Vedanta Sara: Verses 7 - 12

The Upanishads are the primary authority and then , you know , obviously , brahma , sutras and the Bhagavad Gita elucidate their meaning . Once we're blessed with true wisdom , you know , karma no longer affects one because we realize that we're neither the doer nor the enjoyer . So neither the karta nor bhokta and Puranas are instructive stories , not direct truth .

So to understand the deeper wisdom , one must turn to authoritative text like the Upanishads . So obviously we know that mental purity and certain specific practices are required to be ready to study Vedanta and to have realization and be ready for that . And the whole point is that one should have that longing to realize their true nature .

And , uh , you know , regular awareness of formless awareness brings peace and joy , and that confirms that we're on the right path . Before we go any further , do join the discord server if you're not part of it already . And um , and let's get started with verse seven . So verse seven is actions such as fire worship .

So which is the jyotishtorma and similar rituals which aim to achieve specific desired results , like attaining heaven , are known as desire driven or karmia actions . So any ritualistic action that is done , more or less , is to attain something , whether that's you know , for heaven , for a better life in the future .

So these rituals that people do , these good actions that people do , have a specific outcome . Now , vedanta is not about dealing with those things , but we should understand , if you do do those things , that this is what they achieve .

So very simple , you know they kind of join to a specific outcome and that's what you want . Then , obviously , what are the prohibited actions ? Because that was discussed in the last episode actions such as the slaying of a Brahmin , which lead to undesired consequences , like going to hell , are considered prohibited or nishida actions .

One thing I will say when it says the slaying of a Brahmin , that's anyone who knows Brahman . So not necessarily you know someone who's born in the caste , so to speak , but anyone that is a knower of Brahman is a self-realized person .

If you slay them , you know you're going to go through a lot of inner turmoil , because when we get rid of good people in this world , there is a lot of suffering that follows , because those good people create good karma and because they create good karma they're , you know , we're able to gain so much from being in their company .

So you know where humanity , humanity , could get better . What happens as a result is we , um , we reduce , we reduce the goodness that's in the world . Now I would even say , you know nowadays , you know , yesterday I did that episode about the . You know , if your guru has an allegation , what do you do ? You know how does Advaita deal with that .

You know that was in the light of recent allegations in regards to Sadhguru . Now , that's one thing . But you know , is that would we count the slaying of character as going to hell ? No , if there's a truth to

those allegations and and this is a broader this is me , broadly speaking , not necessarily to anyone specifically , but character assassination would not be considered in this , unless , you know , if we find out that is untrue . So if there's allegations , I wouldn't call that the slaying of a Brahmin or a self-realized person . So what are the daily Nitya actions ?

So daily rites are actions whose non-performance results in the harm , and examples include daily worship at the three junctures of the day dawn , noon and sunset , among others . So you know that can include like bathing , chanting sacred verses , deity worship . You know all those are good actions and they help to purify the mind .

Doing nam japa now it says they're doing it three times in the day I don't think we have the capacity in our busy lives to do that , but anytime that we can remember god , remember our guru , remember any of the mantras and recite the guru mantra , that those are all good things that we can do and should do , and they're just there to help us build a

foundation for spirituality and that's the main purpose . Then what are the occasional nemitaka actions ? So those are actions . Occasional actions are those performed on specific occasions , such as worship conducted after the birth of a child or funeral rites or whatever .

But those things are , you know , just for specific occasions , not necessarily they have an importance that you need to do on a daily basis . So then you know , but that's naming the child .

You know , the first intake of food , of solid food for babies , start of education , the thread ceremony that Brahmins do , and marriage and rituals to remove misfortunes also come under that . And you know , frankly , those things they're important , but I would always go back to Vedanta is not about those things . They can help you , they can purify your mind .

There's a certain limit to what they can give you . But we shouldn't be too engrossed in those things . For example , like if you're meditating three times a day but at the same time you have blind faith , then the meditation has no value or has very little value , you know . So one has to understand the purpose .

Some people say , well , you know , this is what we the purpose , you know . Some people say , well , you know , this is what we've been doing all of our lives . My parents did it , so that's why I'm doing it . That's blind faith , that's just blind worship , that's just blind um following of religion . And this is not what we're meant to do .

We're meant to be aware , alert of why we're doing things and how they help us . So then he goes to the next bit , which is praya , shitta , which is penance

. Actions performed to absolve one of sins are referred to as penance , such as fasting according to the phases of the moon Chandrayana . So you know , people do different fasts . People may do Maundrat , where they have a vow of silence . You know , someone could do any number of penances that are prescribed in the Vedas .

And again , those things are related to the body and mind . Everything that we've looked at about the daily rites , the occasional rituals , the fire ritual , the penance , all related to body and mind , none of these are related to the true nature of who we are , and that's where we have to understand that these things aren't meant to be taken too seriously .

If you , I don't do any of those things that have been mentioned , um , but does that mean that one cannot be available to to kind of , well , I say I don't do any of those things , I do meditate , I do , do have a certain practice , but one shouldn't be so , so bound , you know , bound by the , these rituals .

If they're binding you , where you cannot focus on your true nature , then there's no , there's very little point . So , yes , we can do these fasts , we can do these things , and they may be very helpful . Um , we may do penance , we may want to , you know , get rid of the sins that we've done in previous lives .

We consult a bandit and they tell us what to do . All those things are good and and nice , but , again , is it going to take you to mukti , is it going to take you to liberation ? And that's what we've got to ask . So , again , when we're doing these rituals , we must ask questions to see , you know , how are they helping us ? So that's verse 11 .

Then let's look at what Upasana is . So mental

activities directed towards the contemplation of reality with attributes , or Saguna Brahman , are called worship . An example is the practice described in Shandilya Vidya . So actually this is mentioned in thehandogya upanishad , where we talk about the worship of reality with attributes and that's called shandilya vidya and what it is it's about .

We understand that this world , it's originated , it's sustained , it dissolves into this reality . Everything comes from brahman . Nothing escapes brahman or consciousness . So if we understand that that's the way it is , we worship those attributes . So we may see it as all pervasive , or we may see it in our heart and we may feel it in our heart .

And we may feel it in our heart , we may perceive God to be omniscient , omnipotent , omnipresent . All those things are very , very good and they help us . You know , when we focus on the attributes , that's worship . So you know , you see people say you know God , you're amazing , you know what's in my heart .

You know there's very poetic pieces on that and that's what is meant by a persona . I like a persona more . That's what I like to do , you know , if I want to praise the divine . Thank you for that experience of oneness . Thank you for showing me the interconnectivity with everything .

Thank you for showing this illumination of consciousness , things like that where we can be grateful and it's just cultivating gratitude . And that's what true worship is , when we have that gratitude for the realization that has been given to us from aligning and abiding in Brahman . So we will continue the rest tomorrow or the day after .

But main thing to contemplate here is do those practices which really bring you joy and you're really inspired and motivated to do . Don't do them because you're obligated . Whenever we do something , we're obligated , our heart isn't in it , and when our heart isn't in it , we're not going to reap the benefits that are available from doing such things .

So , most importantly , remember to you know , be motivated , put your full heart into it , put your full spirit into it , full love and compassion into it , and and it will reap many , many benefits . So that's the episode . If you liked what you heard , please do like , please do comment and do share this with others that are wanting to learn about Vedanta .

This is a great way for us to understand the deeper meanings . It's going to get deeper as we go along and therefore it's going to be really important that we we may only do one verse in the in a session because of the depth .

So remember to to just self-reflect upon the daily actions , any of the rites and rituals that you do and how , or any of the worship that you do ,

and how it makes you feel , and if it makes you feel joy , brilliant . If it doesn't make you feel joy , then ask what is missing ? What am I not getting from this ? Am I doing this because I have to do it ? Where is the love for the divine ? And that's something that we can think about . Okay , thank you very much for listening .

Do subscribe If you listen to this on your favorite podcast streaming app , do rate and review it and join my Discord server , and everything is in the show notes and video description below . Truly appreciate it . Take care everyone . Namaste .