5 - Direct and Indirect Methods of Explaining the Unexplainable Brahman | Swami Tattwamayananda

08/06/19 • 85 min

Verses: I.9, II.1. This discourse was given on July 31, 2019 at the Lake Tahoe Retreat run by the Vedanta Society of Northern California by Swami Tattwamayananda.
-Rtam, Satyam, and Dharma are explained.
-Svadhyaya and Pravacana are explained.
-Vedanta allows us to see all of the world’s traditions from a universal perspective. We expand beyond our immediate interests, needs, and physical body. Our svadharma helps all people.
-The four ashramas are reviewed. The importance of learning to retire gracefully is emphasized. 70% of ancient sages were retired householders who knew how to work not out of compulsion.
-An indirect way of explaining Brahman, which cannot be explained, is typified by Varuna’s successive instructions relating the ultimate reality to that which we normally understand.
-The direct method (swarupa lakshana) method of explaining Brahman, is typified by the discussion between King Janaka and Yajnavaklya in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. The question is what serves as light for a man and the student is led to understand that the sun, the moon, fire, sound, and the mind all get their light from the Atma, the light of all lights which is self-revealed.
-The concept of aparoksha anubhuti, non-indirect experience, is clearly explained in reference to Brahman.
-Brahman is beyond the six changes that characterize all entities within time, space, and causation.
-Brahman is not the effect of any cause. It is not manufactured, not attained, not the result of a process of refrainment, nor through a process of change. It is de-hypnotization through removal of obstacles. It is returning to our own home.
-Two approaches to realization are explained: (1) immediate experience through listening once due to extreme spiritual fitness, (2) 7 disciplines of practice that allow us to gradually increase our fitness.
-Life becomes an enjoyable spiritual pilgrimage concentrating on a higher spiritual goal.
-Thoreau is cited as an example of a practitioner of tapa, austerity.

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4 - The Science of Inner Bliss (Ananda) and Living a Sacred Life | Swami Tattwamayananda

Verses: III.6, II.8, I.11, I.9. This discourse was given on July 30, 2019 at the Lake Tahoe Retreat run by the Vedanta Society of Northern California by Swami Tattwamayananda.
-Ananda: attaining what ought to have been attained; having done what ought to have been done.
-Ananda: the science of inner bliss.
-The enjoyment of good health and wealth is very small in comparison to the enjoyment of transcendental bliss.
-Transcendental bliss allows spiritual seekers like Prahlada and the Russian pilgrim in the Way of the Pilgrim to see every day as a holy day and handle all difficulties in the world.
-Lesson I.11 is a convocation address for students who are to begin living with these transcendental ideas in life. (1) Imbibe what is good from your teachers (2) Respect and serve those who are even more exalted than your teachers (3) Preserve the tradition so that you are spiritually and culturally enriched. (4) Your actions towards your elders are a sacred act.
-Lesson I.9 explains that we most always hold to Rtam, doing what which ought to be done and distinguishing between right and wrong. This Rtam preserves the whole universe.
-Dharma is this Rtam in practice: it protects and sustains the universe.
-Satyam is the philosophical dimension of rtam.
-Tapas is intense concentration on your ideal, without which nothing can be achieved.
-Svadhyaya and Pravacana are learning the scriptures and transmitting the scriptures.
-Sama and Dama is self-restraint, which turns our mind into our tranquil friend, rather than our enemy.
-The guest must be honored. A guest is one who comes to your home without prior notice or invitation.

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6 - Shraddha: Spiritual Evolution through Work Performed with a Sense of Sanctity | Swami Tattwamayananda

Verses: II.1, I.9. This discourse was given on August 1, 2019 at the Lake Tahoe Retreat run by the Vedanta Society of Northern California by Swami Tattwamayananda.
-There are direct and indirect approaches to explaining Brahman. In the direct approach, Brahman is explained from the highest perspective. In the direct approach, the highest is explained in connection with what is already known. Both approaches can only give an approximate explanation.
-In Verse II.1, Brahman is described as satyam, existence, jnanam, knowledge, and anantam, infinity. It is existence. The description jnanam, means it is conscious so it rules out the possibility of a mere material reality. The description anantam means infinity which rules out the possibility of a limited perception. Rather, it is the essence of all perception.
-The method of Via Negativa of Meister Eckhart, and the seventh verse of the Mandukya Upanishad removes all possible adjectives for Brahman, what is left out is the Reality.
-Brahman is beyond the five methods of verbalization.
-Brahman is not something manufactured, attained, refined, or as a result of change.
-A man is told to count 10 people. He can only count 9 because he is concentrated on the process of counting. He always forgets to count himself. In the same way, we often fail to recognize our true nature and instead identify with the external world.
-Maya does not exist Absolutely but what we know intellectually may not be accepted by our mind.
-Maya functions through the power of Avarana Shakti, concealment, and Vikshepa Shakti, projection of the false.
-The 7 disciplines for realization of Brahman are (1) Viveka – discrimination between the unchanging and the changing, artha and kama must be practiced with dharma with an eye towards moksha (2) Vairagya – re-prioritization towards the longer lasting, real success means realizing the limitations of material success (3) 6 virtues of restraining the senses (4) mumukshuttvam – higher transcendental goal (5) shravana’ (श्रवण), feeding the mind with healthy food (6) `manana’ (मनन), recollection and thought (7) `nididhyasana’ (निदिध्यासन), internalization.
-The story of Satyakama and Gautama from the Chandogya Upanishad is narrated to explain how the mind evolves and becomes our own spiritual guide.
-When we work with a sense of sanctity and sense (rtam, dharma, satyam), our mind becomes refined and nature because an open book and we evolve.
-Many ordinary people are able to work with great Shraddha and become spiritually evolved. It is the quality of the mind that matters most in work. Perfectionism is only a small part of the sense of sanctity.
-Three kinds of karma (prarabdha, sanchita, agami) are explained and the dynamics of reincarnation is explained.
-Your best friend is happy to help you when you are in trouble, but is also happy when you are happy.
-Creative geniuses can get a glimpse of transcendental reality, but yogis are able to stay at that level.
-Radical change is possible when we surrender to God.