Mundak Upanishad-3
[Taken from "Wisdom of
the Ancient Sages: Mundak Upanishad / by Swami Rama. Honesdale, PA, The
Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy of the
USA. 1990.]
Chapter 3 - Canto 2
Shlok 1
Knowers of the Supreme Brahm know that the whole Universe is supported by
Brahm and shines through the light of Brahm. Of those whose all
worldly desires have burned and who worship Purush, the Pure
Consciousness, only they transcend the cycles of birth and death.
Comments
Previous verse said that if the person worships with worldly motives
(fame, name, vanity etc), he may attain success in the world, but he is
not on the path of spirituality. This is called Sa-Kaam Poojaa (worship
with desires); but if somebody does the same Poojaa with no desire, but
with only spiritual enlightenment, that is the means to liberation.
Who has
attained the self-realization, only he knows the Supreme Brahm - One
without a second. The wise who completely devote their time and life to
self-realization attain Moksh and do not come in this world again. There
is no delusion or sorrow for them who have realized the unity in
diversity, means that the same One exists in all; or his own Self exists
in the Self of all. He cannot hate anyone, because if he has understood
that his own Self exists in all, how can he hate himself except to love?
He is not separated from others. Love is the binding force of life while
the feeling of separation comes from hatred.
Grief and
delusion come to a human being when he identifies himself with his limited
body, mind and its objects. When one identifies himself with the non-Self
aspect of his personality, he is weak and helpless and commits many
mistakes and experiences tension, grief and sorrow. Jesus says -
"Love thy neighbor as thyself." The Upanishad say - "The
whole Universe is your family and all the members of the Universe are your
family members." The purpose of spirituality is to destroy the
illusion of separateness between all creatures.
Shlok
2
On the other hand who do not renounce their all desires, they take birth
in the surroundings of their desires again and again; but whose desires
are fulfilled he is established in the Self.
Comments
Those people who still have desires, take birth in this world again and
again in the same environment for which they long. Thus it is actually the
unfulfilled desires that bring the individual in the world. Besides, among
all desires, the desire of attachment is the one most responsible for
rebirth. When a person's all desires are united into "to attain Brahm",
then that one desire will bring him again in the world to fulfill that
desire. That is why wise men try, with all their resources and spiritual
discipline to destroy ignorance and attain perfection in this lifetime
only.
Shlok
3
The knowledge of Aatmaa cannot be attained through discourse, intellectual
discussions or even extensive study, but (IT reveals) only to those whom
IT chooses to unfold itself.
Comments
On this path when all efforts and spiritual disciplines are successfully
practiced, a moment comes when there is no desire for anything. At this
stage, Aatmaa reveals itself and its nature - peace, happiness and bliss.
Spiritual discipline helps to remove the veil created by ignorance, and
true desire to attain Brahm possesses the power to do it. The Self is
already there. It is only covered because of the ignorance, as the
ignorance is gone, the Self can be seen clearly. The veil of ignorance can
be removed only when the spiritual Saadhanaa has purified the mind,
intellect and heart. Only those privileged people who are chosen, can see
IT.
Shlok
4
This Aatmaa cannot be attained by those who lack inner strength,
sincerity, Tap, or dispassion. One who is blessed with these means attains
self-realization and as result enters the Brahm Lok.
Comments
Inner strength is necessary to be regained for self-realization, because
it is the inner strength only which is destroyed by mind and the sense
pleasures. When it is regained, it should be protected well. Without
yoking the Individual Self with the Cosmic Self or Brahm, practicing the
spiritual discipline without a definite system cannot lead one to attain
the goal of life.
Shlok
5
After attaining this, the person becomes content in his wisdom, is
established in Aatmaa, is free from attachment and desires, and is fully
at peace. Upon attaining Him the realized soul enters Brahm Lok.
Comments
Such calm and tranquil souls ultimately become One; exactly in the same
way as a river become one with ocean. Brahm is pure consciousness.
Individuality exists through the association with the body, senses and
mind which constantly feed the Ego. Thus the Ego separates the individual
from the Whole by creating a wall. Although this is all illusory, but the
human being thinks that it is permanent and real. Such illusions can be
washed off with spiritual practice. The knowledge of the Real Self (Cosmic
Self) washes off all the accumulated dust from the impure mind.
Shlok
6
Those who attain the final wisdom of Vedaant and who by following the path
of renunciation have purified their minds, attained freedom from all
bondages and after casting off their body they go to Brahm Lok which is
the place of highest immortality
Comments
Even after purifying all the stains of A-Vidyaa
from the heart, mind, and Buddhi, A-Vidyaa still remains in some quantity
although the seeker is not able to see it. Therefore wise men form a habit
of going into deep meditation and not allowing the dust of ignorance to
touch their internal state. Only such wise people are illuminated souls
and attain freedom from Maayaa. All the impositions and limitations
created by Time, space and causality are destroyed, because he joins Brahm
who is the source of all consciousness with no beginning or end. Therefore
such an enlightened one does not return to he relative plane. Does he
become non-existent? No, certainly not, but he just becomes one with the
Absolute. He does not leave even his footprints behind to be traced. Not
leaving his footprints means not leaving any Sanskaar unburned in the fire
of knowledge.
Shlok
7
At the time of liberation, all the fifteen constituents of the body (five
elements, five senses, nd five Praan) return to their sources of origin.
The senses subside in their origins. All previous Karm, intellectual
knowledge and the individual soul - all become one with Param Brahm.
Comments
The Prashn Upanishad and the Mundak Upanishad are similar in their
teachings because they come from the same source - Atharv Ved. What
happens to the body after a man dies? Fill a jar of water and break it in
any way you want, the water will find its own level and meets water; the
outer covering of the jar will meet its own source earth; and the space of
the jar will meet space; the reflection of the Sun will meet the Sun. The
same thing happens to the body too. In fact, no one dies. After the five
senses meet the five elements, five Praan take one form of Individual Soul
and that soul willfully assumes body after body to fulfill its desires.
The highest, immutable and imperishable 'sky' is birthless, deathless,
hence no destruction.
Shlok
8
Just as the flowing rivers give up their names and forms after merging
into the ocean, so does the realized soul leaving everything - names and
forms, attains the highest and self-illuminated Purush.
Comments
All people should lead the life like the life of river, without dams
of stagnant water which becomes a source of illness and disease. That is
why true Sanyaasee move all the time without stopping at any place for
long time so that they do not get attached to anyone.
Shlok
9
One who knows Brahm definitely becomes Brahm and in his lineage no one
remains ignorant of Brahm. He goes beyond all sorrows and vices and
attains freedom from all bondages and thus becomes immortal.
Comments
He who knows Brahm, he himself becomes Brahm and no member of his
family remains ignorant of Brahm because he himself becomes an
example. Advanced disciples are taught by their Guru from a long distance.
When the body is still and the mind is still in such silence, the mind has
no questions, hence there are no answers.
Shlok
10
The knowledge of Brahm should be imparted only to those who are sincere,
studious and inclined to receive it, self-disciplined and who have taken a
vow to carry fire on their head according to the rules.
Comment
3-2-10
Shlok
11
Aangiras explained this truth in ancient times that only that person who
has fulfilled his vows may study this Upanishad.
Comments
Aangiras taught that this Upanishad should not be read by those who have
not taken vows - the vow to practice spiritual discipline as instructed by
the teacher. The knowledge of Brahm should not be imparted to an impure
person also. Impure person means - if the functioning of the body, breath,
and mind are not coordinated then the person will be making a futile
effort and wasting his time.
END
OF CHAPTER 3, CANTO 2
END
OF MUNDAK UPANISHAD
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