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The Chandogya Camp in Rishikesh

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The Chandogya Camp in Rishikesh The Chandogya Camp in Rishikesh The Chandogya Camp in Rishikesh ended How can that which is one without second, the day before Maha Sivaratri, 2013. Over which is undivided, which is not available the course of the camp we followed for perception, be manifest? The answer Svetuketu, the student in the sixth chapter is vacarambhana, having its basis in word of Chandogya Upanishad, as he was and meaning alone. All perceived taught, and understood the mahavakya, tat differences in the manifestation, including tvam asi. Gratefully, Svetuketu asked his the manifestation itself, are word and teacher, who was his father, to explain the meaning alone. Just as clay is clay whether mahavakya to him no less than eight times. it has pot-ness, bowl-ness, etc., so too, no Indeed, if Svetuketu had asked a dozen matter what name is given, everything is more times, no one attending the camp sat alone. This is the magic, mithya, of the would have complained, extending as it entire creation. would have Pujya Swamiji’s ever clear unfolding of the Upanishad. Having explained the creation, Uddalaka describes what happens at the end of Uddalaka, Svetuketu’s father, teaches manifestation. Just as, when the mind is Svetuketu the truth of what is, knowing resolved during sleep one is free from the which all else is as though known. First mistaken identification with the body, mind Uddalaka explains the nature of creation. and senses, when the jiva’s prarabdha karma Uddhalaka explains how, by its own in a given body is exhausted, the jiva ceases sankalpa, unmanifest sat as though becomes to identify with that body, and resolves into manifest. Sat created the subtle element sat. If the jiva has not yet achieved its fire. Fire, necessarily associated with sat, purpose, to know the truth of itself as one created the subtle element water, which with sat, it will manifest again in a different likewise created the subtle element earth. body in keeping with its karma. If, These subtle elements, when combined however, the jiva knows the truth of itself, become grossified, retaining their individual it will not take another body. That sat, from names according to the predominance of which everything manifests and into which each in the three combinations. It is these everything resolves, Uddalaka tells subtle and gross elements which, having sat Svetuketu, you are that, tat tvam asi. as their cause, make up the entire creation, including the human body, mind and The text of the Upanishad does not provide senses. Thus it is that the creation is sat. specific questions asked by Svetuketu, after Uddalaka tells him, tat tvam asi. However, 8 Arsha Vidya Newsletter - March 2013 after each repetition, Shankaracharya poses resolving into water are destroyed, but a questions in the bhashya drawn from the jiva, resolving in sleep, again emerges in the teaching that follows. Thus, the first same body after sleep? By using a tree to question is how it is possible that the jiva explain how this is so, the Upanishad does not know the truth of itself as sat, highlights that trees are living beings, thus despite the mind resolving daily in sleep? negating a contention by Buddhists and Uddalaka uses honey made of nectar Vasheshikas, that being stationary, trees are collected from various species of plants by not living. Like other jivas, no matter where the bees, as an example. Regardless of a tree is cut, there is sap which, like the where the nectar is gathered, in the process blood of other living beings, is the product of being reduced to the sweet that is honey, of water and nutrients/food imbibed by the any peculiar characteristic derived from the tree. Other than this, the example is only plant source is given up. In the same way, to show that a jiva can withdraw from one jivas lose individual characteristics part of a particular body and remain living. associated with a given manifestation upon The whole tree does not die when the jiva resolving into sat. Therefore, there is no withdraws from one or even several thought of individual identity. Does this branches, it continues to live. Likewise, mean that they loose track of all the karma when the mind is resolved and sense phala? No. The Upanishad says that no perceptions are withdrawn in sleep, the jiva matter how long a jiva is unmanifest, that continues to live. Further, even after the jiva will come back in keeping with karma body falls, the jiva continues to live. How it previously accrued. is this known? In the world one sees that newborns do not have to be shown how to Having understood why the jiva does not feed, there being some sort of memory in know the truth of itself as sat during the all jivas with regard to nursing/feeding. time it is resolved, the question arises why Bhashyakara points out that it would be the jiva does not know it has come from contradictory if the Vedas enjoined sat? The example given is that of a river agnihotra, etc., which give karma phala for the which when merged with the ocean cannot jiva after the fall of the body, if the jiva did be identified as different from the ocean. not continue to live. Not having originally known itself as ocean, when it evaporates from the ocean and The nature of jiva having been explained, later, falling as rain, becomes another river, the creation itself is taken up. How can the it does not know it came from the ocean. physical world, having names and forms, In the same way a jiva, not knowing that be the manifestation of something so subtle it has merged with sat, cannot know that that it cannot be known through the senses? it has come from sat. Uddalaka asks Svetuketu to break open a fruit from a banyan tree. Inside the fruit are Why then, bhashyakara asks on behalf of many atom-sized seeds, one of which Svetuketu, is it that waves and bubbles, etc., Arsha Vidya Newsletter - March 2013 9 Uddalaka again asks Svetuketu to break suffering? It is only because of the endless open. Having broken the seed open, compassion of a guru, depicted as a learned Svetuketu is not able to see anything inside traveler in the scene described by Uddalaka, it, being as small as it is. Even though that one can be freed from the suffering. nothing appears to be there, Uddalaka That guru, hearing the cries for help, points out, that it is from this that a whole removes the blindfold and other bonds, and banyan tree grows. then teaches the one who is lost, how to go. It is clear that Svetuketu is not convinced Uddalaka responding to Svetuketu’s last that the whole jagat can come from two requests to explain more, tells something that appears to be imperceptible. Svetuketu the process by which the jiva He asks for further explanation, which leaves the body and resolves into sat. Uddalaka obliges by giving another Uddalaka further explains why it is that, example. Svetuketu is asked to put some even though both the ajnani and the jnani salt crystals into water and leave them over leave the body in the same manner, the night. When Uddalaka asks Svetuketu to ajnani returns while the jnani does not. It fetch the salt from the water the following is one’s commitment to truth that protects day, the salt has dissolved and the crystals one from the suffering which is a result of cannot be seen. Does that mean the salt is kartrtvam, doer-ship, and bhoktrtvam, not there? No, it is always there. By tasting experiencer-ship. By means of the the water at the top, middle, and bottom following example Uddalaka explains this of the container, Svetuketu confirms this. to Svetuketu. A suspected thief is asked Although imperceptible to the pramana of to hold a heated iron axe. Uddalaka points sight, the cause for the salty water is out how the suspect who makes himself available for knowledge by another pramana. false, denying the allegations while having Understanding this example, Svetuketu committed the theft, will be burned, naturally wants to know the pramana for the kartrtvam/bhoktrtvam being there. However, knowledge, knowing which all else is as the suspect who denies the allegations and though known. is telling the truth, will not be burned by the axe. His commitment to truth, protects The answer is, of course, the guru who him from kartrtvam/bhoktrvam. How does knows the shastra. Uddalaka describes a the truth protect? Even though the contact scene in which a person from Gandharas of the hot axe with the hands is the same, is kidnapped and, having been blindfolded for the one committed to the truth there is and had his hands bound, is left alone in no kartrtvam/bhoktrtvam. Further, when a deep forest. The person represents the there is no kartrtvam/bhoktrtvam, there is no jiva, the blindfold, avidya and the forest is agent for accumulated karma and, therefore, the body. How can anyone, so completely no cause for another body to be taken. The lost and helpless, find a way out of this one who due to ignorance is committed to 10 Arsha Vidya Newsletter - March 2013 kartrtvam/bhoktrtvam, however, will take all the Rishikesh ashram staff to cheerfully another body in keeping with his or her assist in whatever way they were able, understanding. made one well aware that a lot of collective punya was unfolding! Swami At this point, Svetuketu understands what Sakshatkrtanandaji was acknowledged for he has been taught and the Upanishad his complete and continued dedication to ends.
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