The great forest teachings
Peace Invocation
oṁ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṁ
pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate
pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya
pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate
Om Shanti Shanti Shantih Om
That (Brahman) is infinite, and this (universe) is infinite.
The infinite proceeds from the infinite
Taking the infinitude of the infinite(universe),
It remains as the infinite (Brahman) alone.Om Peace!
Peace!
Peace!
(Madhavananda translation 1934) In our study group, reading from the wonderful principal Upanishads, we see there are stories and dialogues where seekers of the truth ask to be taught the knowledge of Brahman like Nachiketa, Swetaketu, Narada and others. And in this Upanishad we already heard the dialogue between Yajnavalkya and his wife, Maitreyi. If we ask why these encounters of seekers and sages occur it is because they want revealed that supreme knowledge hidden and sacred sought by the wise. The Upanishads assert that he or she who seeks this knowledge is freed from impurities and attains a deep understanding and experience of the Supreme Being.
The Supreme Brahman is considered the foundation of all as the honey doctrine indicates in the Vth Brahmana. All things cosmic and personal are correlated and the word honey indicating sweetness shows the inter-relatedness at all levels of existence.
We will read the 1st sloka here – (page 89) of Swami Prabhavananda and Frederick Manchester., sloka 1 (page 102) and sloka 15 (page 104) from Hume. Read the last 3 paragraphs from Swami Prabhavananda (page 91).
The blessing here is that Brahman is accessible to all forms including us in human form.
So we see that this blessing is not the special prerogative of Nachiketa or Maitreyi or other specially gifted ones. It is a blessing pronounced for all humanity by the natural world which is permeated with Brahman through and through.
Now comes the story of the first dialogue between the sage, Yajnavalkya, and Janaka, the King of Videha, who is himself an advanced spiritual seeker and is destined to achieve illumination. This dialogue is so beautifully rendered that we will read it because it is self-explanatory. Here, this dialogue is intended to help Janaka and we, the readers, realize what Brahman is. There are many expressed doubts and questions by the assembled court of Brahmins who are having a debate on the nature of Brahman. King Janaka is offering a prize of a thousand cows with gold coins tied to the horns for the wisest of the assembly. Yajnavalkya, who is on his way to the forest, stops at Videha and participates in the ceremonies.. Before the questions begin, Yajnavalkya asks his disciple, who is accompanying him, to take the thousand cows and go to his old Ashram with the cows.
The Brahmins angrily object because Yajnavalkya has not yet proven that he is the wisest. Here, the Upanishad shows that Yajnavalkya was so confident that he wittily rebuffs the angry Brahmins by retorting that he wants the cows! And now, the questions begin.
Read the questions and full answers from Aswala.
Question by Kahola (page 94 of Swami Prabhavananda) “Which Self, Yajnavalkya is within all?”
Read the last paragraph of Yajnavalkya’s answer to Kahola – (Swami P. Page 94). “He alone is the true knower of Brahman………… Next we will read the selected question from Uddalaka and Yajnavalkya’s response-
…….” now speak of the Inner Ruler (page 95 Swami P) Followed by Yajnavalkya’s final answer to Uddalaka on (Page 96. Swami P.)
Then arose Gargi, one of the notable and intellectually keen women in this Upanishad.
We will read the entire section of questions and answers in the Gargi section from Eknath Easwaran (page 104-half way of 107) and/or Swami Prabhavananda and Frederick Manchester. (Page 97-half of 99).
The section ends with Gargi extolling the wisdom of Yajnavalkya and his deep understanding of the nature of Brahman.
These sections are magnificent and self explanatory in the two translations we have selected. They distill the wisdom with precision. All extraneous or added explanations have been eliminated leaving the seekers of wisdom to read and reflect on the teachings contained in these sections and the more detailed translations of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.
In the third blog we will conclude the teachings of Yagnavalkya in his subsequent visit to the court of King Janaka (section IV). The final lesson given by Prajapati in section V of “Da Da Da” ends this Upanishad.
Please note: excerpts, commentary and references from the following teachers of Vedanta.
Vedanta Society lectures and literature Swami Sarvapriyananda, Swami Nikhilananda, Swami Gambhirananda, Swami Swahananda and Madhavananda.
Excerpts from the following commentaries and translations of the Upanishads: Swami Madhavananda Swami Prabhavananda and Frederick Manchester Robert Ernest Hume Swami Swahananda and Swami Madhavananda Eknath Easwaran and Wikipedia
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