds, amenities like golden chariots and company with women with extraordinary beauty and winning smiles, not appealing to earthbound passions.

 

The word Muni is a derivation from Maunam: maunam is silence and the practitioner is a muni.

 

The Muni, the Gods, and the Wind in Vedas

Muni, the silent one, with his long hair flying in the wind and the saffron cloth billowing, follows the wind and goes where gods have gone before. His munihood is his calling card and passport to regions, where mortal men can never take their bodies. Every time a god needs an assistant, there you see a muni in attendance.  There he is, the same moment the god makes a wish. Such is the glory of a muni. He flies faster than the wind (and thought), leaving us poor embodied souls breathless and sitting still. Such is his speed and agility.  When could I drop my sloth, and slumber?   Please tell me how and when?  Could I ever be a muni? Is it in my cards?  Could I go where muni goes, please tell me?  Vayu (the wind god) is the best friend of a muni. Vayu’s steed stands waiting to take the muni to the oceans east and west. The steed knows the sylvan beasts, Gandharvas and Apsaras, but unafraid, gallops along, with muni at the reins. The wind caresses his locks and his flowing beard. What tenderness!  What sweetness!  What friendship!   Vayu, riding along, churns and bends to aid muni's passage. He is the muni who drinketh water from a cup with Rudra. Note: Vishnu created Vayu, Brahma and Rudra.

 

Gandharvas and Apsaras are celestial males and females respectively, engaged in fun and frolic, dance and music; they are the purveyors of soma juice for the gods. Soma juice, whose identity as a drink has a shroud of mystery. There are several conflicting reports on the identity of the plant’s juice; it caused inebriation and hallucinations. It might be a mushroom juice from Amanita muscaria; according to scriptures, the priests (and the gods) imbibed the soma juice before initiating sacrifices.

 

5.7:  A karma yogi, who is a pure soul and a conqueror of his self and his senses, and who identifies his self with the selves of all beings, although engaged in work, shows no change or stain.

 

Karma yoga, pure by itself, does not take on any taint, if the actions are pure and virtuous; if the senses are under control; if one performs god-loving acts and identifies his self with the self in others. Qualities (gunas) and modifications of Prakrti make the difference between gods and men; but the difference never affects the self, which is the same and equal in all. Karma yogi uses his body in the service of man and god: use of the body in karma yoga is forgivable and his work does not taint his soul because karma yogi works in uplifting the self of each person, he serves. The doer of this karma is the self itself and the beneficiary is one's own self or other selves; hence, actions are not binding, do not cause any karmic inflows into the subtle body and carry no taint.  Karma yoga is easier than Jnāna yoga and offers benefits sooner.

A true karma yogi saves others before he saves himself.  Ramanuja said that he would rather go to hell with all the sins of the world and thus save the world with his mantra than to use it for himself. That mantra is "Om Namo Narayana." Alvars considered serving the devotees of Narāyana as serving Lord Narāyana Himself.  

Isa Upanishad (Verse 6) says that he, who sees his self in all beings and the selves of all beings in his own self, entertains no doubt (about his conviction): Brahman is One and his manifestations are many.

 

5.8:  He is steady in yoga, knows the truth, and thinks without doubt that he does not do anything, while seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, moving, sleeping, breathing,   (Continued in next verse)

 

5.9:  speaking, discharging (evacuation), grasping, opening, or closing his eyes. He realizes the senses act in the realm of sense objects. 

 

All as described earlier, these are the products of prakrti: five sensory organs, five motor organs, manas, and prānas. Tanmatras (merely that) by their nature act in the realm of senses and their matching sense organs; some of them are under voluntary control and some are not. The self itself wallows in the senses but its higher nature is stainless. It is like pebble in a river; it is wet from water but is not soaking wet with water. It is like diamond in dirt, but diamond is not dirt. 

 

5.10:  He, who dedicates his works to Brahman without attachment to work, is never subject to sin as a lotus leaf (does not get wet) by water.

 

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa says the following in reference to this verse: Sayings of Ramakrishna Page 88, Saying 268: What is the state of man who is in the world but is free from attachments?  He is like the lotus leaf in the water, or like a mud-fish in the marsh. Neither of these is polluted by the element in which it lives. The water wets not the leaf, nor does the mud stain the glossy coat of the fish.

Once the work is a dedication to the highest Self, action is not binding, and proceeds from Atman itself.  In this context, Brahman is prakrti, the progenitor of all senses, sense organs and actions. By his actions, the yogi is essentially acting in the realm of prakrti; but once the yogi dedicates his actions to and identifies himself with Atman, sin or karma does not contaminate his actions. Ramana Says, “Work is no work, karma is akarma, when there is no sense of doership.”  The (images of) fire or flood in the cinema (celluloid) does not affect the white screen (or the celluloid itself) on which the images appear (are projected). There is so much of talk about work and attachment (but not about dedication) to work. Thought, speech and deed generate karma with three results: neutral, positive and negative. (More on the results later) This karma is the cause of rebirth. The thrust of this message is on the means and methods to avoid rebirth or transmigration of the soul, and reach Brahman or gain eternal bliss by dedicating the work to the Lord. Simply put, dedicate the work to the Lord and thus neutralize karma caused by actions.

 

5.11:  The yogis perform actions with body, mind, intelligence, and senses without attachment for purifying the self.

 

  The Principal Upanisads page 100-101-102. Dr. Radhakrishnan. Sep 23, 2013

The Taittirīya Upaniṣad reduces the knowledge of the Vedas to an inferior position by assigning it to mano-maya (mind-made) self which has to be surmounted before final truth is attained. The self is perceived, according to the Kaṭha  Upaniṣad, not by logical reason but by spiritual contemplation, adhyātma-yoga. The real is not attained by force of intellect or by much learning but is revealed to the aspirant whose will is at rest in Him. We realise God by the clarity of illumination, jñāna-prasādena

The Bṛhad-āranyaka Upaniṣad teaches that, while those who put their trust in the intellect cannot attain to a knowledge of Brahman, yet there is an apprehension of His being by those who are childlike.  Bālya includes humility, receptivity or teachableness and an earnest search. The writer asks us to give up the pride of learning, pāṇḍitya. A self-denial which includes our intellectual pride and power is demanded. Purity of intellect is different from congestion of it. To attain purity of vision, we require a childlike nature which we can get by tranquillising the senses, simplifying the heart and cleaning the mind.

It is through quietening the strivings of the will and the empirical intellect that the conditions are realised for the revelation of the Supreme in the individual soul. 'Therefore having become calm, subdued, quiet, patiently enduring and collected, one sees the Self just m the self.

Even as we have an intellectual discipline for the theoretical understanding of the world, we have a moral and spiritual discipline for the direct apprehension of truth. Even as we cannot understand the art of swimming by talking about it and can learn it only by getting into the water and practising swimming, so also no amount of theoretical knowledge can serve as a substitute for the practice of the life of spirit. We can know God only by becoming godlike. To become godlike is to become aware of the light in us, by returning consciously to the divine centre within us, where we have always been without our knowing it. Detachment (vairāgya) is the essential

means for the attainment of wisdom (jñāna). Only the pure in heart can see God.

We must cultivate a religious disposition. God is revealed only to those who believe that He is. When in doubt, later tradition asks us to give the benefit of the doubt to the theist. For if there is no God, there is no harm in believing in Him; if there is, the atheist would suffer. Faith, as trust in the universe, in its reliability, in its essential soundness and decency, is the starting-point of spiritual development.

Spiritual inclination is essential for the pursuit of spiritual life. In the Bṛhad-āranyaka. Upaniṣad, Yājñavālkya  offers to divide all his earthly possessions between his two wives, Kātyāyanī and Maitreyī. The latter asks whether the whole world filled with wealth can give her life eternal. Yājñavālkya  says: 'No, your life will be just like that of people who have plenty of things, but there is no hope of life eternal through wealth.' Maitreyī spurns the riches of the world remarking, 'What shall I do with that which will not make me immortal?' Yājñavālkya  recognises the spiritual fitness of his wife and teaches her the highest wisdom.

Bible: Matthew 19:23 Jesus said to his disciples, “I can guarantee this truth: It will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24. I can guarantee again that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Matt 19:23-24 (GW)

 

Ethical preparation is insisted on. If we do not abstain from wrong-doing, if we are not composed in our minds, we cannot attain to spiritual wisdom. Our moral being must be purged of all evil. The Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad tells us that we should cleanse our natures to reach the goal, since even a mirror can reflect an image properly only if it is cleansed of its impurities. We must renounce selfish desire, surrender material possessions, become bereft of egotism. The path is 'sharp as the edge of a razor and hard to cross, difficult to tread.

A teacher who has attained the goal may help the aspiring soul. Truth has not only to be demonstrated but also communicated. It is relatively easy to demonstrate a truth, but it can be communicated only by one who has thought, willed and 

felt the truth. Only a teacher can give it with its concrete quality. He that has a teacher knows, ācāryavān puruṣo veda. Only he must be a proper teacher who embodies truth and tradition. Only those who have the flame in them can stir the fire in others.

The individual should develop the habit of introversion, of abstracting from the outside world and looking within himself.  By a process of abstraction, we get behind knowing, feeling and willing to the essential Self, the God within. We must silence our speech, mind and will. We cannot hear the voice of the still spirit in us, so long as we are lost in vain talk, mental rambling and empty desires. The mind must strip away its outer sheaths in complete detachment, return to its inward quiet and fix its attention on the essential Self which is the ground and reality of the whole universe. The MuṇḍakaUpaniṣad brings out the need for concentrated attention and undistracted effort2 An ordered, disciplined training of all our powers, a change of mind, heart and will is demanded.

Several forms of meditation are advised Symbols (pratīka) are used as supports for meditation. We are free to use the symbols which are most in conformity with our personal tendencies. Meditation on the praṇava is suggested in the Maṇḍūkya Upaniṣad

It is said that the Self cannot be realised except by those whom the Self chooses. Self-realisation is possible through the grace of the Divine God-vision is the fruit of strenuous effort and Divine grace. Only the Spirit in us can raise us to the spiritual status. The Real, which is the basis of this manifold world of things and minds, can be apprehended directly and immediately only by those who fulfil certain conditions and submit to the leadings of the spirit. We do not so much hold the idea of the Real as the idea holds us We are possessed by it. Vidyā and avidya are two ways of apprehending Reality.

 

 

5.12: A yogin, giving up the fruits of his actions, attains everlasting peace arising from steadfastness. The man ignorant of yoga, wanting in faith, by induction of desires, and attached to fruits of actions is ever bound.

 

    From 'The Sayings of Sir Ramakrishna' by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

216. A husbandman was watering a sugar-cane field throughout the day. After finishing his task he saw that not a drop of water had entered the field; all the water had run underground through several big rat-holes. Such is the state of the devotee who worships God, secretly cherishing ambitions and worldly desires in his heart. Though he may be praying daily, he makes no progress because his entire devotion runs to waste through the rat-holes of these desires, and at the end of his lifelong devotion, he remains the same as before.

 

217. Why does the mind become unsteady when engaged in contemplation? The fly sits at times on the sweetmeats kept exposed for sale in the shop of the confectioner; but when a scavenger passes by with a basketful of filth, the fly leaves the sweets and at once settles on the filth. On the other hand, the bee in search of honey sits only on flowers and never on filthy objects. Worldly men, like flies, get occasionally a momentary taste of the sweetness of Divine love, but their natural hankering after filth soon brings them back to the dung-hill of worldliness. The great Paramahamsas are, however, always absorbed in the contemplation and enjoyment of Divine love.

 

 

5.13:  The embodied soul, while controlling all his activities, renouncing them in his mind, and remaining in happiness in the city of nine gates, neither works nor causes any work.

 

Depicting the soul as a person or body.

The nine gates of the embodied soul are two ears,  two eyes, two nostrils, mouth, reproductive and evacuative organs. The individual soul by itself is pristine in its free state and has no karmic loads. But once the soul wraps itself with the body and other sheaths, it takes on a load of karma, its fruits and consequences. Once there is no more karmic inflow, by controlling all activities, that embodied soul is action-free and is ready for moksa.

 

5.14:  The Lord (the Self) does create neither the doership, nor the activities of people, nor the connection between the activities and their fruits. But one's own Nature prevails.

 

The Self is neither the doer, nor the act, nor the fruit, nor the connector between the act and the fruit. These come naturally, according to the vāsanās that cling to the subtle body. The law of karma is inexorable and even Lord Krishna had to die (from an arrow shot) at the hands of a hunter, for karma is the supreme law; demands resolution on this earth before death, if liberation is the goal; or has to be erased by the grace of God. Karma explains the disparity and differences among family members, communities, societies, boroughs, counties, states, countries, races, and all unexplained and explained events, such as wars, accidents, deaths, massacres, famines, prosperity and poverty among nations. Meritorious karma results in meritorious fruits and unmeritorious karma results in unpleasant results; if one keeps on doing good acts, he will take birth repeatedly enjoying the good fruits. But the best state is null karma (Acarpous Karma) . Pure Freedom, according to Ramanamaha Rishi, is getting rid off all vāsanās, good and bad, which ensures moksa or liberation. 

The Lord does not create doership, activities, connection, and their fruits.  His own incarnation follows that pattern. The story behind his incarnation illustrates this point. Krishna takes his incarnations to destroy adharma and establish dharma. He himself could not escape the long arm of karma. Vishnu’s incarnations were due to that karma. Once the Asuras took shelter in hermitage of Bhrgu Muni. Vishnu, Indra and other lesser gods seized the hermitage and Bhrgu’s wife pleaded with gods and asked them to leave her hermitage forthwith. She threatened to burn them down with the fire of her Tapas. At the suggestion of Indra, Vishnu killed Bhrgu’s wife. (Bhrgu once kicked Vishnu on his chest. The story on that incident is in the supplement section titled “The Cagey Sages.”) Bhrgu Muni cast a curse on Vishnu saying that he would be born a human being seven times. Bhrgu, being a muni and sage, brought his wife back to life immediately for them to witness his power.  

 

5.15:  The all-pervading Brahman or Supreme accepts neither the sin nor the merit of anyone. Ignorance envelops wisdom, deluding the living creatures.  

 

            Brahman = Expansion, growth, all-pervasion.

“Everyone's sins and merits are his own.” It is unlike Christianity, in which Jesus Christ assumes the sins. Here Vibhu refers to Brahman, Narāyana, or Krishna pervading the whole universe. It is not the individual soul as explained by Ramanuja. The Sankara's Brahman is all-pervasive and there is no difference between Jiva and Brahman: They are the same. The world is a product of māyā and Avidya. Once ignorance and māyā attenuate and disappear, realization of Brahman becomes reality and Sankara's Jivas merge with Brahman on liberation. Ramana Maharishi advises his devotees to assume responsibility for their deeds and says, “If you concede that all your deeds are Siva's deeds, your being is not different from Siva's. If it is different and you claim freedom, then your deeds are yours, NOT Siva's at all."

Now the exception according Siddhantist. The deeds of enlightened souls (deeds of Ramana Maha Rishi) do not engender Karma. Siva degerms the seeds of karma-producing deeds of the enlightened souls, buries them in Maya (material cause of the universe and beings according to Saiva Siddhantist) and consigns them to rot and decay.

KAma (lust), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Moha (delusion), Mada (pride), and MAtsarya (envy) are the commonly known six sins.

Wisdom, ignorance, and delusion

According to Vallabha's philosophy of Suddhadvaita or Pure Monism, Krishna is God or Brahman or the Supreme. Vallabha's world is NOT an illusion as Sankara’s universe. The individual soul is part of Brahman; it is like a spark in the fire; it and Brahman are identical. Jiva pervades the whole being as the sandalwood aroma pervades the room. Jiva is Brahman with a difference: It is atomic in size and does not enjoy Brahman’s consciousness and bliss – which remain in a potential state- unless it gains liberation. Jiva is enveloped by Avidyam (ignorance of not appreciating that Brahman and Jiva have organic relationship with one another.) As dirt covers the diamond, I-ness, ahankāra, and the products of Prakrti cover and burden the jiva (individual soul, monad). This embodiment of Jiva by the body and samsāra (transmigratory existence or life on earth) are illusions created by I-ness or ego. Jiva forgets its origin and the support it gets from Brahman. This I-ness sets Jiva up for a conflict with other jivas and the world around it. This web of false relations with other jivas and the world around it is māyā:  Soul’s body, its relationship with other jivas, and samsāra are all māyā or illusion. Achintya Bhedabheda: (Incomprehensible difference - non-difference) According to this, the individual souls are like sparks bursting out of  the fire. Yes, the Jivas are non-different from Bhagavan because they are made of the same constitution. Yes, the Jivas are different from Bhagavan because Isvara (Bhagavan) is the Lord, Master and Controller of Maya Sakti and the Jivas come under the control of Isvara and His Maya.

 

5.16:   For those, in whom knowledge of the Self destroys ignorance, that knowledge lights up or illumines the Supreme like the sun.

 

The self itself is pristine, but ignorance and inflow of karma taint it. Knowledge of the self in a person contracts with karma in samsāra, and expands with moksa or liberation. Atman has two kinds of knowledge: to paraphrase Ramanuja, one is knowledge of self, or self-awareness; and the other is external awareness (awareness of objects other than itself). 

The external awareness of self contracts with ignorance and expands with knowledge. It is like saying that you know your "self,"  but are ignorant of matters other than your "self." When that knowledge dawns, it is like the rising sun. According to Jains, the three jewels (Ratna Triya) are Right Belief, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct.  

There are others who interpret it differently. Ignorance is defined as not knowing the difference between the body and the soul (self): Body-soul identification is ignorance. In reality they are two entities. The ego, the veiling wall of darkness, asserts mine-ness of the body and the world and conceals the self, that is the sun. The self is stable and immutable in its structure, functions and stance, while the ego's targets, aspirations, and desires change with time and age. Self's stability against changing desires is the nature of reality; destruction of ego and embracing of the stable self amount to destruction of ignorance and acquisition of knowledge. The self is like the sun and the ego of ignorance is like darkness, dissipation of which along with acquisition of knowledge of the self reveals the sun and reality. 

Gandhi says (paraphrase) that the self shines in the spiritual heart; the darkness of ignorance envelopes the light that is knowledge. When the darkness of ignorance is destroyed, the light of God is revealed. Knowledge is to be obedient to God and act according to his prompts.

There are four elements in this verse: the knowledge or the wisdom of the self, ignorance, the sun, and the Supreme. Self's inherent quality is light and wisdom, while ignorance is ego and not knowing the duality of self (soul) and body. Once the ignorance is destroyed, the innate wisdom of the self reveals the Supreme, that is Parmataman, as the sun illumines its universe.

 

Could the seven horses of the sun be the Rainbow colors: VIBGYOR (= Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red?

 

5.17:  They, whose intelligence, mind, and faith are steady in Him and who have taken refuge in the supreme, attain That (Supreme abode) from where there is no return, having cleaned their sin by knowledge.

 

5.18:  A punditah (sage) regards (sees) with an equal eye a learned humble Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and even a dog-eater. 

 

  Biocentrism and Biocentrist Concur with ancient Hindu thoughts.  January 15, 2014.

Hinduism

In Hinduism: Hinduism contains many elements of biocentrism. In Hinduism, humans have no special authority over other creatures, and all living things have souls ('atman'). Brahman (God) is the "efficient cause" and Prakrti (nature), is the "material cause" of the universe.[22] However, Brahman and Prakrti are not considered truly divided: "They are one in the same, or perhaps better stated, they are the one in the many and the many in the one." [22]

However, while Hinduism does not give the same direct authority over nature that the Judeo-Christian God grants, they are subject to a "higher and more authoritative responsiblity for creation."[22][unreliable source?] The most important aspect of this is the doctrine of Ahimsa (non-violence). The Yājñavalkya Smṛti warns, "the wicked person who kills animals which are protected has to live in hell fire for the days equal to the number of hairs on the body of that animal."[22] The essential aspect of this doctrine is the belief that the Supreme Being incarnates into the forms of various species. The Hindu belief in Saṃsāra (the cycle of life, death and rebirth) encompasses reincarnation into non-human forms. It is believed that one lives 84,000 lifetimes before one becomes a human. Each species is in this process of samsara until one attains moksha (liberation).

Another doctrinal source for the equal treatment of all life is found in the Rigveda. The Rigveda states that trees and plants possess divine healing properties. It is still popularly believed that every tree has a Vriksa-devata (a tree deity). Trees are ritually worshiped through prayer, offerings, and the sacred thread ceremony. The Vriksa-devata worshiped as manifestations of the Divine. Tree planting is considered a religious duty.[22]

The paradigm of biocentrism and the values that it promotes are beginning to be used in law.

In recent years, cities in Maine, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Virginia have adopted laws that protect the rights of nature.[19] The purpose of these laws is to prevent the degradation of nature; especially by corporations who may want to exploit natural resources and land space, and to also use the environment as a dumping ground for toxic waste.[19]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biocentrism_(ethics)

Last Thursday (9th Jan 2014), reports of a strong licorice-like odor led to the discovery of a leak from a chemical storage tank at Freedom Industries in Charleston, W.Va. The leak released an estimated 7,500 gallons of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol into the Elk River, a tributary of the Kanawha. The site is about two miles upstream from the intake at West Virginia American Water's treatment plant that provides drinking water for some 300,000 residents of nine counties in the Charleston area, who were ordered to stop using tap water for anything besides flushing toilets.--News reports January 13, 2014 http://www.southernstudies.org

 

A sage looks at all living beings with an equal eye because he see the SELF in each one of them.

Then he said. 'Verily, not for the sake of the husband is the husband dear but a husband is dear for the sake of the Self. Verily, not for the sake of the wife is the wife dear but a wife is dear for the sake of the Self. Verily, not for the sake of the sons are the sons dear but the sons are dear for the sake of the Self. Verily, not for the sake of wealth is wealth dear but wealth is dear for the sake of the Self. Verily, not for the sake of Brahminhood is brahminhood dear but brahminhood is dear for the sake of the Self. Verily, not for the sake of kṣatriyahood is kṣatriyahood dear but kṣatriyahood is dear for the sake of the Self. Verily, not for the sake of the worlds are the worlds dear but the worlds are dear for the sake of the Self. Verily, not for the sake of the gods are the gods dear but the gods are dear for the sake of the Self. Verily, not for the sake of the beings are the beings dear but the beings are dear for the sake of the Self. Verily, not for the sake of all is all dear but all is dear for the sake of the Self. Verily, O Maitreyī , it is the Self that should be seen, heard of, reflected on and meditated upon. Verily, by the seeing of, by the hearing of, by the thinking of, by the understanding of the Self, all this is known.

Page 197 Brhad-aranyaka Upanisad. The Principal Upanisads. By Dr. Radhakrishnan.  October 2, 2013. 

 

 

 

   Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna

960. When a man is on the plains, he sees the lowly grass and the mighty pine tree and says, "How big is the tree and how small is the grass!" But when he ascends the mountain and looks down from its high peak, the grass and the tree blend into one indistinguishable mass of verdure. So, in the sight of worldly men, there are differences of rank and one is a king and another is a cobbler; one is a father and another is a son; and so on. But when the divine vision is attained, all appear equal; and there remains no distinction of good and bad, or of high and low.

 

Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna, page 306
Dangers of misunderstood philosophy

1076. A teacher once instructed his disciple, "Everything that exists is God," The disciple understood this instruction literally and not in its true spirit. One day, while he was passing through a street, he came across an elephant. The driver (Mahut) shouted aloud from the back of the animal, "Move away, move away!" The disciple, however, argued within himself, "Why should I move away? I am God and so also is the elephant. What fear has God from Himself?" Reflecting thus, he did not move. So the elephant caught hold of him by his trunk and dashed him aside. He was hurt severely, and going back to his teacher, related the whole story. The teacher then said, "All right. You are God and the elephant too is God; but God in the shape of the elephant-driver was warning you from above. Why did you not pay heed to His warning?  

 

1073. A Rajah was once taught by his Guru the sacred doctrine of Advaita (Monism), which declares that the whole universe is Brahman (God). The king was very much pleased with this doctrine. Going in, he said to his queen, "There is no distinction between the queen and the queen's maidservant.  

So the maid-servant shall be my queen henceforth." The queen was thunderstruck at this mad proposal of her lord. She sent for the Guru and complained to him in a piteous tone, "Sir, look at the pernicious result of your teachings," and told him what had occurred. The Guru consoled the queen and said, "When you serve dinner to the king today, have a potful of cowdung also served along with the dish of rice." At dinner-time the Guru and the king sat down together to eat. Who could imagine the rage of the king when he saw a dish of cow-dung served for his meal! The Guru, seeing this, calmly interrogated, "Your Highness, you are well-versed in the knowledge of Advaita. Why do you then see any distinction between the dung and the rice?"

 

The king became exasperated and exclaimed, "You who pride yourself to be such a great Advaitin (Monistic philosopher), eat this dung if you can." The Guru said, "Very well," and at once changed himself into a swine and devoured the cow-dung with great gusto and afterwards again assumed his human shape. The king became so ashamed that he never made again his mad proposal to the queen.  

 

 

             The Hindu sacred texts glorify a humble Brahmin because he lives for god, man and other beings. Since he is a preceptor, a man of god, and god’s representative on earth, even his shadow is sacred and therefore, one should not step on his shadow (Garuda Purana 1.96.54).  Brahmins, snakes, Ksatriyas, and Atman (Brahman) should never be insulted (GP 1.96.55). Daily study of Vedas is mandatory for a Brahmin who should never desire for wealth. He can take charity from a king, a pupil or his clan member to satisfy his hunger (GP 1.96.35).

GP (1.213.3) states the duties of a Brahmin are explained in Sruti and Smrti, which are his two eyes. The guiding principles of a Brahmin come from Sruti, Smrti and the virtuous acts of others. Truth, charity, sympathy, renunciation, knowledge, sacrifice, worship and self-control are the eight qualities of the virtuous.  

 

Krishna Paramatma expresses a similar sentiment in The Uddhava Gita, Dialogue Five, Verse 7. In this instance, Krishna includes things and people in the list. Since things have Self, wanton destruction of things is not respecting the Self.

   

7 All people and things must become equal

In the eyes of such a devotee ­

Be they spouse, children, home or wealth, Friends or relatives.

The devotee must seek only the Self in all. --Translation by Swami Sarasvati.  

 December 12, 2014. Pope Francis on dogs.

All dogs do go to heaven, according Pope Francis. During a recent appearance in St. Peter’s Square, the pope comforted a boy mourning the death of his dog and said, “One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures.” The pontiff, who took his papal name from St. Francis Assisi, patron saint of animals, sparks new debate over whether animals have a place in the afterlife. Francis’s predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, has previously said animals are “not called to the eternal life,” but it remains unclear what Francis meant by his remarks. 

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2014/12/12/pope-proclaims-animals-welcome-in-heaven.html

5.18:  A punditah (sage) regards (sees) with an equal eye a learned humble Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and even a dog-eater.  --Bhagavadgita

Once Ramakrishna Paramahamsa  (year 1855) was faced with a broken idol of Krishna. The priest carrying the idol of Krishna dropped it and the idol's right foot was broken in several places at the base of the toes. The learned pundits told Ramakrishna Parmahamsa that a broken idol cannot be worshipped and therefore should be immersed (disposed of) in the Ganges River. The proprietress of the temple Rani Rasmani was very sad. RKPH came up with a solution. He told Rani that she would not throw away her son-in-law with a broken leg but take him to a doctor to mend the fracture. RKPH repaired and reattached the toes of the idol and installed it for worship against the established rules of temple worship. Here we see an instance of what Krishna himself said thousands of years ago that "things" and people have Self. He had to break his toes to illustrate his point. Krishna made the priest drop the idol, break his toes and let RKPH repair them and restore the sanctity of the idol, thus showing the equality of people and things, a concept alien to many people.

            All beings are dear not for the sake of being, but for the sake of Self  (Br. UP 2.4.5).  Brahman is all-pervasive both in the insentient and the sentient, and from ameba to man. In man, the sentience expresses the most and in the ameba, it expresses the least. The soul is the same but the embodiment is different and the pundit sees and feels that all living beings are equal. To put it succinctly, there is a metaphysical unity in empirical diversity. This is one of the underlying precepts for ahimsa, noninjury. The souls in the animals have to climb the evolutionary ladder, before these souls can attain to Brahman. The soul has fallen on hard times and the animal soul could have been a human soul in the previous birth; this step down is because of karma; the animal soul has to take on a human body before it can gain moksa. The quality and the nature of Atman in the animals and human beings are the same, but prakrti makes the difference. The pristine nature and intrinsic knowledge of Atman in the animal is no different from that of the human. Mahat or buddhi consists of three entities, namely subconsciousness, consciousness, and superconsciousness. In animals, the subconsciousness or mere consciousness is the instinctive mind, which by its nature lacks reason and intuition. Intuition is defined as present knowledge in continuum from previous existence. By the instinctive mind, a bird builds a nest, and an animal avoids a poisonous plant; fish or animal, when faced with a new set of circumstances alien to its instinct, is dead in the water, or out of its element and resources. The Self or Atman is All-Knower and All-Knowledge; all our knowledge comes from the Atman or Soul. The receptiveness of the animal's brain is low and that of the human brain is high. The animal's inadequate brain can manifest only instinct drawn from the subconscious self, while the human brain, more developed and more receptive, displays not only instincts, but also reason, intellect, and intuition. In yogis more (all-knowing) eternal knowledge percolates through. Another way of putting it is how much a person reflects the all-knowing Atman in him. The more a person reflects, the more of a yogi he becomes. To sum up, animals have instinct and subconsciousness (mere consciousness); man has instinct, reason, intellect, intuition, and self-consciousness. Instinct, reason, intellect, intuition, self-consciousness, and superconsciousness are present in Yogis. Logic (reason), intelligence, and science work well within the scope of the phenomenal world but do not offer any spiritual inspiration or revelation. What is important for an individual self is not being but becoming. Death is not the end of the journey but only the next step for the individual soul to reach its goal of becoming which is superconsciousness.

If I may venture further, I would hazard a guess: The animal's ahamkara (ego-body dominance) is robust, and its buddhi is nonexistent outside the scope of its natural-born instincts. Since buddhi expresses little in an animal, the ahamkara has little oversight from buddhi, the command and control center. Therefore, the animal acts on built-in, hard-wired, instinctive, and programmed reflexes. A fight or flight, and other instinctive behaviors are dominant in animals because of absent development of reason, intuitive mind, and buddhi, as we know in man. That deficiency in animals demands that we are kind to animals. To expand on this, man has less instinct than the animals, but has something that animals do not have. That is reason. Reason is logic. However, reason does not explain all phenomenal events. Reason is within the realm of human self-consciousness; what is beyond is superconsciousness, which carries various labels: Vision, Cosmic Consciousness, Revelation, or Intuition. A yogi has intuition or superconsciousness in quantities that ordinary man does not have. Also more importantly in a Yogi the receptivity of all-knowing eternal knowledge of the Self is high. Reason and a scientific prejudice are an impediment for grasping knowledge of Atman and union with Brahman. Comprehension of Brahman is beyond human reasoning and therefore intuitive intelligence with high receptivity for the all-knowing Self or Atman is a precondition for realization.

The more learned one is, the humbler he becomes. The riper the fruits are, the greater and lower the branches bend: Knowledge is humility. The soul of a dog-eater or a Brahmin is of the same source and therefore can receive SatChitAnanada, Being-Awareness-Bliss. There are no double standards here.

A dog-eater, in this verse, means that he is a person of mixed caste, most likely a Chandala, born of a Brahmin mother and Sudra father.

 

Mixed castes according to Garuda Purana 1.96-1-73, as narrated by Yajnavalkya.

Father

Mother

The offspring

Brahmin

Ksatriya

Muurdhaabhisikta

Brahmin

Vaisya

Ambastha

Brahmin

Sudra

Nisaada, Parvata

Ksatriya

Vaisya

Maahisya

Ksatriya

Sudra

Mleccha

Vaisya

Sudra

Karana

Ksatriya

Brahmin

Suta  (Sūta)

Vaisya

Brahmin

Vaidehaka

Sudra

Brahmin

Chandaala (Lowliest of all)

Vaisya

Ksatriya

Maagadha

Sudra

Ksatriya

Ksattr

Sudra

Vaisya

Ayogava

Maahisya

Karanii

Rathakaara

 

        ThAkura lists twelve qualities of a Brahmana: truthfulness, control of the senses, austerity, freedom from malice, modesty, tolerance, freedom from envy, sacrifice, charity, fortitude, studying the Vedas, and accepting vows. Page 51- Jaiva Dharma.

 

Here is what Tirumular one of the most celebrated poet and devotee of Siva-Sakti says about Brahmins.

Tamil verses by Tirumular and English Translation by Dr. Natarajan

12.. அந்தண ரொழுக்கம்

12 DHARMA OF BRAHMINS (Brahmanas)

224. அந்தணர் ஆவோர் அறுதொழில் பூண்டுளோர்

செந்தழல் ஓம்பிமுப் போதும் நியமஞ்செய்

தந்தவ நற்கரு மத்துநின்று ஆங்கிட்டுச்

சந்தியும் ஓதிச் சடங்கறுப் போர்களே. 1

224: Brahmins Stand in Holy Path
Brahmins are they who the six duties perform,
Tend the glowing fire and thrice daily pray,
Stand fixt in the Holy Path and chant the Vedic hymns,
Morn and eve--and thus all life's knots untie.

225. வேதாந்தங் கேட்க விருப்பொடு முப்பதப்

போதாந்த மான பிரணவத் துள்புக்கு

நாதந்த வேதாந்த போதாந்த நாதனை

ஈதாந்தம் எனாதுகண்டு இன்புறு வோர்க்களே. 2

225: Through Vedanta They Seek the Endless Bliss
Intensely eager, Vedanta's noble doctrine to imbibe,
They merge into Pranava, of the three sounds composed,
And transcending the states of Nadanta, Vedanta and Bodanta
Vision the Lord that is the Finite End,
And there into unending bliss they grow.

226.காயத் திரியே கருதுசா வித்திரி

ஆய்தற்கு உவப்பர் மந்திரம் ஆங்கு உன்னி

நேயத் தேரேறி நினைவுற்று நேயத்தாய்

மாயத்துள் தோயா மறையோர்கள் தாமே. 3

226: They Incessant Chant Gayatri and Savitri Mantras
Minds centered in Gayatri holy and Savitri mysterious,
They chant the noble hymns, the heart of Truth to seek;
Mounted on Love's Chariot, lost in Love's sweet ecstasy,
They drown not in Maya--the holy Brahmins meek.

227.பெருநெறி யான பிரணவம் ஓர்ந்து

குருநெறி யாலுரை கூடிநால் வேதத்

திருநெறி யான கிரியை யிருந்து

சொரூபமது ஆனோர் துகளில்பார்ப் பாரே. 4

227: They Attain the Manifestness State of God
Deep they pondered on Pranava's great holy way,
By Guru's grace inspired recited the mystic lay,
The rituals performed by the four Vedas prescribed,
And thus attained pure, pristine Manifestness--the spotless Brahmins they.

228. சத்திய மும்தவம் தானவன் ஆதலும்

எய்த்தரும் இந்தியம் ஈட்டியே வாட்டலும்

ஒத்த உயிர்கள் உண்டா யுணர்வுற்று

பெத்தம் அறுத்தலும் ஆகும் பிரமமே. 5

228: To Sunder Birth's Bonds is to Realize Brahmam
The Truth, Penance and the self Him becoming,
The torturing senses, spear-like, piercing,
The unity of life and its kinship realising,
Brahmam that is,dbirth's bonds sundering.

229.வேதாந்தங் கேட்க விரும்பிய வேதியர்

வேதாந்தங் கேட்டுந்தம் வேட்கை ஒழிந்திலர்

வேதாந்த மாவது வேட்கை ஒழிந்திடம்

வேதாந்தங் கேட்டவர் வேட்கை விட்டாரே. 6

229: Vedanta is to be Rid of Desires
The Brahmins who yearned for Vedanta's mystic truths,
Heard and listened but yielded still to desire's sway;
True Vedanta it is when earth-born desires all are crushed;
Those who Vedanta truly grasped, all desires burnt away.

230.நூலும் சிகையும் நுவலிற் பிரமமோ

நூலது கார்ப்பாசம் நுண்சிகை கேசமாம்

நூலது வேதாந்தம் நுண்சிகை ஞானமாம்

நூலுடை அந்தணர் காணும் நுவலிலே. 7

230: Tuft and Thread Alone do not Make a Brahmin
Do thread and tuft alone prove the Brahmin state?
The thread, then, only a dark bond, the fine tuft, only tresses long;
The true thread Vedantam is, the sacred tuft wisdom proves
These the Brahmnins truly see, these virtues to them belong.

231.சத்தியம் இன்றித் தனிஞானம் தானின்றி

ஒத்த விடயம்விட் டோ டும் உணர்வின்றிப்

பத்தியும் இன்றிப் பரன் உண்மை யின்றிப்

பித்தேறும் மூடர் பிராமணர் தாமன்றே. 8

231: Attributes of True Brahmins
Of Truth devoid, of pure Wisdom Bereft,
Lacking sense-control, spiritually inert,
Empty of devotion or grasp of Truth divine;
Mad fools are they--not Brahmins, I assert.

232.திருநெறி யாகிய சித்தசித் தின்றிக்

குருநெறி யாலே குருபதம் சேர்ந்து

கரும நியமாதி கைவிட்டுக் காணும்

துரிய சமாதியாந் தூய்மறை யோர்க்கே. 9

232: They Seek Samadhi State
The Holy Path neither Chit nor Achit is;
Along the Guru-led way, they reach the blessed Holy State;
And all action and rituals abandoned,
The Vedic Brahmins glide into Turiya Samadhi State.

233.மறையோர் அவரே மறையவர் ஆனால்

மறையோர்தம் வேதாந்த வாய்மையினால் தூய்மை

குறையோர்தன் மற்றுள்ள கோலா கலமென்று

அறிவோர் மறைதொ஢ந்து அந்தண ராமே. 10

233: They Stand Firm in Vedanta Truth
If the Veda-knowing alone true Brahmins be,
Such beings falter not in Vedanta's sublime lore,
All the rest they know as vain trappings base--
Those be the Brahmins who Vedas' depths explore.

234.அந்தண்மை பூண்ட அருமறை அந்தத்துச்

சிந்தைசெய் அந்தணர் சேரும் செழும்புவி

நந்துதல் இல்லை நரபதி நன்றாகும்

அந்தியும் சந்தியும் ஆகுதி பண்ணுமே. 11

234: True Brahmins Bring Prosperity to Earth
The holy Brahmins who the pure life embrace,
And ponder well on truths that mark the Vedas' end,
Their glory wanes not, their king's earthly empire ever grows,
If morn and eve the sacrificial fire they tend.

235.வேதாந்த ஞானம் விளங்க விதியிலோர்

நாதாந்த போதம் நணுகிய போக்கதுபோதாந்த மாம்பரன் பாற்புகப் புக்கதால்

நாதாந்த முத்தியும் சித்தியும் நண்ணுமே. 12

235: Through Vedanta They Scale the Heights of Siddhanta
When the Light of Vedanta dawns, from Karma are they freed;
Then, up the path to the Light of Nadanta they scale;
When thus they reach the Lord of Bodanta Light,
Salvation they attain--the Nadanta-Siddhanta Grand Finale.

236. ஒன்றும் இரண்டும் ஒருங்கிய காலத்து

நன்றும் இருந்தும் நலம்பல பேசினும்

வென்று விளங்கும் விகிர்தனை நாடுவர்

சென் வணங்குந் திருவுடை யோரே. 13

236: They Seek Merger in Lord
When 'You' and 'I' merge in one and the truth they see,
Then seek they the Lord triumphant, seated firm, serene,
Past all babbling words of sweet-sounding praise;
Such alone the true, worshipful grace attain.

237. தானே விடும்பற்று இரண்டும் தரித்திட

நானேவிடப்படும் ஏதொன்றை நாடாது

பூமேவு நான்முகன் புண்ணிய போகனாய்

ஓமேம் ஓர்ஆ குதிஅவி உண்ணவே. 14

237: They Vision Brahma in Aum
The two attachments, Maya and karma, of their own accord departing,
The self that Liberation seeks naught else will take;
And the lotus-seated Brahma most divinely pleased,
Merges in the Om, the sacrificial aviss to partake.

 

 

5.19. Here they whose mind is in equilibrium conquer Samsara and are established [abide] in Brahman, who is flawless and the same.

 

Remaining in equilibrium means that they regard all beings equally: Prince and the pauper, Brahmana and Chandala, man and monkey. Brahman is the Self that is flawless and the same in all beings, without any taint.

 

Prakrti covers and contaminates the individual soul. Brahman is free from such contamination and thus is the same in everybody. Knowing that Prakrti-free selves (the soul) are equal, they stand firm in Brahman.  Conquering Sarga is conquering Samsara, meaning they with an equal eye towards all beings will not be born again on this earth.

 

5.20:  He neither rejoices for getting that which is pleasant nor laments at getting that which is unpleasant. Since he is steady in his intelligence without bewilderment, the knower of Brahman or God stands firm in God. 

Brahmani Sthitah: Stands firm in Brahman, established in Brahman.

 

The sweet and sour experiences, compared with those of the birds on the tree, are those of the body and not of the self, and therefore, the stainless self, thus knowing, abides in Brahman. Logic, reason and human intelligence, (intuitive intelligence is a separate entity) do not measure up to understand and know Brahman and the study of scriptures is only a preliminary step in that process. Brahman is the thread that runs through all living entities as in a garland, binds all living entities high and low, and holds and moves the puppets of the world of beings and nature.

Knower of Brahman is one who possesses Brahman knowledge, the knowledge of the Self. Panchadasi (4.55-69) quotes Suresvara, saying that he who pretends to be a knower of Brahman without any moral restraint is like a dog with unclean eating habits. The knower of Truth does not wallow in impurities like a pig in a sty. He who rises above the impurities and desires of the mind is worthy of worship as if he is god. A man who wades in his mind in the river of passions, gets wet with those passions which lead him to attachment, longing, frustration and anger. These can be avoided by meditation on formless Brahman. Once the mind erases the world of matter from its memory, the mind ceases to dwell on the objects and becomes blank like a clean slate; he acts like a dumb and mute person. He is on the doorway opening into the world of Nirvana. If the mind wanders into objects of desire, it is easy for him to bring it back to tranquil state by meditation. He who knows no distraction is a knower of Brahman; he is Brahman Itself. He, who is not concerned whether he is in union with Brahman or not, is Brahman Itself.

 

5.21:  He, whose soul has shed all attachments to external sense objects, enjoys happiness in the self. He, with his “self” absorbed in Brahma yoga, enjoys undecaying (imperishable) happiness or bliss. 

 

5.22:   Certainly, the accompanying pleasures from contact between senses and sense objects are source (seats) of sorrow. They have a beginning and an end, O Kaunteya, and the wise do not take any pleasure in them. 

 

Kaunteya: Son of Kunti, or Arjuna. The fleeting pleasures resulting from the contact of the senses with the sense objects are a source of pain. Knowing that they are Atman, they do not indulge themselves in such pursuits and abide in Brahman. The story of two birds explains this. The first bird is the witness, not eating any fruits. The companion bird eats sweet and sour fruits, alternating between pleasure and pain, until it finds wisdom from its own self and abides in the Self.

 

 

 

 

5.23:  He, who can endure the flood of desire and anger, before he gives up his body, is a yogin and a happy man. 

 

Vega: rush, force, flood

 

Here and now, there is a promise of wisdom and happiness.

Only if one longs for the experience of the self, he gives up desire and anger. There is no implication here that the person controlling himself and experiencing the self will get jivan-mukti, liberation when he is alive. This yogin, having fried his karmic seeds, remains in Kaivalya and Samādhi.

 

5.24: He, who finds happiness, pleasure, and the inner light within his self, is a yogin and having become Brahman, attains Brahman (and the bliss of Brahman or beatitude of Brahman).

 

 

What is the Inner Light? The Principal Upanisads page 97-98.  Dr. Radhakrishnan Sep 22, 2013

If the real is misconceived as an object of knowledge, it cannot be known. Empirical objects may be known by outer observation or inner introspection. But the self cannot divide itself into the knower and the known. Logical reasoning is incapable of comprehending the living unity of God and man, the absolute and the relative. Logical incapacity is not evidence of actual impossibility. Reality unites what discursive reason is incapable of holding together. Every atom of life is a witness to the oneness and duality of God and the world. Being can never be objectified or externalised. It is co-inherent and co-existent in man. It is unknowable because we identify existence with objectivity.This is true, to a limited extent, of purely external things like tables and chairs. They are net to be reduced to sensations or concepts arising in the knowing mind. But spiritual reality is not revealed in the way in which objects of the natural world or principles of logic are apprehended. Yājñavalkya tells us that the self is its own light when the sun has set, when the moon has set, when the fire is put out, ātmaivāsya jyotir bhavati. It is our deepest being behind the vestures of body, life, mind and intellect. Objectivity is not the criterion of reality, but the criterion is reality itself revealed in our very being. We ask for a criterion of knowledge on the assumption of a duality between the knowing subject and the Known object. If the object appears alien and impenetrable, then the question of knowing it becomes a problem. But no object can be set in opposition to the spirit and so the question of criterion does not arise. True knowledge is an integral creative activity of the spirit which does not know anything external at all. For it everything is its own life. Here there is identity, possession, absorption of the object at the deepest level. Truth in spiritual life is neither the reflection nor the expression of any other reality. It is reality itself. Those who know the truth become the truth brahma-vid brahmaiva bhavati. It is not a question of having an idea or a perception of the real. It is just the revelation of the real. It is the illumination of being and of life itself. It is satyam, Jñānam. Knowledge and being are the same thing, inseparable aspects of a single reality, being no longer even distinguishable in that sphere where all is without duality.

Where there is duality, there one sees another, hears another. We have objective knowledge. While vijñāna deals with the world of duality, ānanda implies the fundamental identity of subject and object, non-duality. Objectification is estrangement. The objective world is the 'fallen' world, disintegrated and enslaved, in which the subject is alienated from the object of knowledge. It is the world of disruption, disunion, alienation. In the 'fallen' condition, man's mind is never free from the compulsion exercised by objective realities. We struggle to overcome disunion, estrangement, to become superior to the objective world with its laws and determinations.

 

 

5.25: The sages, who restrain the mind, whose sins are destroyed, whose doubts and dualities are dissolved, and who are devoted to the welfare of all beings, attain Bliss of Brahman.

 

The sage restrains his mind, he destroys his sins, he clears his doubts and transcends his dualities, he devotes his life to the welfare of all living creatures, and he attains to the bliss of Brahman and Brahman Himself.

 

5.26: The beatitude of Brahman is imminent in the ascetic, who removed his desire and anger, whose mind exercises restraint, and who has knowledge of the self.

 

            Matted hair, deerskin, and pious pretension do not make an ascetic. An ascetic in name and epicure in practice, though he professes to know Brahman, is far away from Brahman. Appearance does not make an ascetic, though he wanders naked and shameless; a donkey does the same.  Jackals, rodents and deer live in the forest, eat grass, and drink water: are they ascetics? The frogs and fish take birth, eat and die in Ganga. Are they ascetics? –Garuda Purana, II.49.64-67-68.

This passage has reference to Avadutas, who renounce the world and live on what is offered to them or on leaves, roots and fallen fruits.  

    Avadhûta =  one who has shaken off himself worldly feeling  and obligation.

 

Here is what Sankara says in Bajagovindam about a false ascetic.

Verse 14.    (There goes) one with matted hair; (here comes) one with shaven head; (there sits) yet another with plucked hair and saffron cloth; the fools sport various disguises. They all claim to "see;"  (What they "see" no one knows and neither he knows what he "sees.") In reality he does not "see."  All this Vesha (disguise) is to fill the belly.

 

Here is what Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (February 18, 1836 - August 16, 1886) says in saying 386, page 115, in Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna: The wearing of the orange garb of the Sannyasin naturally causes sacred thoughts to rise in the mind. Every kind of dress has its own association, although dress in itself has no special significance.

 

Here is what Tirumular (around 500 CE) of Tirumantiram says about ascetics.

மயல் அற்று இருள் அற்று மாமனம் அற்றுக்

கயல் உற்ற  கண்ணியர் கைப்பிணக்கு அற்று

தயல் அற்றவரோடும் தாமே  தாமாகிச்

செயல் அற்று இருப்பார் சிவ வேடத்தாரே.  Verse 1678.

Devoid of delusive intellect or mind, devoid of egoism, devoid of  feeling of self-centeredness, devoid of passion of fondling the tender hands of fish-eyed damsels, and devoid of delusion of mind, the ascetics find Sivaness and become Siva themselves. They sport the guise of Siva, having abandoned all external acts and becoming themselves-- one with the One (that is Siva).

Here the guise of Siva indicates the orange garb that ascetics wear.

 

 

5.27:  Abandoning all sense objects, fixing the gaze between the eyebrows, and keeping the movement of air up and down (Prāna, Apāna) the nostrils in equilibrium within the nostrils, (continued)

   

Between the eyebrows: antare bhruvoh or Bhru madhya. Bhram = Brow. As you see here Brow is derived from Sanskrit word Bhram.

 

5.28:  The sage, who has controlled his senses, mind, and intellect; who has his highest aim moksa or liberation; and who freed himself from desire, fear, and anger, is forever free (liberated).

 

Prāna and Apāna breaths: See comment on verse 9 chapter 10 for details.

 

 The Principal Upanisads. By Dr. Radhakrishnan, Page 122.    Sep 26, 2013

What is liberation?

Yājñavalkya centres his attention on oneness with the Absolute Brahman, a state where there is no desire, there is no passion, not even any consciousness, pretya saṁjña nāsti.1 When honey is prepared by the collection of various juices, the latter cannot discriminate from which trees they were drawn, even so when the souls are merged in the Real, they cannot discriminate from which bodies they come.2 The self rises above the distinction of subject and object which characterises all empirical consciousness. It is altogether time-transcending. This is impersonal immortality where the soul achieves absoluteness, unconditioned being.3 It is illumined consciousness.

1 B U II 4 12, IV 5 13               2 C U VI 10 B U IV 3 21

3 Cp Viveka-ciūḍāmaṇi, ascribed to Saṁkara. It also occurs in Gaudapada's  Kārikā, on Mā. U

na nirodho na cotpattir na baddho na ca sādhakaḥ

 na mumukṣur na vai mukta ity eṣā paramārthatā.

 There is no destruction, nor is there origination. There is no one bound nor is there one practising discipline. There is no seeker of freedom nor is there the freed. Such is the highest state.

 

 

 

5.29:  Knowing me thus as the enjoyer of all sacrifices and austerities (Yajana-tapasam) and the supreme Lord of this whole world or universe, the Friend of all living beings, one attains peace. 

 

Any sacrifice, made to any gods goes to Lord Krishna Himself, since He is the Supreme Lord of all souls, including those of gods.  He is the universe and the enjoyer of all Sacrifices. He is the friend of all the devotees, easy of access, loving as a parent, kind, and compassionate with infinite grace, though inscrutable. He is the knowledge, the Knower, and Doer but the Unknowable too.     

Paramahamsa Babaji says the following on Krishna. Parabrahma Krishnachandra is the one and only Infinite Substance (brhad vastu) and the jivas are his innumerable atomic particles. Like sparks emanating from an undivided fire, the jivas emanate from Krishna, who is the embodiment of innumerable consciousness. The jiva has the full function of consciousness, with which he should seek Krishna.

 

 

End of  Chapter Five:  Yoga of Renunciation of  Action

    

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