The Hindu Article - Significance of human birth

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Date:19/02/2003 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/19/stories/2003021902470900.htm

 

Miscellaneous - Religion

 

Significance of human birth

 

CHENNAI FEB.19 . The Upanishads, which are the philosophical portion

of the Vedas, derive their names due to various reasons. While some

are named after the opening Mantra of the text others are indicative

of the subject matter dealt with in them. The Mundaka Upanishad,

which is one of the important texts, indicates monks because

spiritual evolution involves renunciation of worldly desires. Thus

the name gives inkling into the topics handled in it. The Mundaka

occurs in the Atharvana Veda and has three chapters containing two

sections each with a total of 64 Mantras. The verses of the

Upanishads are generally called Mantras, as in the case of the Vedas.

 

The Mundaka Upanishad has a hoary lineage, which is traced to the

creator, Brahma, who taught it to his son Atharvan. The teaching was

then transmitted through the preceptor-disciple tradition of sages

like Bharadvaja, Angirasa and Saunaka. Oral transmission by the

teacher to his disciple is a distinct feature of the spiritual

tradition, as it is not just imparting the text, which is the motive

but the actual experience of truth. The meaning of the

word "Upanishad" gives insight into the nature of the subject matter

dealt with in these texts and also the prerequisites of the student

like a receptive mind to imbibe the subtle teachings.

 

In his discourse, Sri Goda Venketeswara Sastri said the Upanishads

showed man how to live properly by focussing on the purpose of human

life. Human birth is meant for realising the goal of liberation from

rebirths. If an individual does not understand this significance and

take steps to realise the objective in this birth itself then there

is no escape from transmigration. His rebirth is determined by the

Karma he accumulates by his meritorious deeds and sinful acts. So

death is only a stage in the evolution of the transmigrating soul.

The Upanishad starts by making a distinction between matter and

Spirit so that it is made clear in the beginning itself that the

subject of deliberation is the Self (Atman).

 

Saunaka approached Angirasa with the question that confronts every

spiritual seeker, "Knowing what does all become known?" The teaching

follows as answer to this query in which the teacher subsumes all

other subjects except spirituality as lower because each area can

only give knowledge about it. The discourse shows that a preceptor

(Guru) is one who does not just answer the student's doubt but goes

on to teach him with patience till he is enlightened by Self-

knowledge.

 

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