Dr. N.S.AnanthrangAcchAr's Second teleupanyAsam: Jan 28 , 2001

[Guest guest]

Dear BahkthAs:

 

Dr.NSA Swamy gave yet another lucid and most informative

upanyAsam last week( jan 28) on the Series on the Spirtual

paths of VedAnthA . The first lecture has been

summarized in a posting on Januray 15( #11480 of Bahkthi list

Messages).That UpanyAsam dealt with the qualifications required of

a Saadhaka and the importance of AchArya PrApthi for

the realization of the fruits of SaadhanA .

 

In this upanyAsam , he focused on the concept of SaadhanA

as revealed by Rg Vedic Rks. He plans to go from Rg Vedic

approach to that taken by Upanishads, GitA and VedAnthA

SoothrAs in that order. Dr.NSA Swamy's UpanyAsams are

treaure troves and the fruits of deep study in VedAnthA.

We are indeed fortunate to listen to them .

 

I would like to encourage as many bhakthAs as possible to

particpate in these upanyAsams and get their doubts cleared.

Sri Krishna Kalale once again served as an outstanding

moderator in the Q&A sessions . His summary of the Questions from

the particpants for the benefit of Dr.NSA were excellent.

I will summarize the highlights of this upanyAsam as a

kaimkaryam to others , who could not attend . Please overlook

any mistakes in my summary that might have arisen from

poor grasping of the deep concepts addressed by Dr.NSA.

Other particpants are invited to correct them.

 

January 28 UpanyAsam

*********************

 

(1) Rg veda manthrAs provide an important underpinning

for understanding the spiritual paths as expounded by

the classical system of VedAnthA .

 

(2)Yaaska in his Niruktham has pointed out that Rg Veda

manthrAs have 3 levels of meanings : (a) Yaj~nArtham or

for ritualistic purposes (b) Aadhi DhaivArtham (Agni ,

Vaayu , SooryA et al)and ©AdhyAthmArtham or in the supreme

spiritual sense.

 

(3) In the adhyAthmArtham , the philosophical vision is

perfectly understood inspite of the ritualistic undertones.

No system of exposition of Vedantha is picked out

in Rg Vedam ,which gives praise to One Supreme Lord

(Aathman) , which is called by different names:

 

yEka yEva AathmA , BahaudhA ShrUyathE , TasyA anga-

prathyangA itharANi

 

( Other references: yEkam sadh viprA: bahudhA

vadanthyagnim Yamam maatharisvAnamAhu: Rg Rk: I.164.46)

 

(4) THREE important aspects of SaadhanA can be understood from

Rg veda SamhithA :

 

(a) Purification/PURGATION or Aathma samskaraNam

(b)MEDITATION on the Supreme to divest us of inauspiciousnes and

introduce all that is good , grand and subham.

© UNITIVE LIFE .All efforts should be made towards gaining

PurushArtham.Harmony between life here and the life here after

has to be achieved . Balance has to be struck between Pravrutthi

and nivrutthi ( action and giving up all) to attain the supreme

goal of SaadhanA and its parama purushArtham.

 

(5) There are number of Rg Vedic manthrams that underline

the above vision . The following Rg Rk is a revelatrory one:

 

pari chinmarthO dhraviNam mamanyAdh rthasya paTA namasA vivAsEth

utha svEna krathunA sam vadhEtha srEyAmsam dhaksham manasA jagrubhyAth

Rg Vedam : Xth Canto -->31.2

 

(meaning): Let a mortal be first desirous of accumulating

wealth and strive to gain it by truthful means and sacrifice and by

his own mental insight , and let him finally earn it with his

wisdom and virtuous efforts.

 

Swamy said that man should earn wealth by all righteous means

and use it for the good of all . Here , the process of worldly

conduct (pravrutthi dharmam) is outlined. Earning has to be

accomplished without attachment for the good of the people .

The earner has to reflect upon the true nature of himself ,

the universe , its cause and purpose through his intellect

(KrathunA manasA visuddhEna sam vadEtha).

 

One who understands this well from reflection will surrender

himself to the Supreme One (srEyasAM daksham )) ,who controls

all actions and hold on to Him firmly (jagrubhyAth).

 

All the THREE aspects of Saadhanai ( Purgation , Meditation

and Unitive Life) are covered in this Rk.

 

(6) In another Rg veda manthram containig the following

phrases ,( sahasra rayim dEhi--adhrOhENa VachasA sathyam --

subrahmANam bruhantham gurum --abhivAdhisham--svavasam--

suneetham --samsayam--bhUri vaaram ), the three fundamental

concepts of Saadhanai are affirmed again.The message is :

One should follow the auspicious path of life to acquire

happiness and highest wealth by travelling on a sinless

path (Svasthi pankthAm anucharENa).It is an ardous task .

The manthram does not suggest release from this burden

for the Saadhakan(na asyA: vimucham).He yokes himself

to the burden(uphill task) in a spirit of MahA VisvAsam

in the Supreme One leading him on the right path (prakaratha:)

He will be prepared to face the difficult path and cross it

with courage.He will stay away from petty-minded people and

trust fully only in the Supreme One.

 

The Saadhakan will not live on the labors of others( Maaham

Raajan anyakruthEna BhOjam). Self reliance (No para RuNam),

hard work to maintain himself and leading a contented life

rich in auspicous thoughts (namasA vivAsEdh)will be the hall

marks of that Saadhakan.He will recognize that life divested of

sins is not possible without the grace of the compassionate

Lord.He will therefore pray for the removal of all weakness ,

animosity (dhvEsahm) and purificatoion of the mind to

banish all the diseases that have entered into the house of

mind.Dr.NSA Swamy quoted one of the shortest manthrams of

Rg Vedam here with just ten syllables (X.20.1) in this context:

 

" bhadram nO api vaathaya mana:"( Oh supreme Lord ! May Thou

inspire our mind towards beneficial works!) . Saayana intreprets

this propitaiation to the Lord as : "Tvath sambhandhi-SthOthra-

karaNE prErayEth" ( Please manifest towards us a favorable mind

and bless us to be engaged in euolgies relating to You ).

The insight is given that all actions are ruled over by

the all compassionate Lord. All attainments are recognized

as gifts of the Lord.This covers all attained by body ,mind

and knowledge. Lord is invoked to direct us in the right way.

man can not do anything independently. For those , who question

His existence and ask who has seen Him , The Lord gives

the answer (ayamasmi ,pasya maa iha).

 

ALL THESE ARE PRELUDE TO GREAT ACHIEVEMENT ( INTENSE DEVOTION

TO LORD ). WE CAN DO THIS ALL WITH HIS HELP. ALL DISCIPLINES

ARE MEANT FOR THAT PURPOSE ONLY.

 

The Saadhakan prays: mruLa mahyam jeevAthumicchA .Oh Lord !

please accept what is uttered by me , who is longing for You

(thvAm ichcu:).Make me blessed with Your realization ( Kruthim

maam Devavantham). Make life worth living so that such a life

will contribute richly to the fructification of You , the Supreme

Being !

 

We reached by this time , the half way point of a Two hour

UpanyAsam as Dr.NSA Swamy completed the survey of the Purification

of the Mind , the first of the three steps of a SaadhanA.

 

We will cover the rest of the UpanyAsam in a subsequent

posting .

 

Daasan , V.SatakOpan

[Guest guest]

Is it possible to post an asbtract of such talks in

advance? I did join in on the last talk but I was

rather late. Still, what I heard was most informative

and I look forward to more such conferences.

 

Anand

[Guest guest]

Dear sri anand,

 

thanks for your information. It is very difficult for us to send such an

abstract. The speakers themselves have little interface with us except a

few phone calls to tell them rough idea in the beginning of the series. All

we know about this lecture of Dr. Anantha rangachar is it will be a series

focusing on : Sadhana or pathway towards moksha and how different systems of

thought deal with that issue. Now slowly he will be talking about karmayoga

from different systems as well as gita, upanisads, vedas and how different

acharyas see karmayoga . then jnanayoga, bhaktiyoga will be discussed.

 

Other than this it is tough since they talk from within and use their

experience to the fullest exten while talking. As you know like by

listening to a few minutes of a musician's music, how we clearly come to

know the years or decades of practice that person has put forth, it is

clear that these stalwarts bring out the essence of the hidden truths of

vedas and vedanta thru their rich experience. It is very tough to ask them

such a synopsis since they are first of all very old - 80 years, and it is a

strain for them to give us information. Further they have hundreds of such

lectures and other busy "kalakshepa" or "traditional classical teaaching

sessions" going on regularly. I know that these teachers have taught 100s

of people in great depths.

 

anyway, If I get any information, I will post it.

 

adiyen Krishna Kalale

 

 

anandhudli [anandhudli]

Friday, February 02, 2001 10:41 AM

bhakti-list

Re: Dr. N.S.AnanthrangAcchAr's Second teleupanyAsam: Jan 28 ,

2001

 

 

 

Is it possible to post an asbtract of such talks in

advance? I did join in on the last talk but I was

rather late. Still, what I heard was most informative

and I look forward to more such conferences.

 

Anand

 

 

 

-----------------------------

- SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH -

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