Brahmasutra with commentary of Adi Shankara, the First Four Sutras of the Brahma Sutra covers the essence of the entire vision of the Vedanta Sastra. They also state that all the Upanisads reveal the same vision. The remaining Brahma sutras thoroughly discuss and prove what is taught in these four sutras. Meditation classes and Satsang […]
“By whom (kena, i.e., by whose mere intent) is the impelled mind directed?” With this profound question, the Kena Upanishad begins. One of the shortest Upanishads, Kena offers one of the most thorough presentations of Vedanta in its first two chapters. The prose of the last two chapters narrates how the gods take credit for
Part of the Krishna Yajurveda, and one of the most popular Upanishads, Katha Upanishad comprises two parts and 120 verses. It is one of the ten Upanishads Shankara commented on, and comes to us in the form of a dialogue between young seeker Nachiketa and Lord Yama (Death). Lord Yama test Nachiketa’s qualifications as a
Brahmasutra with commentary of Adi Shankara, the First Four Sutras of the Brahma Sutra covers the essence of the entire vision of the Vedanta Sastra. They also state that all the Upanisad reveals this same vision. In the rest of Brahma-Sutra, what is taught in these First Four is thoroughly discussed and proved. The introduction
Having pointed out in great detail the complexity of the karma and karmaphala structure, and that it is beyond tge ken if mind because it is ignorance-based and a net of deception, Sri Krishna concludes the teaching with the statement, “Giving up all karmas, take refuge in me alone. I will release you from all
In this section on moksa-sannyasa, the significance of the entire gita-sastra is summed up. Here Sri Krishna extensively praises Sarva Karma sannyasa, the renunciation of all actions by giving up the sense of doership. In keeping with the depth and clarity of Sankara Bhasyam, Swamiji will unfold the subject matter exhaustively. An Audio Course on
Arjuna asks what happens when a person has Shraddha (trust in the Shastra) but it is not able to follow the stipulations of the Shastra. Lord Krishna responds that a person is what his Shraddha is. He gives a nuanced description of the degrees of Shaddha (derived from Sattva, Tajas, and Tamas). He then talks
Lord Krishna further elaborates the important values he calls Jnanam, as well as their opposites, including the motives that drive them. By becoming alert to the thinking behind our behavior, we are better able to uncompromisingly cherish these values, which hold the promise of release from Samsara. An Audio Course on Vedanta Texts- Bhagavad Gita:
Purusottama, the whole person, is the topic of this chapter. Lord Krishna describes the tree of samsara, the nature of jiva (individual self), Ishvara, and finally purusottama, the substratum of all three. When we know this ultimate reality, we gain the fulfillment resulting from attaining all that is to be attained in life. An Audio
In this chapter, Lord Krishna explains the three Gunas (Satva, Rajas, and Tamas) that constitute the human personality. We learn how they appear to bind us and how we can become free from that apparent bondage. An Audio Course on Vedanta Texts- Bhagavad Gita: Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 14) by Swami Tattvavidananda Saraswati.
