Story of the week - What is Brahman?

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Story of the week

 

What is Brahman?

 

One day, Brighu, the son of Varuna approached his father and asked

him: "Father! Will you enlighten me about Brahman?" Sage Varuna

replied endearingly: "Son, none can enlighten anyone on Brahman. One

has to experience through meditation. Go and do meditation and carry

on self-enquiry. I bless you."

 

Brighu went into a forest and sat for meditation. He used to carry

on self-enquiry too. He used to contemplate on several questions

related to the spiritual world. One day, he thought: 'What is the

most essential thing that is necessary for the existence of all

living beings in general and man in particular? It must be food', he

decided. Man lives, grows and works only because of food, the most

essential thing for life is food, so food is Brahman." He ran to his

father and said: "Father, I know what is Brahman. Food is Brahman."

Varuna replied with a smile: "No, my son, food is not Brahman. Go

and meditate."

 

Brighu went to the forest and continued his tapas for some more

time. One day he thought, 'food may be essential, but unless there

is energy, how can the food be digested? What is that energy? It

must be prana (vital air) so prana is Brahman.' So, he went to his

father and said: "Father, I know what is Brahman, Prana is Brahman."

Varuna replied: "No, my son, go and meditate for some more days."

 

Brighu obeyed his father's command. He continued his meditation. One

day he thought, 'Food is essential, prana is essential, but what is

more essential? Unless one has desire to live and to eat, of what

avail is food and prana? The seat of desire is mind. So Manas is

Brahman' he decided. Brighu reported about his discovery and

said: "Father, Manas is Brahman." Varuna smiled and said: "Son, no,

Manas is not Brahman. Go and do tapas for some more days."

 

Brighu continued his meditation. One day he thought 'Food is

essential, prana is essential, manas is also essential, but what is

still more essential? Unless one is able to distinguish and

discriminate between good and evil, of what use is this life? What

is the seat of this discriminating faculty? It is intellect,

vijnan.' So vijnan is Brahman", he decided. Brighu went and told his

father: "Father, vijnan is Brahman". Varuna once again said: "Son,

no, vijnan is not Brahman. Go and do tapas for some more days."

 

Brighu once again continued to do tapas. One day he thought, 'Food

gives strength, parna energises, manas causes desires, and vijnan

endows man with discrimination (viveka). But, I must find out what

is the ultimate goal of man's life. I have to experience it'. Having

thus resolved, he went into deep meditation again.

 

One day, he experienced an ineffable joy and he sat utterly

unconscious of the outside world. That day, Varuna came to the

forest in search of his son. He was happy to see his son in samadhi.

>From the effulgence which shone on Brighu's face, he knew that his

son had realised that 'Bliss is Brahman'.

 

In the upanishadic age, parents and preceptors used to encourage

their pupils to ask questions, yet they would not give them

immediate answers. They would advise them to carry on self enquiry

and find out the answers for themselves.

 

Experience is the best teacher.

 

- Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Source: Chinna Katha II, 192

 

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