Prasthanatrayi

   It may be seen in the sacred book of the Hindus, the Bhagavad-Gita, Lord Shree Krishna warns Arjuna “not to be carried away by the attractive superficial meaning of the Rks of the Veda”. Since these are of qualitative nature and drags into the the abyss of the ocean of Sansar offering name, fame, wealth and such other treasures of the objective world, it is sure to drown you in the whirlpool. One has to transcend the qualitative expressions of the Rks and reach the state of attribute-less (nirguna) Brahmn, the highest Truth, through contemplation. The secrets of the Veda cannot be ever understood by ordinary methods of study. Contemplation, dharana, and dhyana yoga (Raja Yoga) or Transcendental Meditation will greatly help in this regard.

    Since the Veda remained a secret only a few initiated fortunate ones had access to it; the common people had no access to it till now. However, a few intelligent scholars have now got access to these scriptures and are trying to analyze them. They have taken to Yoga and other spiritual practices in order to contemplate on the Brahmn and realize the Truth by themselves. This has helped them to decode the Vedic hymns to some extent. However, it is still beyond the common man to comprehend it. The language of the Veda is too complicated and at times seems incoherent, ambiguous and simply meaningless. The meaning and purport of the Vedic terms are not easy to understand.

   These doctrines of the Veda summed up in a few concise editions by learned sages are known as the “Upanishads”. Here the term upa-ni-sha means ‘sitting close’ in order to hear the mystic sound of Rks. There are almost Two hundred and fifty or more Upa.,s and all are not authentic versions; only a Hundred and eight are well known. Shree Shankaracharya has given commentary on the ten most important Upa.,s- Ishavasya, katha, Kena, Prashna, Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka, Mundaka, Mandukya, Aiteeriya, and Taitteeria. The Koushitake, Paingea, Maitrayani, Muktikopanishat, and many others important Upanishads give valuable information since they deal with mantra, yoga, adhyatma, births and deaths, etc.

    The Upanishads are called the Texts of Vedanta since they constitute the summary of the Veda. They reveal the secrets of the Veda in many different ways. These are explained separately in “VEDANTA”- Knowledge Supreme.by the same author. Besides the Veda and the Upa.,s there are eighteen Puranas (epics) believed to be written by an eminent Sage Veda Vyasa. Nobody knows anything about this Great Sage believed to be incarnation of Vishnu. There are great epics like the Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Vishnu Purana, the Shiva Purana, the epic magnum opus Mahabharata, Ramayana, Shreemad Bhagavata, etc. There are the Brahma Sutras that are supposed to be a guide to these difficult Scriptures. A separate Text of the Bhagavad-Gita has been created along with Shree Vishnu Sahasranama from the Mahabharata.These are the sources of our eternal values- ‘sanatana dharma’.These texts shape the individual’s mental attitudes, manovrutti when strictly adhered to. The Ritam, Satyam and dharma are to be followed in both private and public life if one has to attain peace and prosperity. Besides these, there are the Narada Bhakti Sutra, the Manu Smruti, the Patanjali Ashtanga Yoga sutra and Shandilya Yoga that help us to know the secrets of good health, happiness and successful life.

    Today, we have a large amount of scientific literature concerning all aspects of human life. The advent of technology has given access to secret knowledge of stars, Light and Life. Now we have advanced astrophysics, nuclear physics, quantum mechanics, biotechnology and genetic engineering in addition to study of waves and vibrations. However, one may take recourse to the Shrutis and Smrutis such as the Veda, the Upanishads, and other scriptures cited above. These spiritual materials are very useful for sadhana as svadhyaya literature and Meditation Guides. The techniques of Yoga lerant from an experienced teacher will greatly help us to attain to the goal of life.

  Some of the more important Vedic sayings and Upanishads-Vakyas are explained here. These are the sum and substance of the Veda. Among the several important mahavakyas, the following are to be realized by the spiritual seeker. Even if one mahavakya is realized it delivers him from the eternal bondage and ensures the liberation of the embodied soul once and for all. Even a single letter like the sacred “Om” will do sometimes to get Enlightenment; such is the power and potency of the akshara, the letter of the alphabet, when it is charged with the ‘sat’. It is called Ekakshara Brahma.

pajnyanam Brahma  | Ishavasyam idam sarvam |

 sarvam khaluvidam Brahma |

   These three important mahavakyas clearly state that “the entire universe is pervaded by supreme Consiousness (chit-shakti)”; here, the principle is: “Everything is Consciousness”, ie, shivam achutam sundaram,  anantam,  anandam”.

    This entire universe is pervaded by Consciousness (chit-shakti); everything is Consciousness, Brahmn [Aitareya Upa., of the RkVeda].

Aham Brahmasmi | [Bruhadaranyaka Upa.,]

Tattvamasi | [Chchandogya Upa.,]

Ayam Atmaa Brahma | [Mandukya Upa.,]

Atmai eva vedagam sarvam | [Pursha Sukta, Mandala X, Rk Veda]

Sarvamkhalvidam Brahma | [Bruhadaranyaka Upnanishad II. 4. 6]

Asato ma sadamaya | tamaso jyotirgamaya | mrutyor ma amrutam gamaya| [Rk Veda-IX- 113- 7]

Ishavsyamidam sarvam | [Ishopanishad 1.1; IV. 5. 11; VII.22.16, 98.6]

jAtavEdO yadIdam | [Rk Veda IV-5-11]  

Sarvabhutasthamaatmaanaam sarva bhutani caatmani |

Sampashyan brahma paramam yaati naanyena hetudha ||

Tryambakam yajamAhE suganMdhiM puShTivardhanam |

urvArukamivabaMdhanaat na mRutyOrmukShiyamAmRutAt ||

 [Rk Veda VII-59-12]                                                                      

Whoever sees the self in all and all in his self’ knows Brahmn. He attains to Brahmn who finds no difference in names, forms and functions of creation. This is the fundamental principle. Once this principle is understood, the attitude of people changes from the present greedy selfish man always seeking profit and pleasure and turns to a selfless, loving human being and then from human to divine. The divinity inherent in man has to evolve and this is not possible without the aid of ancient scriptures. The present materialistic approach to life is dangerous to human existence since it brings mutual ill-will, distrust, strife and ultimately destruction. It is not the aim or goal of life. The goal of life is Fulfillment and Enlightenment as also,redemption, liberation of the embodied soul, once for all- mukti.