Tag: Infinite Bliss

Essence of ChAndogya Upanishad: Part-7D[FINAL PART]

Introduction: Seventh Chapter:

The ChAndogya Upanishad is part of ChAndogya Brahmana of the Sama Veda which is one of the largest important Upanishads with Eight Chapters (Prapathakas) with many verses including some stories as themes to gain Upanishadic knowledge. This Upanishad is placed in the 9th position in the list of Ten Principal Upanishads. The name of the Upanishad is derived from the word   “Chanda” (Rhythm~ poetic meter).

**This Upanishad directly deals with the true nature of Brahman, the Supreme Self, without a second.

ChAndogya Upanishad consists of Eight chapters. The first five chapters forms the part of Karma Kanda and Upasana Kanda. Chapter- 6, 7 and 8 form the part of Jnana Kanda.

The essence of the Teaching is: – The Infinite Bliss ~ “Bhumaiva Sukham”

This post is final part [7-D] of Chapter-7 of Chandagyo Upanishad. Section-23 to Section-27. 

*First part of Chapter-7 has been published in my blog, where Section-1 to Section-6 has been discussed. The link is here:- Essence of ChAndogya Upanishad: Part-7A

** Second part of Chapter-7 : From Section-7 to Section-12 has been discussed. The link is here:- Essence of ChAndogya Upanishad: Part-7B

*** Third part of Chapter-7 contains discussion on  Mantras from Section-13 to Section-22: The link is here:- Essence of ChAndogya Upanishad: Part-7C

A request to my readers: Please read my previous posts on ChAndogya Upanishad, especially 6th chapter. Links are given below:

  1. Chapter Six: Section-1 to Section-4(Khanda-1 to Khanda-4). The link is here:  Essence of ChAndogya Upanishad: Part-6A of 6
  2. Chapter Six: Section-5 to Section-8(Khanda-5 to Khanda-8). The link is here: Essence of ChAndogya Upanishad: Part-6B of 6
  3. Chapter Six: Section-9 to Section-16(Khanda-9 to Khanda-16). The link is here: Essence of ChAndogya Upanishad: Part-6C of 6[END OF 6TH CHAPTER]

॥ छान्दोग्योपनिषत्  –  सप्तमोऽध्यायः ॥

Structure of 7th Chapter!

Part-6: Section: 23-27 (Total 6 Mantras):        ” BHOOMA~ The Infinite“

We are in the final part of 7th Chapter of Chandagyo Upanishad. In this section we will learn about the characteristics of The Infinite [ Bhooma]. First two mantras give us definition, next two mantras describe the qualities, and the final two mantras give the scriptural support on the Truth.

Section-23: “Bhoomaa”– The Infinite (1 mantra):

यो वै भूमा तत्सुखं नाल्पे सुखमस्ति भूमैव सुखं
भूमा त्वेव विजिज्ञासितव्य इति भूमानं भगवो
विजिज्ञास इति ॥ ७.२३.१॥

Mantra-23.1: The Infinite alone is happiness: [त्रयोविंशः खण्डः ]

Only that which is Infinite, is true Happiness, There is no happiness in anything finite. ” The Infinite alone is Happiness. But the “Infinite” one must desire to understand.

Narada: ” Revered Sir, the Infinite I do desire to understand.

भूमैव सुखं : “Bhumaiva Sukham”: 1) That which is Infinite is true Happiness. 2) There is no Happiness in anything finite. 3) The Infinite alone is Happiness. 

Section-24: “Moksha”– Liberation (2 mantras):

Mantra-24.1: The State of Liberation:

24.1.1: The Infinite and the finite Defined:

That in which one sees nothing else, hears nothing else, and understands nothing else- That is Infinite. But that in which one sees something else, hears something else, and understands something else- that is the Finite. That which is Infinite, is alone immortal; but that which is finite, is mortal.

24.1.2: The basis of Infinite:

Narada: ” Revered Sir, In what that Infinite is established”?

Sanatkumara:” In its greatness or even not in its greatness.”

Mantra-24.2: Mutual Dependence:

The cows and horses are called “greatness” here in this world, as also elephants and gold, servants and wives, fields, and buildings. I do not call this greatness, in fact, I call what has been described above as ” mutual dependence.”

[ The common, worldly type of greatness rests in one’s possessions. For worldly people, what one possesses determines their greatness. Greatness is a relative term. A thing can only be great in comparison to something else which is not great. Like a king is great relative to his countrymen. That is what is meant by Mutual Independence.]

Section-25: “Swaraat”– Independence (2 mantras):

Mantra-25.1: The Infinite, the ” I ” & the Self:

Mantra-25.1.1: The Infinite alone Exists:

That alone is below. That alone is above; That is behind, That is in front; That is to the south, and to the north; That Infinite alone is all this.

Mantra-25.1.2: The “I-Notion” alone Exists:

Next is the teaching with respect to the “I-Notion”. “I” alone am below, I am above; I am behind, I am in front; I am to the south, I am to the north; I alone am all this.

Mantra-25.1.3: The “Self” alone Exists:

Next is the teaching with respect to the “Self”. The Self alone is below and above, the Self is behind and in front; the Self is to the south and north; the Self alone is all this.

[ ** Infinite = "I" = Atman. 1. The Infinite Itself is all That there is. 2. The "I"- notion in the individual is Itself all That there is. 3. The Atman or Sef Itself all That there is.]

Mantra-25.2: The ” Sovereign and the Slave”:

Mantra-25.2.1: The Sovereign is free:

Verily, he who sees thus, who reflects and understands; thus, He revels and sports in the Self, he unites in and enjoy the Self. He becomes the Sovereign of all the worlds. He is free to act as he wishes.

Mantra-25.2.2: The Slave is ruled by others:

But who know other than this, they are ruled by others (the slaves), and live in perishable worlds. In all the worlds, they are not free to act as they wish.

[** Analysis:  Here sage Sanatkumara is pointing to the final state. Aatma- Ratih, Aatma- Kreedah, Aatma- Mithuna, Aatma-Anandah- this is the state he himself must be revelling in all the time. Now what is required to reach this state? It is very simple. Follow the meaning of the words: Evam Pashyan, Evam Manvaan, Evam Vijnaanan. All these means: – ” See nothing else”, “Reflect on nothing else”, and ” Understand nothing else”. Nothing other than Infinite. The state of freedom of one is then established in Infinity. All previous levels from Name to Hope, were limited to the worlds of finite. Upon reaching this state the Aspirants become ” Swaraat” – the all-powerful status of being a Self-Sovereign, independent ruler of himself.]

Section-26: The Vision of the “Ativadi”– (1 mantra):

Mantra-26.1: Greatness of the Realised Sage:

Mantra-26.1.1: The requisites for Sovereignty:

Verily, for him alone who sees thus, reflects thus, and understands thus. 

Mantra-26.1.2: The state of Sovereignty: “Atma-Svarajya”

  1. Prana Springs from the Self.
  2. Aspiration Springs from the Self.
  3. Memory Springs from the Self.
  4. Space Springs from the Self.
  5. Fire Springs from the Self.
  6. Water Springs from the Self.
  7. Appearance and disappearance Spring from the Self.
  8. Food Springs from the Self.
  9. Strength Springs from the Self.
  10. Understand Springs from the Self.
  11. Contemplation Springs from the Self.
  12. Intelligence Springs from the Self.
  13. Will Springs from the Self.
  14. Mind Springs from the Self.
  15. Speech Springs from the Self.
  16. Name Springs from the Self.
  17. Hymns (Upasana Kanda) Springs from the Self.
  18. Rites (Karma Kanda) Springs from the Self: All these Spring from the Self alone!!

Section-27: Supporting scriptural verses: “Slokas” (1 mantra):

तदेष श्लोको: On this there are scriptural verses as follows: –

तदेष श्लोको न पश्यो मृत्युं पश्यति न रोगं नोत दुःखताꣳ
सर्वꣳ ह पश्यः पश्यति सर्वमाप्नोति सर्वश इति
स एकधा भवति त्रिधा भवति पञ्चधा
सप्तधा नवधा चैव पुनश्चैकादशः स्मृतः
शतं च दश चैकश्च सहस्राणि च
विꣳशतिराहारशुद्धौ सत्त्वशुद्धौ ध्रुवा स्मृतिः
स्मृतिलम्भे सर्वग्रन्थीनां विप्रमोक्षस्तस्मै
मृदितकषायाय तमसस्पारं दर्शयति
भगवान्सनत्कुमारस्तꣳ स्कन्द इत्याचक्षते
तꣳ स्कन्द इत्याचक्षते ॥ ७.२६.२॥

Mantra-27.1: Three supporting Slokas:

Mantra-27.1.1: The Seer of the Infinite:

He who sees does not see death, nor illness, nor sorrow. he who sees this sees all things and obtains all things in all ways.

Mantra-27.1.2: One Becomes Many:

He who is One, becomes three-fold, five-fold, seven-fold and also nine-fold. Then again, he is called eleven-fold, and hundred-fold, then hundred-and-eleven-fold, twenty-thousand-fold.

** Analysis of One into Many:

One: Brahman

Three-fold: Causal, subtle, and Gross; Waking, dreaming, and Sleeping, Past, Present, and Future.

Five-fold: Five Elements, Five Koshas, Five Pranas.

Seven-fold: Sapta Dhatus, Sapta rishis, Sapta Divas, sapta Swara, sapta Lokas, Seven colors.

Nine-fold: Nava Durga, Nine doors in the Body.

Ten-fold: Disha, Avatara, Vidyas.

Eleven-fold: Rudras

And so on……

Mantra-27.1.3: Three major steps:

  • Pure food creates pure intellect.
  • Pure intellect creates strong memory.
  • Strong memory cuts all the knots of the Heart.

** Note: Cuts all the knots of the Heart means detaching Ego from Consciousness. This teaching has been seen in Katha Upanishad also [Mantra-2.3.15: Katha Upanishad: – “When the knot of the heart is cut, the mortal becomes Immortal. This alone is the Teaching”.]

THREE MAJOR STEPS

Mantra-27.1.4: The Final Stage: 

भगवान्सनत्कुमारस्तꣳ स्कन्द इत्याचक्षते
तꣳ स्कन्द इत्याचक्षते ॥ ७.२६.२॥

Sage Sanatkumara leads beyond the darkness those that have washed their impurities away. Hence men call him the Great commander, men call him the great Commander.

Conclusion:

Finally, the Great sage sanatkumara defined “Bhooma” the ABSOLUTE. This is Infinite. Here one sees nothing except one’s own Self, hears nothing except one’s own Self, understands nothing except one’s own Self, Bhooma alone is Immortal. This Eternal is Present Everywhere. It can not be that It is located in something else, and It is dependent on something else. Nor It has something else as It’s support. Neither It is not dependent on something else. This is all- being, support of all things. He who Realizes this enjoys ” Atma-Svarajya” [state of Sovereignty] means Universal Lordship. Every realm of being becomes a free passage to this great one who has acquired this knowledge. The person becomes possessed of Cosmic freedom.

End of Chapter-7 ” The Infinite Bliss”

The link for reading text in Sanskrit is here:-   Chandgoya Upanishad 

Recommended readings:

  1. Back to the Truth: 5000 years of ADVAITA by Dennis Waite. **
  2. THE TEN PRINCIPAL UPANISHADS: Translated by Shree Purohit** Swami and W.B.Yeats
  3. Brahma Sutra Bhasya of Sankaracharya: Translated by Swami Gambhirananda.**
  4. Commentary of ChAndogya Upanishad: By Swami Krishnananda.
  5. ChAndogya Upanishad: By Swami GuruBhaktananda.
  6. EIGHT UPANISADS -VOL-1 with commentary of Sankaracharya, Translated by SWAMI GAMBHIRANANDA.
  7. THE TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD: SHIKSHAVALLI-ANANDAVALLI-BHRIGUVALLI with Sri Shankara’s Commentary By Sri Swami Satchidanandera Saraswati.
  8. A-U-M Awakening to Reality: By Dennis Waite***
  9. Panchadasi: Swami Vidyaranya:
  10. Information available on internet.

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