Class Summary for Sep 26, 2021 - Kailvalya Upanishad - Introduction

 Summarized by: Meera Chari

• Intro to Hindu scriptures and texts

• 4 vedas and several upanishads classified under them

• Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharvana

• Kaivalya Upanishad is part of the Atharvana Veda, and is considered as a minor upanishad.

10 mukhya / major upanishads that Sankaraacharya wrote his commentary on

1. the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

2. the Chandogya Upanishad

3. the Aitareya Upanishad

4. the Taittiriya Upanishad

5. the Kena Upanishad

6. the Isha Upanishad

7. the Katha Upanishad

8. the Mundaka Upanishad

9. the Prashna Upanishad

10. and the Mandukya Upanishad.

Each Veda has 3 sections -

Mantras - extremely limited poems, prayers to the lord Rituals - vast section Spiritual knowledge = Mystic literature = upanishad (beyond Rituals) = Veda antha

Kaivalya Upanishad

• Discussion about understanding the contemplation format of Kaivalya Upanishad

• Groupings within the 26 verses in Kaivalya Upanishad

Slokas 1 - 3	Basics
Slokas 4 - 7	Paths to Liberation
Slokas 8 - 11	Equanimity
Slokas 12 - 14	Constant behind our 3 states
Slokas 15 - 19	Ultimate Root or Cause
Slokas 20 - 24	Real ME - Identity
Slokas 25 - 26	Fruits of Realization

• Listening / chanting to the verses (from the recording)

• Invocation prayer

Prays for us to be in sync and ready to receive this knowledge. The sense organs tuned to receive the knowledge, and the mind focussed, with blessing with the various devas.

• Verse 1 - Chanting

Meaning - The advanced student is asking the teacher to teach about “Science of reality”

• Verse 2 - Chanting

Meaning

Emphasis on Shraddha, Bhakthi and Dyanam

Teacher responds to the student to learn by experience. The answer is within us. 

It is about Journey into oneself.

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Summarized by: Shailesh Vyas

Started with meditation, anulom vilom.

Kaivalaya Upnishad -

• - Kaivalya Upanishad is part of Atharva Veda.
• - There are contradictions between Upnishads, so it's important to learn from Guru.
• - Kaivalaya is made up from a word “Kaival” which means “only”. It implies one and only "Brahman”.
  
• - Kaivalya Upanishad is considered as one of the minor Upanishad.
• - Major or Minor doesn't mean more or less important, it means there is more work done by saints (like Adi Sankaracharya) available on major Upanishads.
• - List of Major Upanishads (in no particular order ... copied from internet) -
•     Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.
•     Chandogya Upanishad.
•     Taittiriya Upanishad.
•     Aitareya Upanishad.
•     Kena Upanishad.
  
•     Katha Upanishad.
•     Isha Upanishad.
•     Prasana Upanishad
•     Manduka Upanishad
•     Mandukya Upanishad
• - Most Upnishads start with a Q & A format.
• - Kaivalya Upanishad is a conversation between a learned student and his Guru. This conversation assumes basic knowledge like BMI etc, so it starts as a learned conversation.
  
• - Index
• Chapter 1 - 3 - Basics
• Chapter 4 - 7 - Path to Liberation
• Chapter 8 - 11 - Equanimity
• Chapter 12 -14 - Constant behind our 3 states
• Chapter 15 - 19 - Ultimate root or cause
• Chapter 20 -24 - Real me - Identity
• Chapter 25 - 26 - Fruits of Realization.

Invocation -

We are praying to Brahman to make our senses ready.

What is auspicious with our ears, may we hear always o ye Gods;

Worship ones, may with our eyes see always what is auspicious;

May we live the entire length of our allotted life hale and hearty;

Offering our praises unto thee!

Bless us, O Lord Indra, the ancient and the famous;

Bless us, O Pooshan (the Sun), the all knowing;

Bless us, O Vayu, the Lord of swift motion who saves us from all harms;

And bless us, O Brihaspati who protects the spiritual wealth in us!

Theme - 

• - This prayer is to appeal to God to give us the matching frequency/wavelength to understand the teaching.
• - Also to give us the peace within us, so we can focus.
• - The prayer is also to help control my senses.
• - This is also asking for a healthy and strong body (til the destined time), so I can learn and serve.
• - Keep in mind, we are not asking to live forever, this prayer is to keep me healthy enough that I can finish this book.
• - Prayer to Sun, since it is the nourisher of all and everything.
• - Prayer to the wind, since it moves air and removes impurities/diseases.
• - Yatha drishti, tatha Srishti.
• e.g. We discussed Hanuman ji and Eknath ji's story where they end up in a discussion that the flower in Lanka was white or Red. Hanuman ji saw the flower as red instead of white. Rama resolved the conversation by saying when Hanumanji visits Lanka, his Rajas Guna was heavy so he saw flowers colorful. Red represents Rajas guna, White represents Satava guna.

Shloka 1 - 

"Om athasvalayano bhagavantam parameshtinam upasametyovaca”

Translation -

Om, with that let us begin. There was a student named Asvalanyana.

He revered Lord Paramesthi, the creator, and he approached and spoke to him.

Teach me, O revered Sir, the highest “Science of Reality”, said to be the highest secret guarded always by good people by which all sins are soon discarded and supreme self is reached by wise, discarding all sins, can reach the highest ‘Purusa’.

Shloka 2 - 

“tasmai sa hovaca pitamahasca -“

“Sraddha-bhakti-hyanayogad-avaihi"

Translation -

To him, Grandsire Brahma said.

Faith, Devotion and Meditation by combination of these, you may know the goal.

Shrawanam (implies Devotion), Mananam (implies Faith), Nidhidhyasam (implies Meditation)

Discussion -

• - How can we attain Brahman with knowledge? Not by identifying with the body.
• - Brahman vidya = Science of Reality (Ultimate truth).
• - Term secret doesn’t mean this knowledge cannot be shared with others. It means it is the knowledge which will be beyond comprehension until it is given by experienced teacher.
• - Lord Brahma knows both states (before realization and after).
• e.g. If a chef is cooking a sweet dish, he knows both the beginning and the end state.
• - Interesting aspect -
• - Student is asking to teach and the teacher is saying it requires a lot more from you than just teaching. It requires Faith, Devotion, Meditation.
• - This cannot be just taught, its realization journey.
• - Realization requires removal of ignorance (Maya) and Faith, Devotion and Meditation helps in attaining that.

Ended class with Meditation.