Vibration and Waves

KAMPANA [SPANDA OR VIBRATION]

   “The whole world trembles in Prana.” We find here a quality of Brahmn viz., its constituting the abode of the whole world. That the word ‘Prana’ denotes the highest Self appears from such passages as ‘the Prana of Prana’ (Bri. Up. IV-4-18).

   Further, the scripture declares, “No mortal lives by the Prana and the breath that goes down. We live by another in whom these two re pose” (Katha Up. II-5-5).

   In the passage subsequent to the one under discussion, it is said that all the keep in their path and the sun and monn rise and set at appropriate time for the fear of the supreme Lord. “From terror of it fire burns, from terror the sun shines, from terror Indra and Vayu and Death as the fifth run away.”

    Brahmn and not the vital force is spoken of as the subject of that passage, which is represented as the cause of fear on the part of the entire universe inclusive of the Prana itself. Brahmn only is the cause of the life of the entire universe including the vital force.

   Brahmn is compared to a thunderbolt because he inspires fear in fire, air, sun, Indra and Yama. Further, Immortality is declared to him who knows this Prana. “A man who knows him only passes over death, there is no other path to go.” (Svet. Up. VI-15).

   Prana is also often used to denote Brahmn in the Sruti.

Brahmn, the Cause of the Universe

  “In the beginning, my dear, this universe was Being (Sat) alone, one only without a second. Some say that in the beginning this was non-being (asat) alone, one only without a second; and from that non-being, being was born.”

Aruni said: But how, indeed, could it be thus, my dear? How could Being be born from non-being? No, my dear, it was Being alone that existed in the beginning, one only without a second.

   “It (Being, or Brahmn) thought: 'May I be many; may I grow forth.' (Eko’ham bahusyam |). It created fire. That fire thought: 'May I be many; may I grow forth.' It created water. That is why, whenever a person is hot and perspires, water is produced from fire (heat) alone. That water thought: 'May I be many; may I grow forth.' It created food (i.e. earth). That is why, whenever it rains anywhere, abundant food is produced. From water alone is edible food produced.” [Samaveda, Chan. Upa., VI, II – Brahmn, the Cause of the Universe, 1 – 4].

Some learned men speak of the inherent nature of things and some speak of time, as the cause of the universe. They all, indeed, are deluded. It is the greatness of the self-luminous Lord that causes the Wheel of Brahmn to revolve. He by whom the whole universe is constantly pervaded is the Knower, the Author of time. He is sinless and omniscient, It is at His command that the work which is called earth, water, fire, air and Akasha appears as the universe. All this should be reflected upon by the wise. The yogi who first performs actions and then turns away from them and who practises one, two, three, or eight disciplines, unites one principle with another principle and with the help of virtues cultivated by the self and of subtle tendencies attains Liberation in course of time. He who attains purity of heart by performing actions as an offering to the Lord and merges prakriti and all its effects in Brahmn, realises his true Self and thereby transcends phenomena. In the absence of maya, both collective and individual, all his past actions are destroyed. After the destruction of the prarabdha karma he attains final Liberation. [Yajurveda, Svet.Upa., Part I, Chapter VI, 1-4].

    Of all these living beings, there are only three origins: those born from an egg, those born from a living being and those born from a sprout. [Samaveda, Chan. Upa. VI, III - The Three-fold Development, 1]

   O Lord of the wood, whom this ax well-whetted has set in our midst with resultant joy, put forth branches a hundred times over! So may we also with thousands be blessed! [Rk Veda III, 8, 11].

    How worthy of telling and how superb your birth, O Steed, when first you whinnied, on seeing the light, as you rose from the ocean of sea or of space with your eagle wings and limbs of swift gazelle.[Rk Veda I, 163, 1].

    This Steed, the gift of Death, Trita has harnessed, while Indra was the first of all to mount him, the Gandharva first to grasp in his hands the reins. From the substance of the Sun, O Gods, you fashioned this Steed. You, O Steed, are Death, you the Sun; you by a secret decree are Trita; by only a little are you distinguished from Soma. You have, they say, three connections in heaven. In heaven, they say, you have three connections, three in the waters and three within the ocean. You resemble, O Steed, the Lord of the Waters, for there, they say, is your highest birthplace. [Rk Veda I, 163, 2 – 4].

Darkness was there, all wrapped around by darkness, and all was Water indiscriminate. Then that which was hidden by the Void, that One, emerging, stirring, through power of Ardor, came to be. In the beginning Love arose, which was the primal germ cell of the mind. The Seers, searching in their hearts with wisdom, discovered the connection of Being in Nonbeing. A crosswise line cut Being from Nonbeing. What was described above it, what below? Bearers of seed there were and mighty forces, thrust from below and forward move above.[Rk Veda X, 129, 3-5].

    At first was neither Being (sada) nor Nonbeing (asada). There was not air nor yet sky beyond. What was its wrapping? Where? In whose protection? Was Water there, unfathomable and deep? There was no death then, nor yet deathlessness; of night or day there was not any sign. The One breathed without breath, by its own impulse. Other than that was nothing else at all. [Rk Veda X, 129, 1-2]

    May noble wisdom come to us from all sides, undeceived, unhindered, overflowing, so that the devas may always help us onward, unceasing in their care, our Guardians day by day. Ours be the blissful love of devas who desire straight life; about us may the grace of devas lie. We have approached the devas for friendship; may they prolong our life to the full, so that we may live0 .[Rk Veda 1.89.1-2. hv, p. 109]

   The resplendent Self, through the ecstacy of spiritual joy, inspires all virtuous thoughts among men of divine nature. [Rk Veda 8.32.28. rs v. 9, p. 3,025]

   O self-luminous Divine, remove the veil of ignorance from before me, that I may behold your light. Reveal to me the spirit of the scriptures. May the truth of the scriptures be ever present to me. May I seek day and night to realize what I learn from the sages. [Rk Veda, Aitareya Upa.,, Invocation. uph, p. 95].