Brahmana and Aranyaka

  Sage Yajnyavalkya was one of the highly admired Rishis praised and pampered by Kings and Nobles. He had two wives named Maitrayani and Kathyayani. One dy, the sage decided to leave for Vanaprashtashrama and called his wives and told them about his decision. He offered all his wealth to them and asked them to share it and be happy. Maitarayani asked him, "Why are you leaving us? What is more important there? What is it you gain by going there, leaving us here?" Yajnyavalkya said, "I want to spend the rest of my life in meditation and it needs seclusion, concentration, and more leisure than available after household cores. I shall attain spiritual strength, peace and higher joy and supreme bliss." After hearing this, Maitrayani also decided to leave the household and take to serious meditation in a secluded place. Maitrayani became a renown sage and now, we have the Maitrayani Upanishad.  
   The Upanishads are full of stories and anecdotes imparting knowledge about means of attainment to the highest, paramam padam. The two sects of adepts who pursue the means of spiritual attainment are called the Btahmana and the Aranyaka. The Brahmana is the one who takes to spiritual path even as he is engaged in the daily course as a grihasta, family man. It requires enormous strength of mind, (dhruti) and determination (dhrudhata) to pursue the spiritual path in this mode of living. This is the best method since the person will really grow mature and will attain the goal. As far as the Aranyaka is considered, the adept chooses to retire to forest, a secluded place to pursue the spiritual practices. This seems easier than the Brahmana since there are no disturbances from the family and friends and relatives. But this brings a lot of frustration and many of the unfulfilled desires remain causing disturbances and obstruction to attainment! The Aranyaka is a far more difficult proposition for the beginners and the Brahmana, however, seems to be difficult is better suited. We are avoiding the more difficult aspect of Vedic studies here for obvious reasons. This will come up later.

   The life of an ascetic is difficult. It is stipulated that he should visit the community during day time for alms and should retire to secluded place before evening! If it is not possible to get back, he should stay in a temple or a place outskirts of the village. He should not hold or possess,  except a bowl and a tumbler of water! He should preferably sleep on the floor, and spend most of his time chanting the name of the Lord.

   We have heard of great sages performing long years of meditation in isolated places. In fact, it seems absolutely essential to retire to a cave, on a hill top, or a secluded river bank to perform the penance. We have seen such yogi who used to stay in a cave and worship God for long years.

   What do we gain or achieve by all these penances, pursuit of spiritual practices? Practically nothing! There is nothing to gai, but everything to lose? The spiritual pursuit is meant for losing, not for gaining! One will lose all that he has acquired over the long periods of repeated births and deaths such as vasana, prarabhda karma klesha, that pester us, such as, ego, anger, jealous, pride, etc. and put an end to the unending desires! This will bring about total purity- purity of mind, thoughts, purity of words and deeds and make the person divine. This is an uphill task from the ordinary animal-like existence to a more human and divine states!  This is the goal of life! In fact, very few blessed souls ever think of this, or take to this way of spiritual attainment.
    Chandogya Upanishad and Brishadaranyaka Upanishad deal with these.