PEACE MANTRA: 🙏🙏🙏

“May HE protect us both. May HE take pleasure in us both. May we show courage together. May Spiritual knowledge shine before us. May we never hate one another. May peace and peace and peace be everywhere”.

 Definition of One unit of ‘Human Joy” as mentioned in Taittiriya Upanishad.

Let’s look into the section VIII of Brahmananda Valli, the second part of Taittiriya Upanishad which is one of among 10 Principal Upanishads.

We all know that our fundamental aim is to be always happy, joyous in our life. We always think of overcoming sufferings, miseries during different phases of life. We need permanent happiness which ordinarily is never seen. Any living creature will seek comfort zone with all good happenings all the time. Among all creatures, Human is considered to be the most intelligent creatures of this world. We the human being, though always search for joy and always try for a life with full satisfaction, yet we cannot achieve both joy and satisfaction permanently. Joys and sorrows come and go like waves’ crest and trough.

According to Vedanta, the goal of Human is: ” Attyantika Dukshya Nibritti, Paramananda praptyachya”.

Complete cessation of sufferings and attainment of Bliss is the goal of everyone.

In the Second part of the Brahmananda Valli, there is one section (section eight), known as ” Ananda Mimamsa” which means an enquiry into the form of Supreme Bliss (Ananda). The Text first defines what is human joy and defines one unit measure, a standard unit of human joy. Then it explains about multiple units of this Joy at different levels and compare those number of Joys (Bliss) with one revelation. According to measurement model, it will take us to the highest level for clear conception about Joy. Very interestingly and mathematically described in such a fashion that one will understand and find what is Joy in reality.

Part of Sloka starts like this: –

2. "seisa ananda mimAMsA bhabati".  This means " This is the enquiry for Joy (Bliss)"

3. "yuvaasyaatsaadhuyuva aadhoayakaha aashishtho drathistho balishthah tasyeyam pruthvi sarva vittasyapoomasyaat sa eko maanusha aanandah"

Call his joy as “eko maanusha aanandah” means one unit of human joy”!

Above sloka defines measurement of one unit of human joy this way: — Think of a young man, well educated, ambitious, firm, strong, noble, and poses total wealth of this world. Call his joy as “eko maanusha aanandah” means one unit of human joy. Thus, the standard unit of Human joy is defined. We will now see what next is in the sacred text.

So, we have now one unit of human joy for further enquiry, further analysis. Before proceeding further, we will analyse the definition of one unit of human joy. The first point to be noted here is that the first condition is, the Man should be young. Why young? Because youth is the ideal condition in one’s life to enjoy, since at young age, body holds full strength, vigour and vitality. Looks very attractive, body heals faster and possess all the benefits of physical works. Second condition is that the youth should be well versed, ambitious, firm, strong, noble and have the wealth of the entire world. We may imagine him as the King of this world.

The Joy of such a person may be assumed as one unit of human Joy which is maximum possible Joy of any human in this world. According to Vedanta, even more than this Joy is possible, but not in this world ( loka /plane/heavens and also known as Astral Planes ). There are higher worlds beyond this world like heavens which is believed by most of the religions. I will write about those Astral planes in my other blog. However we should understand the concept of Joy in actuality.

Now we will move to the next part of the sloka.

Sloka continues :-

• A hundredfold of that Human joy is now unit measure of Human Gandharvas, joy of those brought to the celestial choir (Gandharva loka) by their good deeds. A man full of revelation but without desire, has equal joy.

• A hundredfold joy of Human Gandharva is now unit measure of joy of celestial Gandharva. A man full of revelation but without desire, has equal joy.

• A hundredfold joy of celestial Gandharva is now unit measure of joy of manes (forefathers), living in their eternal paradise (Pitri loka). A man full of revelation but without desire, has equal joy.

• Multiply that one unit of joy of pitri loka hundred times and call it one unit of joy of Heaven born gods. A man full of revelation but without desire, has equal joy.

• Multiply that one unit of joy of Heaven born gods hundred times and call it one unit of joy of Gods brought to godhead by their good deeds . A man full of revelation but without desire, has equal joy.

• Multiply that joy a hundred times and call it one unit of joy of gods brought to godhead by their good deeds. A man full of revelation but without desire, has equal joy.

• Multiply that joy a hundred times and call it one unit of joy of ruling gods . A man full of revelation but without desire, has equal joy.

• Multiply that joy a hundred times and call it one unit of joy of god Indra (known as King of Heaven and also known as God of Thunder). A man full of revelation but without desire, has equal joy.

• Multiply that joy a hundred times and call it one unit of joy of Brihaspati, who is known to be Guru of gods. A man full of revelation but without desire, has equal joy.

• Multiply that joy a hundred times and call it one unit of joy of Prajapati, who is known to be maker of gods. A man full of revelation but without desire, has equal joy.

• Multiply that joy a hundred times and call it one unit of joy of Spirit. A man full of revelation but without desire, has equal joy.

Sloka Continues: 

'He who lives in Man, He who lives in the Sun are one. He who knows this spiritual joy, mind cannot grasp, nor tongue speak, fears nothing."

“He who knows this, cries goodbye to the world, goes beyond elemental Self, living Self, thinking Self, knowing Self, joyous Self. Here is my Authority. “ [** End of Sloka 2.8 of Taittiriya Upanishad.]

Let us now analyze the amount of human joy which is One unit in this world. More happiness is possible. but not in this world. As we believe, beyond this world, there are higher worlds, higher planes commonly known as Etheric plane, Astral planes of different vibrational frequencies. All the planes are in ascending order according to the energy densities. Commonly we call it as Gandharva loka, Pitri loka, Deva loka, Indra loka, Brihaspati loka, Prajapati loka, Brahma loka etc. All these lokas* are in ascending order. According to description, joy of each loka is multiplied by hundred to that of joy of previous loka. Finally, the figure of joy becomes billions of times greater than that of maximum human happiness. 

For the time being, let us assume and believe that those higher worlds exist and also believe in the text of the sloka. We may concentrate on the concept. What we have learnt from the above sacred text? We can have discussion over it. In the sloka, every time it has been pointed out that the amount of Joy in the new loka, remains same. The statement is “A man full of revelation, but without desire, has equal joy”.

What is that “A man with full revelation, without desire has equal Joy”? 

For that we will go back to beginning of Taittiriya Upanishad book II, sloka 1

” The knower of Brahman reaches the Supreme”.

According to Vedanta, Brahman is the Truth, the Knowledge and endless Being. He who knows what is hidden in the cave in the highest heaven, realizes all his desires along with the Omniscient Brahman.

Taittiriya Upanishad says: From this very Self (Brahman), sprang space, from space the wind, from the wind 🌬️ the fire, from the fire 🔥, the water 💦, from the water the earth 🌎, from the earth the herbs, from the herbs food, from food man. Thus man indeed is made up of the sap of food. From food arise the creatures, which so ever live on earth. Through food do they live and to food they return. Of all elements, indeed food is the best. Therefore food is known as best medicine also.

He who has no form assumed many forms; He who is infinite appeared finite; He who is everywhere assumed a place; He who is wisdom, caused ignorance; He who is real, caused unreality. It is HE, who has become everything. It is HE who gives reality to all. Before the universe was created, Brahman existed as unmanifest.

The statement “A man with full revelation, without desire has equal Joy” implies that a person who has attained complete enlightenment or spiritual realization, and who has transcended all desires, experiences a state of joy that is equal or equivalent across all circumstances or conditions.

In this context, “full revelation” suggests a profound spiritual awakening or realization of ultimate truth or reality. It indicates a state of enlightenment where one has a deep understanding of the nature of existence, the self, and the interconnectedness of all things.

“Without desire” signifies a state where the individual has overcome attachment to worldly desires, material possessions, and ego-driven ambitions. They have attained a state of contentment and inner peace, free from craving or attachment to external outcomes.

The statement essentially suggests that once a person reaches a state of spiritual realization and liberation from desires, their experience of joy becomes constant and unchanging, regardless of external circumstances. This is because their source of joy is not dependent on worldly achievements or possessions, but rather arises from a deep, intrinsic connection to the underlying reality of existence.

This concept is often emphasized in various spiritual and philosophical traditions, where the ultimate goal is to attain a state of inner peace, contentment, and transcendental joy that remains unaltered by external circumstances. It signifies a state of profound spiritual freedom and fulfillment.

In next part, Part 2, I will elaborate ” A man full of revelation but without desire, has equal joy.” Link for Part-2 is here: What is Joy-Part-2?

The link for concluding part: – What is Joy? -part-3: