Teachings

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Teachings of Upanishad-2

The term Upanishads denotes the study and practice of the innate truth; the term Brahm Vidyaa denotes the supremacy of spiritual contemplation; the term Yog Shaastra denotes the mental churning that brings success. Now what is the basic thing to be known by man? It is only one's own basic reality. The Upanishad describe the various stages and the various modes of this search for realizing this. The name is full of significance - Upa means the process of studying with or steadfastness; shad means the attainment of the Ultimate Reality. The term Upanishad arose for those reasons.

The Upanishad teach not only the principles of Aatm Vidyaa but they also indicate the practical means of realization. They point out not only the duties and obligations one has to discharge, but also the actions to be done and those to be avoided. The Geetaa is more or less the essence of the Upanishad. Arjun acquired through the lessons of the Geetaa the fruit of listening to the Upanishad. In the Upanishad, the statement "That thou art", is found. In the Geetaa, Krishn tells Arjun," I am Arjun among the Paandav ". In other words, "I and You are the same". This is the same as saying, "That thou art", the Jeev and Eeshwar are the same.

So whether it is the Geetaa or the Upanishad, the teaching is Non-duality, not Duality (Dwait), or qualified Monism (Vishisht A-Dwait). The human eye can not delve into neither the minute nor the magnitudinous. It can not read the mystery of the virus or the atom or the stellar universe. Therefore, scientists supplement the eye with the telescope and the microscope. Similarly, the sages (Sookshm-darshee) are able to experience Divinity through the eye of Knowledge, gained by following spiritual discipline. The message of Ved is summed up in the Upanishad; hence they are revered as authoritative.

They are not the products of human intelligence; they are the whisperings of God to man. They are parts of the eternal Ved. The Ved shine gloriously through all their parts.
(to be continued)

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