The Vedantic
Paradigm
Brahmavidya and
Yogasastra
It is the goal of every Hindu to attain Self
Realization and Salvation (Moksha). Vedanta (literally the end of the Veda),
the essence of the Sanatana Dharma is concerned essentially with 2 aspects of
higher human knowledge
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Metaphysics |
Brahmavidya |
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Ethics
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Yoga
Sastra or the means to attain Brahmavidya |
The foundations and origins of this
They are the first record we humans have of the
questions that were asked in antiquity, questions we continue to ask today.
Questions like – Who am I, why am I here, what makes me unique as a species and
as an individual, how was the Universe created and what is my place in it.
But as far as we are aware it was Vyaasa
(Badarayana) who expounded on this knowledge in a tangible form to humans in
the form of Brahma Sutras. Sutras are aphorisms characterized primarily their
terseness and the depth of meaning associated with each aphorism. Brevity was
essential, as the main means of transmittal of knowledge was oral and vast
amounts of knowledge had to be memorized and had to be recited in a particular
meter (Chandas) to assist in harmonizing the mind while engaged in the process
of learning.
Thus all Indic tradition can be classified into the
following
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Vedas |
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Sutra |
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Smrti |
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Puranas |
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Itihasa |
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Bhashyam |
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Every individual exhibits three Gunas in varying
proportions. Chapter 14 of the Bhagavad Gita deals with their function, and
indicates the means for the individual to transcend them. The path that an
individual needs to take is dependent on the relative proportion of these Gunas
that reside in him
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Sattva |
Individuals
who are predominantly sattvik are attached to happiness and to knowledge |
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Rajas |
Raajasik
individuals are filled with a desire and passion to undertake new projects
and goad others into action. Many leaders exhibit a Raajasik temperament |
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Tamas |
Tamas
is inertia born of ignorance. It enshrouds the discrimination of man and
inclines him to indolence, sleep and renders him inert. By nature it is
destructive |
The cardinal Virtues according to Hinduism
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Purity |
Sattva,
Suddhi |
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Self
Control |
Sama/Dama |
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Detachment
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Vairagya |
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Truth
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Satyam |
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Non
Violence |
Ahimsa |
There are many paths to Self realization, but many
of these paths can be categorized into four main Yogas or means to attain the
goal. They are
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Karma
Yoga |
Work
and Action, subject of Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita |
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Bhakti
Yoga |
Yoga
of Devotion, Chapter 12 of Bhagavad Gita |
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Jnana
Yoga |
Yoga
of Knowledge, yoga of pure discrimination, Chapter 4 of Bhagavad Gita,
summarized in Chapter 2 |
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Raja
Yoga |
Yoga
of meditation, summarized in Chapter 6 of Bhagavad Gita |
For most individuals a
balanced combination of all four Yogas is most appropriate, the proper balance
depending on the individual’s vasanas or svabhava and the stage of his journey
through life. There is no intent to convey that any particular Yoga is superior
to the other.
For an introduction to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras see
for instance “Practical Yoga , ancient and modern” by Earnest E Wood or Raja
Yoga by Swami Vivekananda
Yoga is the control of ideas in the Mind. Yoga
means the establishment of perfect harmony between the everyday self and its
spiritual source.
Five Kinds of ideas or modifications (Patanjali’s
Yoga Sutras)
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Right
Knowledge |
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Wrong
Knowledge or indiscrimination |
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Fancy
or verbal delusion |
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Sleep |
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Memory |
Special qualifications demanded of a student of
Vedanta (Sadhana Chatusthaya) or the fourfold pre-requisites of philosophical
discipline (Mandukya Upanishad). See
also Viveka Chudamani by Adi Sankara
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English |
Samskrtam |
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Discrimination
(between the Real and the Unreal) |
Viveka |
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Non-attachment |
Vairagya
– dispassion for all enjoyments here and in hereafter , uncolored ness |
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Self
Control |
Sama(tranquility
of mind), Dama(restraint of senses), Uparathi(renunciation of desires),
thithiksha(endurance), sraddha,(faith) samadhan (self control) |
Uparathi
– renunciation of superstition and dependence on the idea that his/her
advance can be helped or impeded by others (Vivekachudamani) Thithiksha
– endurance – acceptance of the idea that he/she must endure what comes
and make the most of it without
complaining (whining in modern parlance) - forbearance |
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Irrepressible
hankering for the truth |
Mumukshutwa
a burning desire to realize the Self within, which is the Self within us all |
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Erfficacy of Chanting Shanti 3 times – The purpose is
removal of 3 possible obstacles to the study of scriptures
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Adhi-daivika
– God sent like lightning , thunder etc. |
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Adhi-Bauthhika
– phenomenon such as fire, floods, landslides etc. |
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Adhi-atmika
or Adhyatmika – purely subjective, such as inertia, lack of faith,
insincerity, and such arise from our own negative attitudes |
The Eight Angas (limbs) of Yoga
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Yama |
Discipline,
ahimsa (abstinence from doing injury), Satyam (truthfulness) ,Asteya(honesty),
Brahmacharya(celibacy during the first 25 years, chastity), Apar Graha (non
acquisitiveness,poverty) |
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Niyama |
Self
restraint, shaucha (cleanliness, purity), santosh (contentment), Tapas
(ascetism), Swadhyaya (study), ishwarpranidhana(devotion to God) |
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Asanam |
Sitting
in the right place and with the correct bodily attitude |
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Pranayama |
Regulation
of breath |
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Pratyahara |
suppression |
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Dharana |
concentration |
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Dhyanam |
meditation |
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Samadhi |
absorption |
Man’s karma can be divided into 3 parts
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Prarabda
karma |
That
part of a Man’s accumulated karma which has begun to bear fruit in the
present life. It is entirely predetermined and cannot be avoided, e,g, sex,
parentage, color of skin. Man is a creature of circumstance |
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Sanchita
karma |
Accumulated
karma of previous lives of individual. As a result of past actions he
acquires a certain character and certain tendencies. Unlike prarabda karma it
can be totally destroyed and it is possible to uproot evil habits by
persistence and plant good habits in their place |
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Agami
karma |
Is
the Karma which is being created now. It’s fruits will come to us possibly in
a future life. It is entirely in our own hands |
Discussion of Cognate Ideas
Exercise of
Free Will – see for instance the dialog between a disciple and His Holiness Sri
Chandrasekhara Bharati Swaminah, reproduced elsewhere in this section.
The four proximate Goals of life
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Dharma |
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Moksha
or Purushartha |
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Sreyas and
Preyas