Class Summary for Nov 21, 2021 - Kailvalya Upanishad - Slokas 15 - 18

Summarized by: Shilpa Sail 

We started the class with meditation as it helps us calm our minds and preps us for the class. 

 

• We discussed verses 13 and 14 further. Three states / avasthas are - Jagrut avastha, Swapna avastha, and Sushupti avastha 
• What is common in all three states --> consciousness which is a witness in all the three states. 
• The Waking State/ Jagrut avastha Body, Mind, and Intellect are all active. We are performing all transactions of the world. The mind occupies the brain and performs all the actions. In this state, trying to be aware of the true self is the goal. This is also called the Relative reality state. The BMI is in your control. 
• The Dream State /Swapna avastha The mind is active in this state. In the dream state, whatever we experience feels real. E.g., if we dream about the flood, our mind creates everything: the water surge, emotions of getting drowned, and feeling helpless. 
• The Deep Sleep State /Sushupti avastha Absence of all transactions of the world. Body, mind, and intellect are all inactive in this state. It is the Bliss state as there is no experience of any emotions.
• Further interpretation of the three states. We have two aspects - Ignorance and Error Ignorance -> we don’t know who we are (our real nature) Error -> we take our BMI as ourself In waking and dream states, we experience both Ignorance and Error. Because of the Error we tend to accumulate vasanas in these two states. In a deep sleep state, only ignorance exists. It is a completely tamasic state with no error. That is why we feel happy and we are in a BLISS state. 
• In the deep state, we are not accumulating new vasanas. Comparison between the Waking and Dreamer state. In the flooding dream, the individual feels scared, but as soon as the individual wakes up, the pain and loss vanishes. We do not feel the pain as we know the situation created in the dream state is a maya. In the same way, a realized person in a waking state enjoys the feelings and emotions that come to them. If we can establish that the world is a maya we will not experience any pain in the waking state. 

Translation Verse 15-16 

•  From Him are born the Prana (life) the Antahkarna (mind)., and all the organs; Then also (are born) the sky, wind, fire, water, and earth. He is the support of the whole universe. That supreme Brahman is also the Self in all, the ample support of the universe, subtler than the subtle, and eternal- “ That alone thou art; thou alone art That” 

Verse 17-18 

•  Lived in waking, dream and deep sleep that which illumines the world of relative experiences that Brahman am I - and realizing thus, one is liberated from all shackles. In all the three realms (waking, dream and deep sleep), that which is enjoyed, the enjoyer and the enjoyment- I am different from them all, I am their Witness, the Pure Consciousness, I am Ever-auspicious. 

Theme -

• From this conscious everything including life, BMI, PFT,OET, and this whole universe arise. This consciousness is in all of us, for ever. 
• Just like the needs for kids to go to sleep are different for each kid, we need different type of guidance. 
• The illuminator is different from the illuminated. Realizing that we are the illuminator and not the illuminated, liberates us. 
• Like the sun is not impacted by dirty places or clean places our consciousness is not impacted by the agitations of the mind, body, or intellect 
• The REAL ME is a witness to all the experiences and experiencer in the 3 realms. 
• Like OIL in Water, will always separate after some time. 

 Discussion on the shlokas 15-18 

• All the elements of this universe are manifested from the supreme energy Prana, life and senses all of them are one. The five elements are also born from that supreme energy. That energy supports the whole universe. Anything in existence is born out of the five elements. From that supreme self everything is born. 
• It is the fourth factor not the B M I the one which is beyond all of that. It is supporting the universe and it is subtler than the subtle. That is you …you are that… 
• When we recognize that "I am" the one which is experiencing all the three states then we can get freedom from all the maya and ignorance. 
• The experience and experiencer are both the same. Someone is witnessing all this and that one is the Real Self. 

Story- 

•  Hanuman was carrying the Sanjivani herb and flying towards Lanka. Bharata thinks it is a demon and shoots Hanuman with an arrow. Later he realizes this mistake and says to Hanuman I will shoot an arrow and you can hold on to that arrow to reach Lanka faster. Hanuman thinks why do I need your arrow to go to Lanka. I can carry the whole mountain, why do I need any help. For a moment he was under the influence of ego, but he quickly recovered and understood that it was a reminder for him to be humble and not proud, and realize that everything is due to RAMA. This shows us that ego is very difficult to control and even a realized person like Hanuman was under its influence for a moment. But being a realized person he was able to conquer it. 
• In the same way, we have to control our ego and not let it drive our actions. 
• Methods to help a seeker understand the concepts explained in these verses. 
• One of the ways suggested --> Sravanam, Mananam, and Nidhidhyasana. 
• By attending the regular Balvihar class or listening to pravachan we follow the Sravanam path, but Mananam and Nidhityasam are equally important. 
• During Mananam we should try to recollect what we learned this helps us remember and absorb the teachings. 
• During Nidhidhyasana with concentrated meditation, we can delve further into the knowledge that we acquired with the help of contemplation. 
• In addition, we can follow --> Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, and Jyanan yoga.