The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad -1.9 Swami Krishnananda

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Saturday, June 27, 2020. 7:38.AM.
1.Introduction -9.

1.
The Upanishads are embodiments of different types of contemplation on Ultimate Truth, and so is the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. The beginning of the Upanishad is a contemplation of the inward meaning of a great sacrifice described in the Brahmanas, known as Asvamedha Yajna. It is an external performance of a religious character for the purpose of achieving higher results in the form of celestial enjoyment, etc., but, the Upanishad tells us that the proper approach to the aims of human life, such as ultimate satisfaction, delight, etc., need not be the method of the Brahmanas, which is only symbolic, and there should be a technique more affiliated to the nature of Reality than is the external action of the Brahmanas. 

The sacrifice known as the Asvamedha signifies the consecration of a horse in a large ritual performance, mostly undertaken by princes and kings in ancient times for the purpose of name, fame etc. in this world and heavenly exaltation hereafter. The Upanishad however, tells us that its meaning is something quite different and more profound. What we see with our eyes and what we do with our deeds are indicative of a deeper aspiration in our minds, and what we actually seek is not pleasure, not satisfaction in the ordinary sense, not power, not name or fame, because all these are transient and tantalising.
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2.
Everything passes away; nothing in the world can last. Everything shall end, one day or other. 

What are these joys in heaven? 

What is this power this world? 

What is this name and status? 

They are mirages; they are nothing but husk, because they pass like the wisp of wind.

 And how is it possible for the soul to ask for that which is perishable and vanishes the next moment? 

Will any wise person crave for a perishable joy?

How could anyone engage oneself in activities, performances, religious or otherwise, which are capable of promising only apparent joys, which rob us of all our strength and then land us in sorrow most unconceivable? 
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What is the real aspiration of the soul of the individual? 

What is it that it really needs? 

What is it that it hungers for? 

It is difficult to answer this question. The child cannot answer the question, 

'What do you need?' 

'I want a sweetmeat, a sugar candy, a toy.' 

What else can the child say? 

Such seems to be the reply of the untutored mind, the illiterate soul, sunk in the darkness of ignorance which speaks in terms of name, fame, power, wealth, rejoicing, diversion, gain, pleasures whether they are real and lasting, or not, it cares not. It asks for pleasure, which shall end in a complication from which it is difficult for one to free oneself.

To be continued ...


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