Çré Éçopaniñad Course. Mantras 9-14 Overview of Çré Éçopaniñad Section 1: Mantras 1 -3...

Çré ÉçopaniñadCourse

Mantras 9-14

Overview of Çré Éçopaniñad Overview of Çré Éçopaniñad

Section 1: Section 1:

Mantras 1 -3Mantras 1 -3

Proprietorship & the Laws of Proprietorship & the Laws of God God

Section 2:Section 2:

Mantras 4 to 8Mantras 4 to 8

The Vision of the Mahä-The Vision of the Mahä-bhägavatabhägavata

Overview of Çré Éçopaniñad Overview of Çré Éçopaniñad

Section 3: Section 3: Mantras 9 to 14Mantras 9 to 14

The Absolute and the RelativeThe Absolute and the Relative9 - 11: In Terms of Knowledge9 - 11: In Terms of Knowledge12-14: In Terms of Worship12-14: In Terms of Worship

Section 4: Section 4: Mantras 15 to 18Mantras 15 to 18

Prayer at the Time of DeathPrayer at the Time of Death


The Absolute and The Absolute and the Relativethe Relative

9 – 119 – 11

In Terms of In Terms of Knowledge…Knowledge…

Mantras 9-11Mantras 9-11

Mantra nine evaluates Mantra nine evaluates ignorance ignorance and pseudo knowledgeand pseudo knowledge

Mantra ten Mantra ten defines knowledgedefines knowledge as as distinct from both ignorance and distinct from both ignorance and pseudo knowledgepseudo knowledge

Mantra eleven enjoins us to Mantra eleven enjoins us to know know spirit and matterspirit and matter

A bug caught in a building A bug caught in a building tries to get out by hitting his tries to get out by hitting his body against a mirror that body against a mirror that reflects the door, even reflects the door, even though the door is open. though the door is open.

We are trying for happiness, We are trying for happiness, knowledge, and eternal knowledge, and eternal vibrant life free of fear. But vibrant life free of fear. But we may get fooled by we may get fooled by ignorance which looks like ignorance which looks like knowledge.knowledge.

Mantra 9

andhaà tamaù praviçantiandhaà tamaù praviçanti

ye 'vidyäm upäsateye 'vidyäm upäsate

Those who engage in the culture of Those who engage in the culture of nescient activities shall enter into the nescient activities shall enter into the darkest region of ignorance….Worse darkest region of ignorance….Worse still are those engaged in the culture still are those engaged in the culture of so-called knowledge.of so-called knowledge.

Wolves are dangerous Wolves are dangerous and wolves dressed as and wolves dressed as sheep are even more sheep are even more dangerous.dangerous.

veda vada ratas. These people veda vada ratas. These people misinterpret the Vedas for sense misinterpret the Vedas for sense gratificationgratification

mayayapahata jnana as those who mayayapahata jnana as those who teach Mayavadi philosophy. teach Mayavadi philosophy.

Modern civilization Modern civilization has advanced has advanced considerably in the considerably in the field of mass field of mass education, but the education, but the result is that people result is that people are more unhappy are more unhappy than ever before than ever before because of the stress because of the stress placed on material placed on material advancement to the advancement to the exclusion of the most exclusion of the most important part of life, important part of life, the spiritual aspect…the spiritual aspect…

The advancement of The advancement of learning by a godless learning by a godless people is as people is as dangerous as a dangerous as a valuable jewel on the valuable jewel on the hood of a cobra. A hood of a cobra. A cobra decorated with cobra decorated with a valuable jewel is a valuable jewel is more dangerous than more dangerous than one not decorated….. one not decorated…..

Mantra 9 PurportMantra 9 Purport

“…“…a godless a godless civilization directed civilization directed toward the so-called toward the so-called advancement of advancement of education is more education is more dangerous than a dangerous than a civilization in which the civilization in which the masses of people are masses of people are less educated.”less educated.”

Mantra 9 Mantra 9 PurportPurport

How would you present How would you present this statement to a modern this statement to a modern audience?audience?

How would we define knowledge?How would we define knowledge? Possessing information, skills, and Possessing information, skills, and values that lead one to transcending values that lead one to transcending the material world and attaining self-the material world and attaining self-realization and immortality, or realization and immortality, or transcendental knowledge.transcendental knowledge.

Why is ignorance dangerous?Why is ignorance dangerous? We will think and do We will think and do things which will lead to suffering and make it things which will lead to suffering and make it difficult to come to the right path.difficult to come to the right path.

Why is pseudo-knowledge worse than ignorance?Why is pseudo-knowledge worse than ignorance? The walls of the room are ignorance, the mirror is The walls of the room are ignorance, the mirror is pseudo-knowledge, and the open door is knowledge. pseudo-knowledge, and the open door is knowledge. A bug trying to get out is likely to waste time and A bug trying to get out is likely to waste time and energy on the mirror and therefore not even energy on the mirror and therefore not even attempt to find the open door. How does the screen attempt to find the open door. How does the screen imitate the open door? It looks like the outside. imitate the open door? It looks like the outside.

Some examples of pseudo knowledge?Some examples of pseudo knowledge? Nationalism Nationalism and modern universities—these do not pretend to and modern universities—these do not pretend to be spiritual, but they do claim to lead us to a happy be spiritual, but they do claim to lead us to a happy life.life.

Mantra 10Mantra 10

The wise have explained that one The wise have explained that one result is derived from the culture of result is derived from the culture of knowledge and that a different result knowledge and that a different result is obtained from the culture of is obtained from the culture of nescience. nescience.

VidyayäVidyayä- Culture of - Culture of KnowledgeKnowledge

1)1) One should become a perfect One should become a perfect gentleman and learn to give proper gentleman and learn to give proper respect to others.respect to others.


amänitvam amänitvam adambhitvamadambhitvam

(Humility, pridelessness)(Humility, pridelessness) Bg 13.8Bg 13.8


““In the modern society, even a boy In the modern society, even a boy thinks himself self-sufficient and thinks himself self-sufficient and pays no respect to elderly men. Due pays no respect to elderly men. Due to the wrong type of education to the wrong type of education being imparted in our universities, being imparted in our universities, boys all over the world are giving boys all over the world are giving their elders headaches.”their elders headaches.”



How should you relate to senior How should you relate to senior devotees in the temple, who may devotees in the temple, who may not have completed a Bhakti-çästri not have completed a Bhakti-çästri degree? degree?

Mantra 11Mantra 11

Only one who can learn the process Only one who can learn the process of nescience and that of of nescience and that of transcendental knowledge side by transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessings of immortality.the full blessings of immortality.

vidyäà cävidyäà ca yasvidyäà cävidyäà ca yastad vedobhayaà saha..tad vedobhayaà saha..

Mantra 11Mantra 11

Çré Éçopaniñad Çré Éçopaniñad instructs us not to instructs us not to make one-sided make one-sided attempts to win the attempts to win the struggle for existence..struggle for existence..

…….This does not mean .This does not mean that all activities for that all activities for the maintenance of the the maintenance of the body should be body should be stopped. There is no stopped. There is no question of stopping question of stopping activities..activities......

…….just as there is no .just as there is no question of wiping out question of wiping out one's temperature one's temperature altogether when trying altogether when trying to recover from a to recover from a disease. "To make the disease. "To make the best use of a bad best use of a bad bargain" is the bargain" is the appropriate appropriate expression…. the great expression…. the great sages and saints of India sages and saints of India have attempted to do have attempted to do this by a balanced this by a balanced program of spiritual and program of spiritual and material knowledge. material knowledge.


Know Both Spirit and MatterKnow Both Spirit and Matter

How to achieve How to achieve spiritual spiritual knowledge?knowledge?

Spiritual life is Spiritual life is achieved through achieved through following the following the eighteen principles eighteen principles of Mantra ten and of Mantra ten and engaging in the engaging in the sankirtana sankirtana movement.movement.

What kind of What kind of mundane knowledge?mundane knowledge?

How to keep the body and How to keep the body and mind fit and healthy for mind fit and healthy for spiritual lifespiritual life

The real nature of The real nature of material entanglementmaterial entanglement—the study of påakåti —the study of påakåti from the transcendental from the transcendental point of view. point of view.

When is ignorance better than When is ignorance better than misused knowledge?misused knowledge?

Balanced life vs unbalanced lifeBalanced life vs unbalanced life Gurukula conflicts:Gurukula conflicts:

– Just “Vedic”Just “Vedic”– Modern Education with some KC point of Modern Education with some KC point of

viewview


The Absolute and the The Absolute and the RelativeRelative

9 - 11: 9 - 11: In Terms of KnowledgeIn Terms of Knowledge

12-1412-14 In Terms of WorshipIn Terms of Worship

Mantras 12-14Mantras 12-14

Mantra 12 explains that materialistic Mantra 12 explains that materialistic religion is religion is detrimental anddetrimental and transcendent religion without bhakti is transcendent religion without bhakti is more dangerousmore dangerous

Mantra 13 defines the Mantra 13 defines the differencedifference between the relative and absolutebetween the relative and absolute

Mantra 14 directs us to Mantra 14 directs us to understand understand bothboth relative and absolute to attain relative and absolute to attain perfectionperfection

One may get frustrated trying for One may get frustrated trying for happiness through sense gratification happiness through sense gratification and mundane knowledge and look for and mundane knowledge and look for religion or spiritual life.religion or spiritual life.

The bug stops trying to get out of the The bug stops trying to get out of the room through the mirror and instead room through the mirror and instead goes against a window screen. The goes against a window screen. The screen not only looks like the outside—screen not only looks like the outside—more so than the mirror—but also feels more so than the mirror—but also feels and smells like the outside.and smells like the outside.

Mantra 12Mantra 12

andhaà tamaù praviçantiandhaà tamaù praviçanti

ye 'sambhütim upäsateye 'sambhütim upäsate

Those who are engaged in Those who are engaged in the worship of demigods the worship of demigods enter into the darkest enter into the darkest region of ignorance, and still region of ignorance, and still more so do the worshipers more so do the worshipers of the impersonal Absolute.of the impersonal Absolute.

Demigod WorshipDemigod Worship

Çré Éçopaniñad points out that one who Çré Éçopaniñad points out that one who worships the demigods and attains to their worships the demigods and attains to their material planets still remains in the darkest material planets still remains in the darkest region of the universe. The whole universe is region of the universe. The whole universe is covered by the gigantic material elements; it covered by the gigantic material elements; it is just like a coconut covered by a shell and is just like a coconut covered by a shell and half-filled with water. Since its covering is half-filled with water. Since its covering is airtight, the darkness within is dense, and airtight, the darkness within is dense, and therefore the sun and the moon are required therefore the sun and the moon are required for illumination…for illumination…


ImpersonailstsImpersonailsts

The ignorant pseudo religionists and the The ignorant pseudo religionists and the manufacturers of so-called incarnations who manufacturers of so-called incarnations who directly violate the Vedic injunctions are directly violate the Vedic injunctions are liable to enter into the darkest region of the liable to enter into the darkest region of the universe because they mislead those who universe because they mislead those who follow them. These impersonalists generally follow them. These impersonalists generally pose themselves as incarnations of God to pose themselves as incarnations of God to foolish persons who have no knowledge of foolish persons who have no knowledge of Vedic wisdom. If such foolish men have any Vedic wisdom. If such foolish men have any knowledge at all, it is more dangerous in knowledge at all, it is more dangerous in their hands than ignorance itself.their hands than ignorance itself.


Those who attempt to Those who attempt to merge into the merge into the existence of the existence of the Supreme Lord will have Supreme Lord will have to accept bodies like to accept bodies like those of trees. And those of trees. And those who are overly those who are overly inclined toward sense inclined toward sense gratification will attain gratification will attain the bodies of demigodsthe bodies of demigods

CC Madhya 8.257CC Madhya 8.257

Better situated are those who desire sense Better situated are those who desire sense gratification and promotion to the heavenly gratification and promotion to the heavenly planets. Such people want to enjoy themselves planets. Such people want to enjoy themselves like denizens of heaven in the gardens of like denizens of heaven in the gardens of paradise. They at least retain their individuality in paradise. They at least retain their individuality in order to enjoy life. But the impersonalists, who try order to enjoy life. But the impersonalists, who try to lose their individuality, also lose both material to lose their individuality, also lose both material and spiritual pleasure. The last destination of the and spiritual pleasure. The last destination of the Buddhist philosophers is to become just like a Buddhist philosophers is to become just like a stone, which is immovable and has neither stone, which is immovable and has neither material nor spiritual activity.material nor spiritual activity.

purport CC Madhya 8.257purport CC Madhya 8.257

Contrast with….Contrast with….

In the çästra it is said that of all types of In the çästra it is said that of all types of fruitive workers, he who is advanced in fruitive workers, he who is advanced in knowledge of the higher values of life is knowledge of the higher values of life is favored by the Supreme Lord Hari. Out favored by the Supreme Lord Hari. Out of many such people who are advanced of many such people who are advanced in knowledge [jïänés], one who is in knowledge [jïänés], one who is practically liberated by virtue of his practically liberated by virtue of his knowledge may take to devotional knowledge may take to devotional service. He is superior to the others. service. He is superior to the others.

NoI: verse 10NoI: verse 10

Prabhupäda’s Mood

& Mission..

These rogues are the most These rogues are the most dangerous elements in dangerous elements in human society….They escape human society….They escape punishment by the law of the punishment by the law of the state. They cannot, however, state. They cannot, however, escape the law of the escape the law of the Supreme, who has clearly Supreme, who has clearly declared in the Gétä that declared in the Gétä that envious demons in the garb envious demons in the garb of religious propagandists of religious propagandists shall be thrown into the shall be thrown into the darkest regions of hell (Bg. darkest regions of hell (Bg. 16.19-20)…. 16.19-20)…. Mantra 12 Mantra 12 PurportPurport

Çré Éçopaniñad Çré Éçopaniñad confirms that these confirms that these pseudo religionists are pseudo religionists are heading toward the heading toward the most obnoxious place in most obnoxious place in the universe after the the universe after the completion of their completion of their spiritual master spiritual master business, which they business, which they conduct simply for conduct simply for sense gratification.sense gratification.


Surrender versus Surrender versus speculationspeculation

To fully understand Krishna one has To fully understand Krishna one has to surrender. Otherwise, though to surrender. Otherwise, though negation one will have an incomplete negation one will have an incomplete idea of the Absolute Truth.idea of the Absolute Truth.

Material versus spiritualMaterial versus spiritual

The planets of the demigods are all The planets of the demigods are all within the material world and within the material world and therefore subject to the miseries and therefore subject to the miseries and problems of material existence, problems of material existence, unlike Krishna’s abode.unlike Krishna’s abode.

Real knowledge and Real knowledge and detachmentdetachment

can only arise from devotional can only arise from devotional service to Lord Krishna. They try to service to Lord Krishna. They try to make a show of devotional service make a show of devotional service through philanthropic work etc., but through philanthropic work etc., but they don’t actually come up to the they don’t actually come up to the standard. They disobey so many standard. They disobey so many important injunctions, like important injunctions, like surrendering to a bona fide spiritual surrendering to a bona fide spiritual master.master.

Cheating and truthCheating and truth

Impersonalists who claim to be Impersonalists who claim to be avatars and concoct philosophy avatars and concoct philosophy create a society of cheaters and create a society of cheaters and cheated. However, governments are cheated. However, governments are no longer strong enough to stop this.no longer strong enough to stop this.

Temporary versus Temporary versus permanentpermanent

Demigod worship (and impersonal Demigod worship (and impersonal realization) give limited and realization) give limited and temporary benefits.temporary benefits.

Mantra 13Mantra 13

It is said that one result is obtained by It is said that one result is obtained by worshiping the supreme cause of all worshiping the supreme cause of all causes and that another result is causes and that another result is obtained by worshiping what is not obtained by worshiping what is not supreme. All this is heard from the supreme. All this is heard from the undisturbed authorities, who clearly undisturbed authorities, who clearly explained it.explained it.

Different destinationsDifferent destinations: :

There are many names of God and many paths to There are many names of God and many paths to Him as well as paths and names that lead Him as well as paths and names that lead elsewhere. In a similar way, various airline elsewhere. In a similar way, various airline companies and routes may take a traveler to companies and routes may take a traveler to Tokyo. If we think that we journey on the only Tokyo. If we think that we journey on the only plane, or even with the only airline, we deceive plane, or even with the only airline, we deceive ourselves in pride. Yet not every plane traversing ourselves in pride. Yet not every plane traversing the earth at this moment is headed for Tokyo, or the earth at this moment is headed for Tokyo, or even Japan, and some airlines don’t have flights even Japan, and some airlines don’t have flights to the Far East at all. Of the airlines that do go to to the Far East at all. Of the airlines that do go to Tokyo, some have more direct routes, better Tokyo, some have more direct routes, better service, or lower prices. service, or lower prices.

Learn the real truth in Learn the real truth in paramparaparampara

The Lord re-established the The Lord re-established the parampara to Arjuna, because he parampara to Arjuna, because he was a great devotee, and was was a great devotee, and was therefore able to take the therefore able to take the responsibility nicely. But there are so responsibility nicely. But there are so many Bhagavad-Gita commentaries many Bhagavad-Gita commentaries by people who don’t accept Kåñëa. by people who don’t accept Kåñëa. How can they help?How can they help?

““The worship of the The worship of the supreme cause”supreme cause”

is very important. Lord Krishna is the is very important. Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is confirmed by sastra — first çruti confirmed by sastra — first çruti (various Upanisads p95), then småti (various Upanisads p95), then småti (Mokña Dharma [Mahabharata] and (Mokña Dharma [Mahabharata] and Varaha Purana p96 top), then Brahma Varaha Purana p96 top), then Brahma Samhita and Bhagavad-gétä (p96), Samhita and Bhagavad-gétä (p96), Vedanta sutra (p97 2Vedanta sutra (p97 2ndnd para), then para), then Çrémad Bhägavatam. This is pouring Çrémad Bhägavatam. This is pouring water on the root of the tree.water on the root of the tree.

PurificationPurification

Those in passion and ignorance can Those in passion and ignorance can hardly become purified. Lord Kåñëa hardly become purified. Lord Kåñëa from within the heart removes from within the heart removes passion and ignorance, and one passion and ignorance, and one comes to goodness. This can be done comes to goodness. This can be done by anyone. There is no limit. All they by anyone. There is no limit. All they have to do is surrender to a bona fide have to do is surrender to a bona fide spiritual master.spiritual master.

Mantra 14Mantra 14

One should know perfectly the Personality One should know perfectly the Personality of Godhead Çré Kåñëa and His of Godhead Çré Kåñëa and His transcendental name, form, qualities and transcendental name, form, qualities and pastimes, as well as the temporary material pastimes, as well as the temporary material creation with its temporary demigods, men creation with its temporary demigods, men and animals. When one knows these, he and animals. When one knows these, he surpasses death and the ephemeral cosmic surpasses death and the ephemeral cosmic manifestation with it, and in the eternal manifestation with it, and in the eternal kingdom of God he enjoys his eternal life of kingdom of God he enjoys his eternal life of bliss and knowledge.bliss and knowledge.

Material knowledge is not Material knowledge is not sufficientsufficient

1) To attain perfection: One has to 1) To attain perfection: One has to understand clearly Lord Krsna, and His understand clearly Lord Krsna, and His name, form, qualities and pastimes, as name, form, qualities and pastimes, as well as the material world with its well as the material world with its varieties in order to go back to varieties in order to go back to Godhead.Godhead.


2) To conquer the problems of life: Material 2) To conquer the problems of life: Material science has advanced in so many ways but science has advanced in so many ways but is not at all able to deal with the is not at all able to deal with the fundamental problems of life. We are forced fundamental problems of life. We are forced to accept the six stages of life, and there is to accept the six stages of life, and there is nothing we can do about it. Length of life nothing we can do about it. Length of life makes no real difference — everyone dies. makes no real difference — everyone dies. Material scientists are trying to make this Material scientists are trying to make this world deathless by material means, and world deathless by material means, and they overlook the Vedas.they overlook the Vedas.


3) To achieve real freedom: Different planets are 3) To achieve real freedom: Different planets are there with their different time scales, but only in there with their different time scales, but only in the spiritual world can we become free from the spiritual world can we become free from time. Lord Krishna rules there, and one can only time. Lord Krishna rules there, and one can only approach Him through devotional service. So we approach Him through devotional service. So we have to go there to overcome all these have to go there to overcome all these problems. We are trying to dominate the problems. We are trying to dominate the material nature and even Lord Krsna, but we material nature and even Lord Krsna, but we cannot. We are dominated by them. We have to cannot. We are dominated by them. We have to educate people how to really solve the educate people how to really solve the problems of life.problems of life.

Knowledge of spirit only is Knowledge of spirit only is also insufficientalso insufficient

1) We must use Krsna’s energy in His 1) We must use Krsna’s energy in His service. This is the basis for learning service. This is the basis for learning mundane subjects in relation to mundane subjects in relation to Krsna in such as way as to enhance Krsna in such as way as to enhance our Krsna consciousness. our Krsna consciousness.


2) One must learn the science of 2) One must learn the science of matter so as to understand how one matter so as to understand how one is implicated and know what not to is implicated and know what not to do.do.


3) Prabhupada is stressing here that we 3) Prabhupada is stressing here that we also have to learn the spiritual because also have to learn the spiritual because he is writing to a materialistic society.he is writing to a materialistic society.

Çré Éçopaniñad Course. Mantras 9-14 Overview of Çré Éçopaniñad Section 1: Mantras 1 -3...

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