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introduction to upanishads
- 1. THE UPANISHADS “SITTING DOWN NEAR” 108 IN MUKTIKĀ “they express the restlessness and striving of human mind to grasp the true nature of reality. They set forth fundamental conceptions that are sound. Their lofty ideals and poetry have the power to move the greatest minds”
- 2. Fundamentally Monistic Śruti and not Smṛti Philosophy ⚫ The Upanishadic philosophers regarded the Self as the ultimate existence and subordinated the world and God to the Self. The Self to them, is more real than either the world or God Presentation ⚫ Upanishads are primarily presented as conversations between two persons or animals rather than expository statements of philosophy or ideology Fountain of Philosophical Thought ⚫ West: Curiosity ⚫ Hindu: Solve problems of life
- 3. DASHOPANISHAD Īṣa - The Inner Ruler – Shukla Yajur Kena - Who moves the world? - Sama Kaṭha - Death as Teacher – Krishna Yajur Praṣna - The Breath of Life - Atharva Muṇḍaka - Two modes of Knowing - Atharva Māṇḍūkya - Consciousness and its phases - Atharva Taittirīya - From Food to Joy – Krishna Yajur Aitareya - The Microcosm of Man - Rg Chāndogya - Song and Sacrifice - Sama Bṛhadāraṇyaka - Shukla Yajur Veda
- 4. Doctrine: Scholars have long held the view that all Upanishads propound the same doctrine. As to what the exact nature of that doctrine is, they differ widely!! – Prof Hiriyanna Phase change: Ashwamedha as meditative act – Brihadaranyaka Philosophical: Onslaughts against sacrifices, rituals and ceremonies – Mundaka Upanishad Prime Object: removal of aham-kara; the basis of all evil; cultivation of detachment or vairagya Darshana – A mere reasoned conviction is NOT enough Upanishadic God: explicit repudiation of objective conception of god. (Agni, Vayu subordinate to Brahman – Kena) Upanishads have consistency of intuition rather than logic – Dr. Radhakrishnan
- 5. ĪṢA UPANISHAD DESCRIPTION OF THE NATURE OF SUPREME BEING 18 Verses IT MOVES; IT MOVES NOT IT IS FAR; IT IS NEAR IT IS WITHIN; IT IS WITHOUT
- 6. KENA UPANISHAD Story of Brahman, Indra, Agni and Vayu Not that which the eye can see, but that whereby the eye can see: know that to be Brahman the eternal, and not what people here adore; Not that which the ear can hear, but that whereby the ear can hear: know that to be Brahman the eternal, and not what people here adore; Not that which speech can illuminate, but that by which speech can be illuminated: know that to be Brahman the eternal, and not what people here adore; Not that which the mind can think, but that whereby the mind can think: know that to be Brahman the eternal, and not what people here adore. 4 Sections, 35 Verses
- 7. KAṬHOPANISHAD ATMA – CHARIOTS PASSENGER BODY – CHARIOT ITSELF CONSCIOUSNESS – DRIVER MIND – REINS OBJECTS PERCEIVED BY THE SENSES ARE THE CHARIOT'S PATH 3 Sections, 109 Verses
- 8. PRAṢNA UPANISHAD QUESTIONS TO SAGE PIPPALADA The son of Katya, Kabandhi: “Root cause of the universe” Bhargava of Vidarbha: “Relation between senses and prana” The son of Ashwala, Kausalya: “From whom prana orignates” Souryayanee Gargya: “Which elements in a human actually sleep” Shaibya Satyakama: What fruit does one get who regularly meditates on holy syllable OM till his/her death? Son of Bharadwaja the Sukesha: Description of the vedic divine being 6 Sections, 67 Verses
- 9. MUṆḌAKA 64 Mantras Question for Angiras - ⚫ I want to know from you if there is something I can learn which will explain everything to me – Para and Aprara There is a sacred word -- OM -- which is the bow; your own self is the arrow and Brahman is the target. Without trembling, hit the mark, and like the arrow, lose yourself in It! Shivo Bhutva Shivam Yajet ⚫ My son, when you know that Brahman, you become that Brahman
- 10. MĀṆḌŪKYA Ayam Atma Brahma Fundamental approach to Reality – Shri Radhakrishnan Sri Gaudapada Adi Shankara 12 Verses
- 11. TAITTIRĪYA ANNAMAYA – MADE OF FOOD PRANAMAYA – MADE OF BREATH MANOMAYA – MADE OF MIND VIJNANAMAYA – MADE OF KNOWLEDGE ANANDAMAYA – MADE OF JOY Matru devo bhavaḥ, Pitru devo bhavaḥ, Acharya devo bhavaḥ, Atithi devo bhavaḥ 3 Sections, Quite long
- 12. AITAREYA Aitareya Aranyaka of Rig Veda Chapter 1: Creation of Purusha, other divine beings, creation of food Chapter 2: Three births of the self Chapter 3: ⚫ Pragyanam brahma: Consciousness is Brahman 33 Verses
- 13. CHĀNDOGYA Tat tvam asi Dialogues between father Uddalaka and son Svetaketu 8 Chapters, Quite long
- 14. BṚHADĀRAṆYAKA Aham brahmāsmi neti neti Asatoma Sadgamaya Close your Eyes