Weekly Definition - Tat Tvam Asi (That Thou Art)

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

 

Before I provide the definition, it is quite essential to understand

the fact that the statement, Tat Tvam Asi is one of the four

prominent Mahavakyas. Though there are many Maha Vakyas in the

Upanishads the following four are considered to be the prominent

ones. They are: Prajnanam Brahma (Consciousness is the Brahman) in

the Aitareya Upanishad of the Rig-Veda, Aham Brahmasmi (I am the

Brahman) in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad of the Yajur-Veda, Tat Tvam

Asi(That Thou Art) in the Chhandogya Upanishad of the Sama Veda and

Ayam Atma Brahma (Self is the Brahman) in the Mandukya Upanishad of

the Atharva Veda.

 

The first statement, Consciouness is the Brahman, explains the True

Nature of the Brahman. The second statement is the self assessment

from the seeker when he/she recognizes his/her True Divine Nature.

In the third statement, the realized teacher informs (asserts) – "

You are that Supreme Brahman. " The last is the statement of practice

or formula for the seeker (Adhyaasa Vaakya) to discover the Oneness

of Atman and the Brahman.

 

The Mahavakyas are considered the quintessence of the Vedas. The

Vedic scriptures insist that these Mahavakyas can only be fully

understood by those seekers who are fully qualified. To get the

understanding beyond the literal meaning (dictionary meanings of the

Sanskrit words) the seeker should undergone the detailed Sadhana

(practices) explained through Sadhana-Chatushtaya. We had defined and

explained the meaning of Sadhana-Chatushtaya during the very first

week of last month. The four qualities are the following:

 

1. vivEka (discrimination of Real from unreal).

2. vairAgya (detachment or dispassion from sense objects)

3. shamAdi ShaTka sampatti (a collective group of six behavior traits

or virtues )

4. mumukshtva (intense desire to achieve permanent bliss).

 

The Sadhaka (seeker) after completing the mind purification process

(Sadhana) becomes qualified to understand meaning of the Mahavakyas

while engaging himself/herself whole time in deep reflection and

profound meditation. Only after contemplation, the seeker is able to

grasp the implied meaning of the Mahavakya.

 

Tat Tvam Asi -That art Thou:

To grasp the true meaning of Tat Tvam Asi, we should begin with the

context of this statement in Chandogya Upanishad. Chandokoya is one

of the twelve major Upanishads (Aitareya and the Kauhsitaki from Rg

Veda, Chandokya and Kena from Samaveda, Taittiriya, Katha,

Shvetashvatara, Brhadaranyaka and Isha fromYajur Veda and Prashna,

Mundaka and Mandukya from Atharvaveda).

 

Svetaketu was the grandson of Aruna, and the son of Uddalaka. It

seems that the boy Swetaketu did not focus his mind on the study of

Vedas. His father sent him to Gurukul (An ashrama situated in forest

to teach the Vedas to children at an young age). His family had a

long tradition of studying Vedas and Sastras to get acquainted with

the knowledge of the Scriptures). The Gurukula study is similar like

the modern boarding arrangement, but the ancient one provided home-

cooked meal with love and affection. Normally the student spends 12

to 14 years study Vedas with guidance from the Guru. During the Vedic

times, the entire study including boarding and lodging was free and

student pledges to become a teacher like his/her Guru. This is how

the knowledge of Vedas was passed on from one generation to the next

generation.

 

Svetaketu went to forest-retreat at the age of twelve, and studied

the Vedas, scriptures, science, grammar, etc. at the feet of the Guru

for twelve years, and returned home. He was very proud of his

knowledge and scholarship.and thought that he has finished studying

everything. On seeing this nature of the son, his father called him

and thoughtfully asked a question - " O my son! Have you studied that

thing knowing which everything becomes known? " Swetaketu was shocked

and he couldn't grasp this question clearly. He was eager to

know `that by knowing by which everything else becomes known.' He

also understood that he still has not learnt the most essential

things of the universe and with humility, he requested his

father: " Father! May I request you please to teach me the most

essential by which everything else becomes known! "

 

On hearing this reply for the son, the father (Uddalaka) slowly

explained to him using simple examples: " Son! Have you not seen the

clay in front of the potter's house! It becomes a pot in the hands of

the potter. If the clay is known, then all things made of clay are

known! Similarly if you know gold, things made of gold like ornaments

are known. If you know iron, all things made of iron are known! Like

this, if you know the " Brahman " then everything (the entire universe)

that can't exist without Him are also known! " He continued his

teaching and concluded with the statement, Tat Tvam Asi. In very

simple terms, Tat represents the Brahman and Tvam identifies divine

soul (Atman) that resides within the Jiva. Asi is an affirmation

equating the Brahman and the Atman. In very subtle terms Uddalaka

tells us that by knowing the SELF (Self-realization) we will be able

to recognize the entire Universe because of the fact that the

Universe doesn't exist without the presence of Brahman. It is just

like saying there will not pot without clay and there will be no more

golden ring without the gold!

 

Sri Adi SankarA interprets this verse " Tat Tvam Asi " to mean " The

Jiva and the Brahman are identical and there is no difference between

the Atman of Jiva and the Brahman. Sri Adi SankarA correctly assumes

the " Swaroopa Iykyam " that is the absolute identity between the

JeevAtman and the ParamAtman (Brahman).

 

More Explanations on Tat Tvam Asi:

An interesting and enlightening discussion on this topic occurred

during second week of December in the advaitin list. These

discussions are available in the list archives at the link:

advaitin/messages

The following are the message numbers 646, 649 to 652, 658, 661, 667

and 680). Profvk in his post on 652 provides a two-page essay on this

topic. Swami Dayananda's notes on Gita for the Homestudy contains

also detailed explanations to Tat Tvam Asi. Vikipedia provides an

excellent essay with details of both Sankara's and Ramanuja's

interpretations. A number of Advaita websites also provide

explanations.

 

Example Links from the WEB:

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9071370/tat-tvam-asi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tat_Tvam_Asi

http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/cgi-bin/kbase/Tat_Tvam_Asi

 

I expect Profvk and Sadaji to inject further insights to this

important Statement from the Chandokya Upanishad in support of

Sankara's Advaita Philosophy.

 

With my warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

[Guest guest]

Ram Chandran <ramvchandran wrote:

Namaste:

 

Before I provide the definition, it is quite essential to understand

the fact that the statement, Tat Tvam Asi is one of the four

prominent Mahavakyas. Though there are many Maha Vakyas in the

Upanishads the following four are considered to be the prominent

ones. They are: Prajnanam Brahma (Consciousness is the Brahman) in

the Aitareya Upanishad of the Rig-Veda, Aham Brahmasmi (I am the

Brahman) in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad of the Yajur-Veda, Tat Tvam

Asi(That Thou Art) in the Chhandogya Upanishad of the Sama Veda and

Ayam Atma Brahma (Self is the Brahman) in the Mandukya Upanishad of

the Atharva Veda.

 

Dear friends,

There is a chapter devoted to the expatiation on the four

mahavaykas in the Tamil work, 'Ribu Gita,' very much recommended to be read by

Bhaghavan Ramana. To the extent of my understanding of the work, I understand

the uniform import of the Mahavakyas to be one of the Self being only Awareness,

the duality of Awareness and Being being discountenanced. Further, it is not one

of one entity becoming the other or merging with the other. There is also no

question of attaining this understanding in time as a process. The book has been

translated into English by one H.Ramamurthy of Aham foundation. But if one knows

Tamil, one will find it more clarity. Even though the work has been translated

from the original Sanskrit, the Tamil version is believed to be more powerful

than the original, because Sri Ulaganatha Swamigal alias Bitchu Sastry of

Thiruvidaimarudur was not a mere scholar, but a fully enlightened man. I don't

find this in the website. But if the

moderators permit, I should be greatly pleased to quote a few verses. But I am

not sure whether the copyright act would permit this.

with respectful regards

Sankarraman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Namaste Ram Chandranji, Sankararamanji et al.

 

A random observation.

 

The Sanskrit word tattva, which means the truth or principle of

something, is regarded as made up of tad (that) and tvam (you)

(Ref: Monier Williams) and, thus, has a direct relation

to " Tattvamasi' mahAvakya.

 

Everything in this universe has a tattva (principle) of its own.

That just is the general meaning. Like electricity is the principle

that works a bulb. But, in a meta-language like Sanskrit, where words

and meanings are logically built on roots, we have to necessarily

look in the direction of the Absolute. According to Vedanta, the

Absolute Tattva of everything is Brahman. Thus, Brahman is

everything or all this is verily Brahman. If this understanding is

related to the mahAvAkya " prajnAnaM brahma " , then Consciousness that

shines forth in me, in you and, therefore, in all that shine after

becomes Brahman taking us directly to " tattvamasi " ( " that thou art " ).

 

Thus, tattva has a great meaning suggestive of that by which the

identity of the whole world with the one eternal Brahman is expressed

as you yourself or I myself. That is the whole of Vedanta impregnated

in just one very simple Sanskrit word! Everytime we utter the word

tattva, which appears in many Indian languages including my mother-

tongue Malayalam, we are unconsciously or subconsciously reinforcing

a great mahAvAkya!

 

Pranams.

 

Madathil Nair

[Guest guest]

Namaste Nairji:

 

Since Tat Tvam Asi is a mahavakya, one has to go beyond the literal

menaning. Your intutive explanation does provide some additional

insights to that direction.

 

For those who want to get more insights on 'Tatva,' should read the

introductory text on Vedanta known as 'Tatva Bodha.' Tattva Bodha is

supposed to be written by Sri Adi Sankara and is indeed a stepping

stone to understand Vedanta. The title means: `Knowledge of Truth'.

 

An online course on Tatva Bodha is currently available (free of cost)

at the Vedanta Mission:

http://www.vmission.org/vedanta/courses/index.htm#tattva_bodha

They also offer an introductory course on Bhagavad Gita. The courses

are well structured with course materials along with interactive

questions and answers.

 

with my warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

 

advaitin , " Madathil Rajendran Nair "

<madathilnair wrote:

>

> Namaste Ram Chandranji, Sankararamanji et al.

>

> A random observation.

>

> The Sanskrit word tattva, which means the truth or principle of

> something, is regarded as made up of tad (that) and tvam (you)

> (Ref: Monier Williams) and, thus, has a direct relation

> to " Tattvamasi' mahAvakya.

>