PERHAPS IN RETURN FOR CONQUEST, ARROGANCE AND SPOLIATION, INDIA WILL TEACH US THE TOLERANCE AND GENTLENESS OF THE MATURE MIND, THE QUIET CONTENT OF THE UNACQUISITIVE SOUL, THE CALM OF THE UNDERSTANDING SPIRIT, AND A UNIFYING, A PACIFYING LOVE FOR ALL HUMAN BEINGS.
An American Philosopher & Historian.
Continuing the flow of thoughts from my earlier two blogs of July 27 & August 23, 2014, let me focus on the interpretation of Dharma and Ethical living during Puranic Hinduism period or the period of Vedanta (900 BCE-400 BCE) or the period of 108 Upanishads ( today these are around 200). While most of the Upanishads are Vedanta, some may have been formed quite late by certain sects for their convenience. Upanishads aim at obtaining final goal of life viz Moksha. In general, Upanishads reject the KARMAKANDA or salvation by means of sacrifices and other rituals taught in 4 Vedas( there are, however, some exceptions to it) AND advocate the GYANAKANDA or theory of salvation by knowledge.
This brought some shift to demands on ETHICAL LIVING since Upanishads primarily focused on DHARMA as " Human Behavior" necessary for maintaining order of things in the universe, principles that prevent chaos AND behaviors/actions necessary to sustain all life in nature, family or society. In common parlance, Dharma & Ethics now meant RIGHT WAY OF LIVING and PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Adharma & Unethical living represented immoral, unjust, wrong, unlawful, against nature etc. The FOUR MAHAVAKYAS ( great sayings) on ATMAN and BRAHMAN of Upanishads too indirectly convey the expected focus on Dharma and Ethics from the society at that time. Let us invest a little more time in understanding the deeper hidden meaning of these FOUR GREAT SAYINGS;
प्रज्ञानम ब्रहम PRAJNANAM BRAHMA-- Consciousness is Brahman--- AITTAREYA UPANISHAD.
अहम ब्रम्हास्मी AHAM BRAHMAS-MI---- I am Brahma----BRIHADARANYAKA UPANISHAD.
तत् त्वम असि TAT TVAM ASI---- That thou art--- CHANDOGYA UPANISHAD.
अयम् आत्मा ब्रम्ह AYAMATMA BRAHMA---This Atman is Brahman---MANDUKYA UPANISHAD.
Though focusing on spiritual self, yet these four great sayings of Upanishads do convey the ingredients of expected Ethics in society. Prajnanam Brahma conveys that knowledge is supreme and ETHICAL LIVING demands that we should continuously make efforts to climb upwards in this ladder of knowledge, which will require mind control, thought control, senses control, emotion control etc. Aham Brahmas-mi conveys the demand of unity and absolute oneness between our own spiritual self and Supreme Self. It also tells one to lift his self to higher levels by shunning arrogance, ego, hatred, anger and cultivating humility in his behavior towards others. Tat Tvam Asi talks of introspection at one's deepest level of self--- each one of us have strong and week points and we need to be aware and tackle those before pointing fingers at others. Finally Ayam Atma Brahma conveys that individual self and the Universal Self which is pure, silent, perfect are same. It talks of expected efforts to be made by individuals to imbibe the qualities of Universal Self into their life.
Let me now pick up few relevant learnings from Upanishads. Quoting 3/1/5 of Mundaka Upanishad;
सत्येन लम्यस्तपसा होप आत्मा सभ्यग्ज्ञानेन ब्रम्हचर्येण नित्यम् ।
अन्तःशरीरम ज्योतिर्मयो हि शुभ्रो यम पशयन्ति यतयः क्षीणदोपाः ।।
The pure Atman, whom the sinless renunciates realize, as residing within the body, can be attained by TRUTHFULNESS, SELF-CONCENTRATION, TRUE KNOWLEDGE and by DEEP CONTINENCE ( chastity of body, thought free mind, meditation ). Further, 3/1/6 of same scripture conveys सत्यमेव जयते, नान्रतम सत्येन पन्था विततो देवयान । ie. The truth alone succeeds, not the untruthful. Karamamukti can be reached by following a life of truthfulness. Quoting English translation of one relevant verse on expected ethics from ISA UPANISHAD;
If one should desire to live in this world a hundred years, one should live performing karmas or RIGHTEOUS DEEDS. Thus thou mayest live; there is no other way. KARMA here means actions performed without selfish motive and thus speaks of expected ethics. Another Prime Upanishad ' Katha Upanishad " focuses on SELF as most powerful entity in the mankind to connect with ATMAN. Part II.20 of this scripture (English Translation) says;
The self is subtler than the subtle; greater than the great; it dwells in the heart of each living being. He, who is free from desire and free from grief, with mind and senses tranquil, beholds the glory of the Atman. Another quote from same scripture states;
He, who has not turned away from evil conduct, whose senses are uncontrolled, who is not tranquil and whose mind is not at rest, can never attain the ATMAN, even by knowledge.
Another Prime Upanishad " Kena Upanishad " conveys importance of TAPAS (practice of control of body, mind and senses ), DAM AM ( subjugation of senses ) and KARMA ( right performance of prescribed actions ) in human life. In Chhandogya Upanishad, the philosophical aspects of ETHICAL LIVING have been explained by sage Sanatkumara to sage Narada. Quoting English translation of a few relevant lines;
Speech is above none.Without speech who could determine right, wrong, good, evil, pleasant or unpleasant? Worship speech. Mind is above speech. Mind is self. Mind is world. Mind is spirit. Worship mind.Will is above mind. Everything lives in will. Actions will because speech wills. World wills because actions will. Worship will.Meditation is above mind's substance. The greatness of great comes from meditation. Wisdom is above meditation. Through wisdom, we understand Vedas, rituals, good, evil, pleasant, unpleasant etc.
Even the PEACE PRAYERS in Upanishads indirectly convey the expected ethics in society. Quoting PEACE PRAYER in Taittireeya Upanishad ;
May the Sun bless us! May the night bless us! May speech bless us! May the all prevalent bless us! Welcome spirit! Welcome life! Truth shall be on my lips and truth in my thoughts! May truth protect me ; protect my teacher; protect us both! May Peace & Peace & Peace be everywhere.
Another quote from Taittireeya Upanishad conveys ;
Do your duty, learn & teach; Speak truth, learn & teach; Meditate, learn & teach; Control senses, learn & teach; Control mind, learn & teach; Be hospitable, learn & teach; Be humane, learn & teach; Serve the family, learn & teach; Educate your children, learn & teach--- and so on. Everywhere the emphasis given is on KARMA, TRUTH, AUSTERITY, CONTROL OF SENSES & MIND as well as ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE AND SHARING. These have been spelled out as requirements of expected ethics, both at individual level as well as at social level.
Vedas & Upanishads , do as well convey the admonition , the advice on ETHICAL CONDUCT;
Give with faith; if you lack faith, give nothing. Give in proportion to your means. Give with courtesy.Give as the God fearing give. Give to the deserving. He, who gives with purity, gets purity in return;He, who gives with passion gets passion in return; He, who gives with ignorance in return, gets ignorance in return.
Before I end the blog, I would like to share two relevant quotes from sacred scripture SHIVSAMHITA formulated on the basis of Yogapadesh by Lord Shiva to Devi Parvati. Although the ethical requirements mentioned are for succeeding in Yogasidhi and higher knowledge, yet it indirectly lays down the essentials for Ethical Living.
मिथ्यावादरतानाम च तथा निष्ठुरभाषिणाम । गुरू सन्तोषहीनानाम न सिद्धि स्यात्कदाचन् ।
Those, who speak lies and harsh words and those who do not respect & please their Guru, can never achieve knowledge or perfection.
फलिष्यतीतिविश्वास सिद्धे प्रथम- लक्षणम । दिव्तीय श्रद्धया युक्तम, तृतीयम गुरूपूजनम ।
चतुर्थे समताभावम पन्चमे इन्दि्रय निग्रहम । षष्ठम च प्रमिताहारम, सप्तम नैव विघते ।
Six essential requirements in a man who wants to achieve knowledge and perfection in life are;
- Belief in Gyan, Knowledge, Yoga and its benefits.
- Respectful to Rules, Conduct, Principles and Practices.
- Respect, Faith and Worshiping of Guru-- the Knowledge Provider.
- Equanimity towards all mankind.
- Control on Senses even while living in household eg. sweet in speech, control on aggression, non hatred, non jealousy, non violence .
- Controlled limited food with high ethical value.
THE HUMAN SOUL IS PURE AND OMNISCIENT. VEDANTA TEACHES MEN TO HAVE FAITH IN THEMSELVES FIRST--- NOT BELIEVING THE GLORY OF YOUR OWN SOUL IS WHAT VEDANTA CALLS ATHEISM.
