2. Three essential components for making an effort to
acquire any knowledge, particularly spiritual
knowledge are:
– The Sadguru refers to the guiding energy in the form of
mother, father, acharya, spiritual mentor
– Shastras refers to the body of knowledge (Vedic
literature)
– Anubhava means the experience of the seeker
Vedic Triadic Approach to Seek
Spiritual Knowledge
Eventually, the seeker should advance
towards spiritual enlightenment.
3. Vedic Knowledge as an Inverted Tree
Integrated knowledge of Spirituality and Science
Bramhan - God
Non - Dual Reality
Vedic literature
4 Vedas
4. Samhita, Bramhana and Aranyakas form the Vedas
Vedas are classified as Rik, Yajus, Sama and Atharva.
Maharishi Vyasa classified them, hence Veda Vyasa.
There are large number of Upanishads
(108, 32, 10)
Vedic Literature
5. Upanishads refers to the spiritual knowledge
obtained by disciples sitting near the realized Guru,
that destroys the ignorance of disciples.
Upanishads are the Vedanta (essence of the Vedas)
Upanishads
6. Upanishads are essentially in the form of stories and
dialogues such as those of Yama-Nachiketa, Varuna-Bhrigu,
Yajnavalkya-Maitreyi, etc.
Upanishads are the super conscious experiences of Atman
by several rishis and they form the foundation of Sanatana
Dharma.
The other two are Bramha Sutras and Bhagavadgita
7. Ten Upanishads are considered as major ones.
Rigveda ---Aitareya
Sukla Yajurveda ---Isavasya and
Brihadaranyaka
Krishna Yajurveda --Katha and Taittiriya
Samaveda ---Kena and Chandogya
Atharva ---Prasna, Mundaka and Mandukya
Principal Upanishads
8. •Concept of bramhan
•Small in size (18 verses)
• Mystical experience of ubiquitous Atman.
• Karma yoga
Isavasya Upanishad
9. Katha Upanishad
Mrutyu rahasya
Dialogue of Yama-Nachiketa
Sacred fire and yajna
mortal body and immortal soul
role of yoga and discipline
Katha upanishat
11. Nothing is superior to
Purusa
Purusa
Unmanifested
Atman
Intellect
Mind
Object
Senses
Kathopanishad
says…
12. Secret of prana
String of questions to rishi Pippalada by
Sukesi,
Satyakama,
Gargya,
Aswalayana,
Bhargava and Kabandhi
Systematic presentation through questions and
answers
“When is all this that is visible”-(Kabandhi)
“Who is the Purusha with sixteen kalas”-(Sukesha)
Prasna Upanishad
13. •Refers to the visions and experiences of Samnyasis
•Para and Apara Vidya
•Cosmology
•Karma and Jnana yoga
Mundaka Upanishad
15. •Ethics, learning and advice at the end of studies
•Sheaths of Bramhan
•Levels and scale of happiness (bliss)
•Dialogue of Varuna and Bhrigu about Bramhan
•Ecstatic expressions of experience of Bramhan
TaittiriyaUpanishad
16. •Panchakosha viveka and ananda mimamsa
•Creation of world through Viraj (ananda mimamsa)
•Philosophy of the births (panchakosha)
•Nature of Atman
•Gurukula system-samavartana ceremony
TatryaUpanishad
17. ChandogyaUpanishad
Yajna and upasana
Raikva, Satyakama Jabala, Usasti
Pravahana (Life after death), Narada (Para and Apara)
Bramhachari (worship of Prana), Indra (about Atman)
Thus spake Uddalaka Aruni
18. Brihdaranyaka Upanishat
•Karma (Soma sacrifice)
•Creation of Universe and four varnas
•Gargi-Yanjnavalkya, Balaki-Ajatashatru,
•Bramhan as Antaryamin
•Thus spake Yajnavalkya
Brihdaranyaka Upanishad
19. •Definition of consciousness
•Subjective (psychological-spiritual) and objective
(cosmological) approaches to proof of Atman.
•Atman as Ultimate Reality
•Omnipotence of Atman (Uma, the Goddess and Indra)
22. By whom desired and set forth does the mind, flow towards its
object ? At whose bidding again does the chief prana proceed to
its function ? By whom wished do men utter the speech ? What
effulgent one, indeed, directs the eye or the ear ?
23. The preceptor:-
It is the ear of the ear, the mind of the mind, the speech of
speech, he is also the prana of the prana, the eye of the eye.
Knowing thus, the wise, having relinquished all false
identification of the self with the senses, become immortal,
when departed from this world
24. There goes neither the eye, nor speech nor mind ; we
know it not : nor do we see how to teach one about it.
Different it is from all that are known, and is beyond the
unknown as well,---thus we have heard from the ancient
seers who explained that to us
25. What no speech can express, but what expresses
speech, know that alone as Bramhan and not this
which people here worship
26. What none can comprehend with the mind ,
but by which, the sages say, the mind is
comprehended, know that alone as brahman
and not this they worship here
27. That none can see with eyes, but by which one
sees the function of the eyes, know that alone as
the bramhan and not this they worship here
28. What none can hear by the ears, but by which the
hearing is perceived,--- know that alone as bramhan
and not this they worship here
29. What none can breath with breath but by which
the breath is directed know that alone as
bramhan and not this they worship here