Mandukya Upanishad, Class 67
Vedanta sara is now being
established with the example of fire brand from verse 47 to 56. First
Gowdapadha explained the example. There is a firebrand with a flaming tip
which is advaidam. When you move the flame brand, there is a variety of
patterns. We do experience these patterns but after analysis we find out
that they have no substance. The patterns do not come outside the fire
brand and do not come from inside the fire brand. When the patterns go,
they do not go inside the fire brand; they do not go outside the
firebrand. We do not know how the patterns come but we do
experience. Similarly, consciousness alone is seeming motion because of
that only we experience the universe. At the cosmic level, the
consciousness has seeming motion because of Maya, because of Maya there is the
experience of prabanja. At the micro level, I am the consciousness being
and this consciousness has a seeming motion caused by thought at mental level.
and this results in experience of plurality. It is caused by thought
because when the thoughts are present, there is experience of pluralistic
experience of the universe, but in deep sleep, when there are no thoughts,
there is no plurality. One nondual entity in motion alone is experienced
as plurality and there is no reality of plurality. We only negate the
reality of the plurality and not the experience of the plurality. Without
consciousnesses, you can’t discuss dwaida prabanja.
- Pluralistic world does not from outside consciousness
- Pluralistic world does not come from conscientiousness
- Pluralistic universe does not go outside the
consciousness - Pluralistic world does not go inside the consciousness
Verse 52
Superficially looking, firebrand
seems to be karanam and patterns seems to be kariyam. On inquiry, you
can’t talk about kariya karana sambandha. To talk about any relationship,
we require two things. If firebrand is one and patterns are the second,
but there are not two substance. The patterns are the same firebrand when
in motion. The firebrand and the patterns are the same substance; once
you understand that the substance is only one, then you will drop the kariya
karana sambandha. This logic applies to clay and pot example as well.
Patterns do not have substantiality
of its own. The substantiality of the patterns belongs to the firebrand
alone. Similarly, the world does not have its own substantial; it is only
non-substantial nama roopa; the seeming substantiality of the world belongs to
one chaithanyam. Since there are no two-independent substance, you can’t
talk about any sambandha at all. There is no cause effect relationship
between world and brahman; world is another name for consciousness or brahman
in motion. How nontangible consciousness can become tangible when in
motion? The scientists also say the whole world and matter is nothing but
energy. If energy can become tangible, why can’t the consciousness be
tangible. Since you can’t explain how this world came (inside or
outside) it is mithya or maya; it is experienced, but not logically
categorical.
Verse 53
There is no cause effect
relationship between Brahman and world. Any relationship requires two things;
Pot and clay are not two things; if they are, you can take away the clay and
the pot will continue to exist. There are two words, but not two
substances. Cause effect relationship is possible when the entities have
independent existence. The dream objects also appear to have substantial
when you are in dream. Similarly, the objects of this world appear
substantiality but it is mithya. Therefore, they can’t be counted as
distinct entity as a product having a relationship. World is not a kriyam
and Brahman is not a karanam. There is only a kariya karana vilakshanam
which is explained in 7th mantra. I am the kariya karana vilakshana
Brahman, if I can say that with confidence, Mandukya Upanishad has done its
teaching.
Verse 54
Nothing is born out of
nothing. Consciousness is not born of material and material is not born
out consciousness. Things and beings in creation are not born out of
creation. Brahman is not the cause of jiva or jagat; boktha or boktham;
nor is the other way around. Similarly, chaithanyam is not born out of
matter. Materialistic philosophy is that previously there was only matter
before the big bang. This matter has gotten condensed and gradually
became stars etc. and life and consciousness came out later. There is
only consciousness mistaken as matter. One who has understood this fact
are wise people and understand that I am the Thuriyum and have negated viswa,
the pradhama padha, Taijasa dwadia pada, and pragya the threithay padha,
sthula, karana and kariya padhas. The first two padhas are called kariyam
and the third pada is karanam. But I am kariya karana vilakshanam.
Cause and effect exist within time. Cause and effect are one and the same
substance, similar to seed and tree. Transcending the cause effect is
transcending time. I am beyond time.
Verse 55
As long as a person does not know that I am thuriyum, he cannot escape from samsara. This gyanam alone will give moksha. This is not one of the methods of moksha, this is the only way to mokhsa. If it is extremely difficult to comprehend, there is no other way. You prepare yourself to understand by studying. If I don’t know that I am the fourth pada, then I will mistake myself as viswa, taijasa or pragya. The moment I became a viswa, then I became a kartha, boktha or pramadha. Then I will feel finitude. Limitation is inevitable; limitation will lead to kamaha. Avidhya will lead to sense to missing things in life and that will lead to kama or desire. Desire will produce karma; karma will produce palam; until that palam comes, I become anxious. Whatever is the palam, I will not be satisfied. Because finite plus finite is finite. You are sucked in kala chakra; karma pala chakra; Unless you discover, you are thuriyum you will be viswa, taijasa or pragra and continue to suffer. There are no other solutions; All other solution will never offer complete independence. As long as you are obsessed with cause and effect of karma and palam, there will be continuous cycle of samsara. You can drop the obsession only when you drop the abimana thrayam – sthula, sukshma and karna. You need not destroy the sareera thryam, only give up the obsession. The false obsession with body is because of the ignorance of the thuriya swaroopam. Once you wake up from the dream, you don’t have obsession with swapna sareeram. Similarly, when you wake up to Thuriyam, you will not have obsession to physical bodies. This is indicated by chin muthra. For a circle, there is no beginning or end.
