Transcript
WEBVTT
00:00:00.020 --> 00:00:11.127
Welcome to another episode of the Bearded Mystic Podcast, and today we are going to be discussing Vedanta Saras, starting from verse 7.
00:00:11.127 --> 00:00:31.410
In the last episode we looked at how, in that, you know, kind of the summary of that episode is that Vedanta is about that spiritual knowledge that follows from ritualistic practices.
00:00:31.410 --> 00:00:41.631
The Upanishads are the primary authority and then, you know, obviously, brahma, sutras and the Bhagavad Gita elucidate their meaning.
00:00:41.631 --> 00:00:51.409
Once we're blessed with true wisdom, you know, karma no longer affects one because we realize that we're neither the doer nor the enjoyer.
00:00:51.409 --> 00:00:58.664
So neither the karta nor bhokta and Puranas are instructive stories, not direct truth.
00:00:58.664 --> 00:01:08.495
So to understand the deeper wisdom, one must turn to authoritative text like the Upanishads.
00:01:08.495 --> 00:01:22.272
So obviously we know that mental purity and certain specific practices are required to be ready to study Vedanta and to have realization and be ready for that.
00:01:22.272 --> 00:01:29.647
And the whole point is that one should have that longing to realize their true nature.
00:01:29.647 --> 00:01:38.108
And, uh, you know, regular awareness of formless awareness brings peace and joy, and that confirms that we're on the right path.
00:01:38.108 --> 00:01:43.685
Before we go any further, do join the discord server if you're not part of it already.
00:01:44.447 --> 00:01:52.204
And um, and let's get started with verse seven.
00:01:52.204 --> 00:01:57.694
So verse seven is actions such as fire worship.
00:01:57.694 --> 00:02:10.466
So which is the jyotishtorma and similar rituals which aim to achieve specific desired results, like attaining heaven, are known as desire driven or karmia actions.
00:02:10.466 --> 00:02:31.481
So any ritualistic action that is done, more or less, is to attain something, whether that's you know, for heaven, for a better life in the future.
00:02:31.481 --> 00:02:38.061
So these rituals that people do, these good actions that people do, have a specific outcome.
00:02:38.061 --> 00:02:49.616
Now, vedanta is not about dealing with those things, but we should understand, if you do do those things, that this is what they achieve.
00:02:49.616 --> 00:03:00.014
So very simple, you know they kind of join to a specific outcome and that's what you want.
00:03:00.014 --> 00:03:03.588
Then, obviously, what are the prohibited actions?
00:03:03.588 --> 00:03:17.752
Because that was discussed in the last episode actions such as the slaying of a Brahmin, which lead to undesired consequences, like going to hell, are considered prohibited or nishida actions.
00:03:19.015 --> 00:03:23.366
One thing I will say when it says the slaying of a Brahmin, that's anyone who knows Brahman.
00:03:23.366 --> 00:03:36.126
So not necessarily you know someone who's born in the caste, so to speak, but anyone that is a knower of Brahman is a self-realized person.
00:03:36.126 --> 00:03:58.604
If you slay them, you know you're going to go through a lot of inner turmoil, because when we get rid of good people in this world, there is a lot of suffering that follows, because those good people create good karma and because they create good karma they're, you know, we're able to gain so much from being in their company.
00:03:58.604 --> 00:04:02.088
So you know where humanity, humanity, could get better.
00:04:02.088 --> 00:04:12.062
What happens as a result is we, um, we reduce, we reduce the goodness that's in the world.
00:04:12.062 --> 00:04:18.942
Now I would even say, you know nowadays, you know, yesterday I did that episode about the.
00:04:19.442 --> 00:04:22.047
You know, if your guru has an allegation, what do you do?
00:04:22.047 --> 00:04:24.430
You know how does Advaita deal with that.
00:04:24.430 --> 00:04:30.708
You know that was in the light of recent allegations in regards to Sadhguru.
00:04:30.708 --> 00:04:34.096
Now, that's one thing.
00:04:34.096 --> 00:04:41.809
But you know, is that would we count the slaying of character as going to hell?
00:04:41.809 --> 00:04:59.742
No, if there's a truth to those allegations and and this is a broader this is me, broadly speaking, not necessarily to anyone specifically, but character assassination would not be considered in this, unless, you know, if we find out that is untrue.
00:04:59.742 --> 00:05:07.536
So if there's allegations, I wouldn't call that the slaying of a Brahmin or a self-realized person.
00:05:09.269 --> 00:05:11.004
So what are the daily Nitya actions?
00:05:11.004 --> 00:05:23.151
So daily rites are actions whose non-performance results in the harm, and examples include daily worship at the three junctures of the day dawn, noon and sunset, among others.
00:05:23.151 --> 00:05:29.084
So you know that can include like bathing, chanting sacred verses, deity worship.
00:05:29.084 --> 00:05:34.254
You know all those are good actions and they help to purify the mind.
00:05:34.254 --> 00:06:03.752
Doing nam japa now it says they're doing it three times in the day I don't think we have the capacity in our busy lives to do that, but anytime that we can remember god, remember our guru, remember any of the mantras and recite the guru mantra, that those are all good things that we can do and should do, and they're just there to help us build a foundation for spirituality and that's the main purpose.
00:06:03.752 --> 00:06:09.901
Then what are the occasional nemitaka actions?
00:06:09.901 --> 00:06:12.069
So those are actions.
00:06:12.529 --> 00:06:21.456
Occasional actions are those performed on specific occasions, such as worship conducted after the birth of a child or funeral rites or whatever.
00:06:21.456 --> 00:06:31.309
But those things are, you know, just for specific occasions, not necessarily they have an importance that you need to do on a daily basis.
00:06:31.309 --> 00:06:36.098
So then you know, but that's naming the child.
00:06:36.098 --> 00:06:48.377
You know, the first intake of food, of solid food for babies, start of education, the thread ceremony that Brahmins do, and marriage and rituals to remove misfortunes also come under that.
00:06:48.377 --> 00:07:00.317
And you know, frankly, those things they're important, but I would always go back to Vedanta is not about those things.
00:07:00.317 --> 00:07:03.790
They can help you, they can purify your mind.
00:07:03.790 --> 00:07:06.310
There's a certain limit to what they can give you.
00:07:06.812 --> 00:07:09.677
But we shouldn't be too engrossed in those things.
00:07:09.677 --> 00:07:23.134
For example, like if you're meditating three times a day but at the same time you have blind faith, then the meditation has no value or has very little value, you know.
00:07:23.134 --> 00:07:26.425
So one has to understand the purpose.
00:07:26.425 --> 00:07:28.918
Some people say, well, you know, this is what we the purpose, you know.
00:07:28.918 --> 00:07:31.310
Some people say, well, you know, this is what we've been doing all of our lives.
00:07:31.310 --> 00:07:34.060
My parents did it, so that's why I'm doing it.
00:07:34.060 --> 00:07:39.673
That's blind faith, that's just blind worship, that's just blind um following of religion.
00:07:39.673 --> 00:07:43.247
And this is not what we're meant to do.
00:07:43.247 --> 00:07:47.617
We're meant to be aware, alert of why we're doing things and how they help us.
00:07:48.987 --> 00:07:56.237
So then he goes to the next bit, which is praya, shitta, which is penance.
00:07:56.237 --> 00:08:06.396
Actions performed to absolve one of sins are referred to as penance, such as fasting according to the phases of the moon Chandrayana.
00:08:06.396 --> 00:08:10.800
So you know, people do different fasts.
00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:15.156
People may do Maundrat, where they have a vow of silence.
00:08:15.156 --> 00:08:21.797
You know, someone could do any number of penances that are prescribed in the Vedas.
00:08:22.505 --> 00:08:25.855
And again, those things are related to the body and mind.
00:08:25.855 --> 00:08:47.841
Everything that we've looked at about the daily rites, the occasional rituals, the fire ritual, the penance, all related to body and mind, none of these are related to the true nature of who we are, and that's where we have to understand that these things aren't meant to be taken too seriously.
00:08:47.841 --> 00:09:17.327
If you, I don't do any of those things that have been mentioned, um, but does that mean that one cannot be available to to kind of, well, I say I don't do any of those things, I do meditate, I do, do have a certain practice, but one shouldn't be so, so bound, you know, bound by the, these rituals.
00:09:17.327 --> 00:09:22.845
If they're binding you, where you cannot focus on your true nature, then there's no, there's very little point.
00:09:22.845 --> 00:09:30.066
So, yes, we can do these fasts, we can do these things, and they may be very helpful.
00:09:30.066 --> 00:09:36.243
Um, we may do penance, we may want to, you know, get rid of the sins that we've done in previous lives.
00:09:36.243 --> 00:09:38.748
We consult a bandit and they tell us what to do.
00:09:38.748 --> 00:09:46.844
All those things are good and and nice, but, again, is it going to take you to mukti, is it going to take you to liberation?
00:09:46.844 --> 00:09:49.091
And that's what we've got to ask.
00:09:49.091 --> 00:09:57.110
So, again, when we're doing these rituals, we must ask questions to see, you know, how are they helping us?
00:09:57.110 --> 00:10:03.475
So that's verse 11.
00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:05.842
Then let's look at what Upasana is.
00:10:05.842 --> 00:10:13.812
So mental activities directed towards the contemplation of reality with attributes, or Saguna Brahman, are called worship.
00:10:13.812 --> 00:10:18.431
An example is the practice described in Shandilya Vidya.
00:10:18.431 --> 00:10:33.510
So actually this is mentioned in thehandogya upanishad, where we talk about the worship of reality with attributes and that's called shandilya vidya and what it is it's about.
00:10:33.510 --> 00:10:40.440
We understand that this world, it's originated, it's sustained, it dissolves into this reality.
00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:42.062
Everything comes from brahman.
00:10:42.062 --> 00:10:44.207
Nothing escapes brahman or consciousness.
00:10:44.207 --> 00:10:50.066
So if we understand that that's the way it is, we worship those attributes.
00:10:50.066 --> 00:10:57.865
So we may see it as all pervasive, or we may see it in our heart and we may feel it in our heart.
00:10:57.865 --> 00:11:03.855
And we may feel it in our heart, we may perceive God to be omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent.
00:11:03.855 --> 00:11:08.130
All those things are very, very good and they help us.
00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:13.120
You know, when we focus on the attributes, that's worship.
00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:19.628
So you know, you see people say you know God, you're amazing, you know what's in my heart.
00:11:19.628 --> 00:11:25.320
You know there's very poetic pieces on that and that's what is meant by a persona.
00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:26.546
I like a persona more.
00:11:26.546 --> 00:11:30.525
That's what I like to do, you know, if I want to praise the divine.
00:11:30.525 --> 00:11:33.513
Thank you for that experience of oneness.
00:11:33.513 --> 00:11:38.952
Thank you for showing me the interconnectivity with everything.
00:11:38.952 --> 00:11:51.488
Thank you for showing this illumination of consciousness, things like that where we can be grateful and it's just cultivating gratitude.
00:11:51.488 --> 00:12:04.460
And that's what true worship is, when we have that gratitude for the realization that has been given to us from aligning and abiding in Brahman.
00:12:04.460 --> 00:12:14.711
So we will continue the rest tomorrow or the day after.
00:12:16.062 --> 00:12:28.211
But main thing to contemplate here is do those practices which really bring you joy and you're really inspired and motivated to do.
00:12:28.211 --> 00:12:30.447
Don't do them because you're obligated.
00:12:30.447 --> 00:12:41.325
Whenever we do something, we're obligated, our heart isn't in it, and when our heart isn't in it, we're not going to reap the benefits that are available from doing such things.
00:12:41.325 --> 00:12:56.826
So, most importantly, remember to you know, be motivated, put your full heart into it, put your full spirit into it, full love and compassion into it, and and it will reap many, many benefits.
00:12:56.826 --> 00:12:59.410
So that's the episode.
00:12:59.851 --> 00:13:06.820
If you liked what you heard, please do like, please do comment and do share this with others that are wanting to learn about Vedanta.
00:13:06.820 --> 00:13:11.568
This is a great way for us to understand the deeper meanings.
00:13:11.568 --> 00:13:23.366
It's going to get deeper as we go along and therefore it's going to be really important that we we may only do one verse in the in a session because of the depth.
00:13:23.366 --> 00:13:44.456
So remember to to just self-reflect upon the daily actions, any of the rites and rituals that you do and how, or any of the worship that you do, and how it makes you feel, and if it makes you feel joy, brilliant.
00:13:44.596 --> 00:13:48.104
If it doesn't make you feel joy, then ask what is missing?
00:13:48.104 --> 00:13:50.990
What am I not getting from this?
00:13:50.990 --> 00:13:54.461
Am I doing this because I have to do it?
00:13:54.461 --> 00:13:56.765
Where is the love for the divine?
00:13:56.765 --> 00:13:59.491
And that's something that we can think about.
00:13:59.491 --> 00:14:02.346
Okay, thank you very much for listening.
00:14:02.346 --> 00:14:16.171
Do subscribe If you listen to this on your favorite podcast streaming app, do rate and review it and join my Discord server, and everything is in the show notes and video description below.
00:14:16.171 --> 00:14:17.965
Truly appreciate it.
00:14:17.965 --> 00:14:19.090
Take care everyone.
00:14:19.090 --> 00:14:19.993
Namaste.