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BrhadAranyaka Upanishad - Realizing Atma - Part 2

Background

The Atma that the pravrAjina/brAhmana desire to realize, for which they wander/perform Yajna/dAna/destructive tapas or learn verses, is not capturable, not perceivable, not attachable, not interactive, not affected by our actions or inactions.

So actions in this Universe that we perform to realize that Atman, like bhikSa-carya/yajna/dAna/destructive tapas/learn verses are only our desires and no more than that, for Atma is beyond all of these.

Then how do we realize that Atman..?

Brhadharanyaka Upanishad - Sloka 4.4.23

Sloka 4.4.23.1

tad etad ṛcābhya uktam ।

eṣa nityo mahimā brāhmaṇasya na vardhate karmaṇā no kanīyān ।

Translation


That (tad) this (etat) spoken (uktam) in the verses (rcabhya). This (esa) eternal (nitya) glory (mahima) of the brAhman (brAhmanasya) (one who is descended from the brahman, who has the evolutionary zeal or evolutionary realization) neither grows (na vardhate) nor reduces (na kaniyan) with actions (karmana)

Meaning


This spoken by the verses "brAhman's eternal glory neither grows nor decreases with deeds'

A brAhman's eternal glory neither grows nor decreases with the deeds of the brAhman.


Why..?

Sloka 4.4.23.2

tasyaiva syātpadavit, taṃ viditvā na lipyate karmaṇā pāpakena ॥ iti ।

Translation


Of/unto brAhman (tasya eva) is (syAt) conversant/familiar with (pada vid) of him (tam) knowing of (viditvA) not affected/entangled (na lipyate) with their actions (karmana) by the pApa (pApakena).

Meaning


The brAhman is conversant/familiar with the knowledge of not to entangle actions/deeds by pApa.

It is because a brAhman is conversant/familiar with knowledge of how not to entangle the deeds performed by the pApa.

Sloka 4.4.23.3


tasmād evaṃv icchānto dānta uparatas titikśuḥ samāhito bhūtvātmanyevātmānaṃ paśyati, sarvamātmānaṃ paśyati;

Translation


Therefore (tasmAt) desiring this way (evamy icchanta), self-control (dAnta), at peace (upa ratas, rata is pleased, at peace), patient (titikSa), equipoised (sam- equally, uniformly, Ahita-placed), manifesting one with Atma (bhutva Atman), sees (pasyati) only those with Atman (eva AtmAnam). Sees (pasyati) everything (sarvam) as with Atman (AtmAnam)

Meaning


Therefore brAhman desiring self-control, being at peace, patient, equipoised, born with Atman, sees only those with Atman (which means) sees everything as with Atman.

It is said that the eternal greatness of brAhman does not increase or decrease with actions/deeds. It's because such a brAhman is conversant/familiar with knowledge of not to entagle/affect deeds with pApa.


How not to entangle deeds by pApa..?

Therefore the brAhman, manifesting with Atman, desires self-control, being at peace, patient, equipoised, sees only those with Atman, which means sees Atman everywhere, in everything.

Sloka 4.4.23.4


nainaṃ pāpmā tarati, sarvaṃ pāpmānaṃ tarati; nainaṃ pāpmā tapati, sarvaṃ pāpmānaṃ tapati; vipāpo virajo'vicikitso brāhmaṇo bhavati;

Translation


Not unto that brAhman (na enam) pApa (pApmA) crosses (tarati). All pApa (sarvam papamanam) is crossed (tarati) (by brAhman). Not unto that brAhman (na enam) pApa (pApmA) burns (tapati). All pApa (sarvam papamanam) is burnt (tapati) (by brAhman). The brAhman becomes (brAhmano bhavati) free of pApa (vipapa), free of rajas (viraja), free of physical treatments (vicikitsa).

Meaning

No pApa can cross that brAhman, the brAhman crosses all deeds of pApa. No pApa burns that brAhman, all pApa deeds are burnt by that brAhman. Such a brAhman becomes free of pApa, rajas and physical therapies.

Such a brAhman, who sees Atman in everything by acquiring attributes of self-control, patience, equipoise/balance overcomes performing any pApa, burns them out. Hence the deeds of such a brAhman are without pApa. The mind of such a brAhman is without rajas (because the brAhman has acquired such attributes). The body of such a brAhman is without physical therapies.
The body of such a brAhman may undergo old age and disease. But the brAhman will not feel the pain of these therapies.

Sloka 4.4.23.5


eṣa brahmalokaḥ samrāḍ enaṃ prāpito'sīti hovāca yājñavalkyaḥ; so'haṃ bhagavate videhān dadāmi, māṃ cāpi saha dāsyāya eti

Translation


This (esa) world of brahman (brahmaloka), Emperor (samrAt), unto you (enam) completely possessed/attained (prapitas) this (iti) said (ha uvaca) yajnavalkya. sa (with) aham (I/self) lord of kingdom of videha (bhagavate videhan) I give (dadami) me (mAm) and also (ca api) together with (saha) goes my service (dasyaya eti)

Meaning


This world of Brahman, Emperor, you completely possess, said Yājñavalkya. I give you, the lord of Videha kingdom, me and also along with it goes my service.

Yajnavalkya tells Janaka that he possess the world of brahman because Janaka has the qualities of a brAhman, which are self-control, being at peace, equipoised/balanced. Hence Janaka's actions/deeds do not cause pApa, mind does not have raja, body is free of physical therapies. No pApa crosses him, no pApa burns him. Because of this, his actions neither reduces his permanent glory nor increases them.

So Yajnavalkya is ready to give himself and his service to Janaka.

Summary of Sloka 4.2.23


The Atma that the pravrAjina/brAhmana desire to realize, for which they wander/perform Yajna/dAna/destructive tapas or learn verses, is not capturable, not perceivable, not attachable, not interactive, not affected by our actions or inactions.

So actions in this Universe that we perform to realize that Atman, like bhikSacarya are only our desires and no more than that, for Atma is beyond all of these.

Then how do we realize that Atman..? This is spoken in the verses "brAhman's eternal glory neither grows nor decreases with deeds'.


A brAhman's eternal glory neither grows nor decreases with the deeds of the brAhman.

Why..?

Because a brAhman is conversant/familiar with the knowledge of not to entangle actions/deeds by pApa. How not to entangle deeds by pApa..?

To not entangle deeds by pApa, brAhman, manifesting with Atman, desires self-control, being at peace, patient, equipoised, sees only those with Atman, which means sees Atman everywhere, in everything.

Such a brAhman, who sees Atman in everything by acquiring attributes of self-control, patience, equipoise/balance overcomes performing any pApa, burns them out. Hence the deeds of such a brAhman are without pApa. The mind of such a brAhman is without rajas (because the brAhman has acquired such attributes). The body of such a brAhman is without physical therapies.

The body of such a brAhman may undergo old age and disease. But the brAhman does not feel the pain of these therapies.

This world of Brahman, O Emperor (Janaka), you completely possess, said Yājñavalkya. I give you, the lord of Videha kingdom, me and also along with it goes my service.

Yajnavalkya tells Janaka that Janaka possesses the world of brahman, because Janaka has the qualities of a brAhman, which are self-control, being at peace, equipoised/balanced. Hence Janaka's actions/deeds do not cause pApa, mind does not have raja, body is free of physical therapies (body's physical therapies does not affect him). No pApa crosses him, no pApa burns him.

Because of this, Janaka's deeds neither reduces his permanent glory nor increases them.

So Yajnavalkya is ready to give himself and his service to Janaka.

So how do we realize Atman..?

See Atman in ourself. Be self-controlled, patient and equipoised/balanced. This way ensure our deeds are without pApa, mind is without rajas, body's physical therapies do not affect our self. With this one can see Atman in everything.

-TBT
 
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