Vedantaclass 14
Vedantaclass 14
Vedantaclass 14
Sarada Cottage
Cedar Rapids
May 21, 2017
Peace Chanting (ShAnti PAtha)
Goal:
Eternal Happiness
End of All Sufferings
Transcending Birth & Death
Problem:
Fleeting Happiness
Endless Suffering
Cycle of Birth & Death
3
Vedanta - Introduction
Definition:
Veda = Knowledge, Anta = End
End of Vedas
Culmination or Essence of Vedas
Leads to God (Truth) Realization
Truth:
Never changes; beyond Time-Space-Causation
Is One
Is Beneficial
Transforms us
Leads from Truth Speaking-> Truth Seeking-> Truth Seeing
4
Vedantic Solution To Our Quest
Our Quest: Vedantic Solution:
Problem: Remedy:
Fleeting Happiness Intense Spiritual Practice (sadhana)
Endless Suffering Liberation (mukti/moksha)
Cycle of Birth & Death
Identification & Hierarchy in Embodied Soul
Atman (atma) FREEDOM
Atman
Inner-Instrument (antah-karana):
Mind (manas), Intellect (buddhi),
Subtler Subject Ego identified with BMC = JIVA (Bound Soul)
Intellect (buddhi)
BONDAGE
Objects (vishaya)
Three Bodies (ShariraTraya)
Gross Body
Subtle Body
Causal
Body
Three Bodies (ShariraTraya)
1) Extremely Subtle & not externally visible
2) Cause of Gross & Subtle Body Causal Body
3) State of Ignorance (avidya), Indescribable, Beginningless (kaarana sarira)
Gross 5 Elements
9
Cosmic Body & Individual Body
Cosmic Individual
(Macrocosm) (Microcosm)
Causal Body PrAjna Causal Body
Ishwara
Why Causal?
It’s the Cause (or Seed) of the Subtle & Gross Body
What’s Body?
Body in Sanskrit is ‘sharira’ which means perishable
Characteristics :
Originates with Avidya (ignorance) of the real identity of the Atman
No objective experience possible with Causal Body
Contains the Body in Seed form in Dream-less Deep Sleep (sushupti – nitya pralaya)
Contains the Body in Seed form in Cosmic Dissolution (sushupti – maha pralaya)
Maya at the Individual Level
What are Dissolutions (Pralayas)?
Pralaya: Cessation of All Activities; Dissipation of Material World
Maya:
That which is Not (Ma = “Not”, Ya = “That”)
By which One becomes Many
By which World (jagat) appears to be Real (satyam)
By which Impermanent (anityam ) appears to be Permanent (nityam)
Functions in the world of Duality (vyavaharika)
Functions not in Non-dual (paramarthika) state
Creative capacity of the Ishwara
Ishwara controls Maya, but Jiva is controlled by Maya
“Maya is a statement of fact” – Swami Vivekananda
ISHWARA (COSMIC)
= Reflected Consciousness
BRAHMAN (ATMAN) MAYA (COSMIC/INDIVIDUAL) = Saguna Brahman/Mahamaya
= Pure Consciousness = Cosmic & Individual Mind = Cosmic Body/Mind Complex
= Sat-Chit-Ananda = Time-Space-Causation = Experience of “I am”
= Changeless = Changeful (Ephimeral) = Personal God with Attribute
= Real = Neither Real nor Unreal (suddha sattva guna)
= One (Substance) = Creates Many-ness
= Impersonal God JIVA (INDIVIDUAL)
= Reflected Consciousness
= Experience of “I am X”, “I am Y” etc
Brahman (Consciousness) associated with Cosmic Maya = Ishwara = Embodied Soul with Attribute
Brahman (Consciousness) associated with Individual Maya = Jiva (mixed sattva, rajas & tamas guna)
Brahman (Consciousness) is the substratum of Maya
What are the Powers of Maya?
THE FOURTH AT M A N
NO NO
(Turiya)
Waking State (JAgrata Avastha): Dream State (SvapnA Avastha): Deep-Sleep State (Sushupti Avastha):
Nature: Nature:
External, Concrete, Objective & Sense Internal, Abstract, Subjective & Non- Nature:
Sense Organ based Experience Neither External nor Internal
Organ based Experience
Vijnanamaya Kosha
Pranamaya Kosha
ATMAN
Subtle Inward More Pervasive
(sukshma) (pratyak) (vyapakah)
Anandamaya Kosha
Vijnanamaya Kosha
5-steps
Manomaya Kosha
Pranamaya Kosha
Pervasive
Limitation
SELF
Less
Analysis of Five Sheaths - I
Ultimately Realizes:
- Even Anandamaya is a Kosha (Limitation)
- Brahmakara Vritti remains
- Self/Atman/Brahman is the only Reality
Three Gunas (Gunatrayas)
Two Principles of Sankhya Philosophy
Purusha: Conscious, Intelligent & Inactive
Prakriti: Unconscious, Non-intelligent & Active
Prakriti
COSMIC
Mahat
CAUSAL
Ahamkara
INDIVIDUAL
SUBTLE
Organs of Organs of Subtle
Mind Perception Action Elements
GROSS
Gross
Elements
Nature of Three Gunas
Sattva Rajas Tamas
Nature of Pleasure Nature of Pain Nature of neither Pleasure
nor Pain
Pure, Bright, Revealing Impure, Active, Projecting Impure, Veiling & Inactive
Goal : Overcome Tamas with Rajas, Rajas with Sattva. Sattva leading to Purusha.
5-Types of Action
Nitya Karma:
Daily Obligatory Duties
Scripture-prescribed Daily Actions
Prayers, Worship, Japa, Meditation, Study of Scripture, Serving Others, Singing etc.
Naimittika Karma:
Occasional Obligatory Duties
Special Worships, Special Occasion/Observance, Rites for the Ancestors etc.
Prayaschitta Karma:
Actions due to Repentance; Counteracts the effects of sins incurred
Pilgrimages, Severe Austerities, Confession etc.
Kamya Karma:
Performed with a motive of acquiring specific Merits/Fruits of Action
Hankering after Health/Wealth/Long-life/Progeny/Name/Fame/Title/Social Status etc.
Nishiddha Karma:
Forbidden Actions
Suicide, Homicide, Promiscuity, Drugs or Alcohol Addiction etc.
3-Types of Results of Action
Sanchita Karma:
Accumulated Results of Actions performed in previous births
Stored in Seed Form
Destroyed by Knowledge
Prarabdha Karma:
Part of Sanchita Karma that has begun to bear fruit
Past Karma responsible for the present body
Cannot be avoided or changed
Destroyed by enjoying or suffering only
Right
Happiness
Knowledge
Wrong
Misery
Knowledge
Right
Merits
Desire
Right Wrong
Demerits
Action Desire
Wrong
Action
Ultimate Expression of Gunas & Freedom
There is no possibility of ever having pleasure without pain, good without evil; for life
itself is just lost equilibrium. What we want is freedom — not life, nor pleasure, nor good.
Creation is infinite, without beginning and without end — the ever-moving ripple in an
infinite lake. There are yet unreached depths in this lake where equilibrium has been
regained; but the ripple on the surface is always there. The struggle to regain the balance
is eternal.
To regain the balance we must counteract tamas by rajas, then conquer rajas by sattva,
the calm, beautiful state that will grow and grow until all else is gone. Give up bondage.
Become a son of God, be free, and then you can “see the Father,” as did Jesus. Infinite
strength is religion and God. Avoid weakness and slavery. You are the Soul only if you
are free; there is immortality for you only if you are free; there is God only if He is free.
Swami Vivekananda
Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda,
Vol. 7, Page 12 & 13
Four Human Values (Purusartha)
- Ultimate Value
Preferable Intrinsic (Jnana
(shreyas)
- Liberation Moksha Kanda)
- Self Realization 4 Value
- Psychological Value
- Satisfaction of Desires Kama
- Achievement, Success
3
(Karma/
- Economic Value Instrumental
Pleasurable Dharma
(preyas)
- Material prosperity Artha Value
Kanda)
- Means for Enjoyment 2
- Moral Value
- Guiding Principle
Dharma
- Regulates Happiness 1
“Life is the unfoldment and development of a being under circumstances tending to press it down”
- Swami Vivekananda
Three Schools of Vedanta
Dualistic School (Dvaita) of Shri MadvAcharya
➢ God = Creator, Everything Else = Creation
➢ Creation is Eternally Separate from Creator
➢ Method: Karma Yoga followed by Bhakti Yoga
Anubandha
Chatustaya
Prayojana Vishaya Sambandha Adhikari (4 - Preliminary
Connections)
Karma Yoga
Sadhana
Chatustaya
Viveka Vairagya Sat-Sampatti Mumukshutvā (4 - Qualifications)
Shatka-
Sampatti
Dama (6 -Treasures)
Shama Titikshā Uparati Shraddhā Samādhān
Jnana Yoga
3-Stages of
Spiritual
Shravana Manana Nididhyasana Practice
Adi Shankaracharya’s Teachings (Essence)
(In Sanskrit):
“ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्ममथ्या
जीवो ब्रह्मैव नापरः”
(In English):
“Brahman alone is Real, The World is Illusory”
“Individual Self & Brahman are One and the Same”
Four Preliminary Connections
Prayojana (Realizable Purpose)
Cessation of all Miseries
Attainment of Supreme Bliss
Freedom from bondage
Sambandh (Relationship)
Relationship between the Texts, Purpose & Competency
1. Viveka (Discrimination/Discernment ):
Ability to Discern Real from Unreal, Permanent from Temporary
Right Judgment, Right Understanding
Clear Knowledge of What I need and What I don’t need
World (of Objects)
Can give Entertainment/Education/Opportunity/Relations
Cannot give Happiness, Lasting Security
To know God Alone can give Permanent Security & Support
Indomitable Courage (to get to the Truth)
Sincere Questioning
Ability to distinguish the Cause of Happiness & the Cause of Misery
References
I. Vedantasara of Sadananda
II. Tattva Bodha of Adi Sankaracharya
III. Panchadasi of Vidyaranya
IV. Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
V. The Gospel ofSri Ramakrishna
VI. Srimad Bhagavad Gita By Swami Chidbhavananda
VII. An Introduction to Indian Philosophy, By Chatterjee & Dutta
VIII. The Primer on Hinduism
IX. Lectures of Revd. Swami Dayatmananda on Spiritual Progress,
Hinduism, Karma Yoga, Upanishads, Patanjali etc.
Peace Chanting (ShAnti PAtha)
Sanskrit Transliteration Meaning