Summarized by: Shivkumar.N
We started the class with a recap of the points from previous weeks class.
It was clarified that there was a misconception with regards to immortality. Immortality is not meant from perspective of the Body . Hence we have Pauranik stories where the asuras did penance and in return used to seek boon to live forever. Immortality is from perspective of realizing the SELF. One then gets out of the cycle of pseudo self namely identifying with this entity. Another word for Immortality is getting one with Brahman.
Few finer points discussed :
- Anything built of matter -'jada' will perish
- Immortality/Deathlessness is beyond that
The experience of God Conciousness is termed thus in our sastras as the experience of Immortality
- Just like a dog recognizes it is time to go out when its owner wears shoes similarly during Mediation one must train one self to clear one's mind by wearing the right clothes and having a specific place to meditate.
- However it is critical that one does not make it a golden chain and state that they cant meditate due to lack of their surrounding or clothes.
- Remember the goal is to get to a state that is Adhbutam. E.g : Picture of Gurudev with wings.
We then chanted verses 7 and 8
In verse 5-6 we had discussed comprehending the formless ' Nirguna Upasana'. In verse 7-8 we get Saguna Upasana of Lord Siva (described beautifully as the Source of the World, the Witness of All and Beyond all the Darkness) with his consort Uma. Similar to Bhagvad gita in this Upanishad too the Guru starts his explanation at the Highest point first.
Verse 8 elaborates that Lord Siva represents every God . The interpretation being that all Gods come from Siva or Vishnu. We can call and represent out Ista Devta there or even imagine it as a Form of energy.
Theme
- In Nirguna Upasana is difficult then we can prepare our mind through Saguna Upasana. This is a precise preperation like a painter prepares his brush before painting eyes/iris or a brain surgeon prepares before a brain surgery
- Why 2 Entities : Goddess Uma and Lord Siva are depicted here to remind us of the balance between Purusha and Prakriti, or the Spiritual and the Material
- Lord Siva is referenced here to remind us
- One who is always in meditation
- One with 3rd eye
- Our eyes are like Sun , Moon and Agni (from 3rd eye that destroys Ignorance)
- One who is the Lord of destruction of Ignorance this helping us reach Knowlege
- One with a blue neck reminding us that like Lord Siva swallowed the poison during the Sagara Mantan we too must keep the vasanas in our neck between the heart and the brain thereby not influening both. The churning is between the lower mind and higher mind. The mountain represents our intellect and snake represents our Ego.
- Hinduism has many such symbolism which we may not always understand at time of listening but as time goes by it will make sense. Thus Sagara Manthan is a materialistic story with above abstract illustrates the Vedanta point
- The Lord and his consort is a reminder to be balanced while continuing on spiritual path
- Remember this journey is not of hours/days/weeks or years but of lifetimes
- Bhakti is needed be it Karma or Jnana Yoga
- Meditation is no action . Its all at a mind level. Even doing puja etc is Karma Yoga
- We are steeped in Dvaita and even when we think of Vishwa Roopa we think of the Lord and us (seperate entity)
- End of day distinctions do not matter . It does not matter the path that is choosen Karma or Bhakti or Gnyan Yoga . It does not matter if we do Saguna or Nirguna Upasana. At some point we need to realize that whatever form I pray too and in whichever form essentially i am praying to Brahman\
- Om Tat Sat
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