Pranam to Parampoojya Parameshwar Sadguru Swami Anilji Maharaj
Atmadhnyan Shighra Sadhana… 7
We saw in the previous chapter, that if we can not reach enlightened Guru then put the photo of Bhagawan Shankaracharya in the house and with worship and prayer can start Atmadhnyan sadhana.
I will list some of the Scriptures here for enabling you to start Vedant studies quickly. Some are for study and some to be avoided. This is only to match your frequency quickly with the thinking in Vedant.
Nothing meant to oppose Puranas, Yog-tantra or any other thing. There is no wish either to change anybody’s perception.
Do not think at all that you have to study voluminous Shastra Scriptures or Granths. No! Only Satshatra to be studied that too selectively. In reference to Atmadhnyan Satshatra are only Prasthantrayi (Three scriptures necessary to proceed towards emancipation). There is no need to study action oriented Ved Shastra, Dharmashastra, nitishastra,
like many scriptures or Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bhagvat like Puran Granth.
Prasthantrayi means Upnishad (Shruti), Shrimadbhagavatgita (Smriti), Uttarmimansa (Sutra) these three Shastras. Out of which Uttarmimansa Shastra means Brahmsutra need not be studied in the beginning. Upnishad are more than two hundred. We have to read only eleven, Commented by Bhagwan Shankaracharya, no need to even touch others. Also, Shrimadbhagavatgita commented by Bhagwan Shankaracharya is to be only studied.
In totality only Shrimadbhagavatgita and eleven Upanishads have to be studied. That too only the portion relating to our quest only to be read and understood, known as, “Atmavastu”. We do not have to read Anything more complex, difficult to understand and creating confusion. We do not have to read Gita also in the beginning as Bhagawan Shrikrishna told numerous yogs and offered fruit salad along with Nectar in Shrimadbhagavatgita.
We have to be absolutely away from confusion. Our mission is only Dhnyanyog. Upnishads are only our prime sources of Dhnyan.
If you have not read Upanishads earlier then you may not understand anything. Neither verses of Upanishads nor the meaning of comments (bhyasha). You may lose interest in one or two days. Don’t worry and do not lose your heart. Three – four books you may have to additionally purchase to keep your interest alive.
First among them is, “Vivek Chudamani”, by Bhagwan Shankaracharya. There is no other religious book simplifying Vedant for easier understanding, in my opinion.
Chinmay mission and Ramkrishna mission are two very good Institutes. Some of the Swamis of these Institutes have written very good books depicting honest views.
You can read books by Swami Vivekanand like, “Dhnyanyog”. Some good books written by Swami Chinmayananda himself are available, simplifying the subject of Dhnyan to the Seekers.
Biography of Bhagawan Adhya Shankaracharya is also quite inspiring. Then along with, “Vivek Chudamani”, you can read Shatshloki, Tatvabodh, etc prakaran Granths written by Bhagwan Shankaracharya. Granths like Yogvasishtha, Ashtavakragita, Panchadashi etc will help you understand Vedant.
We believe Whatever is experienced through, sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch only is the truth. Not only modern science but all the activities of the world are based on these experiences. While Spirituality tells that the experiences through senses are illusions. In the influence of Maya and avidhya (nescience) we continue to believe untruth as truth, throughout our lives.
When we hear the truth through Vedant or Guru, we do not believe that. Habituated to experience the miseries from time immemorial in the influence of Maya; we either oppose or the desire does not arise to see the truth at all. There is mockery of truth and truth is laughed at.
Upnishads say that as the shepherd keep watching the herd that no animal is going out and if any one is seen doing that is caught and put back; in the same way nobody can save us from this insurmountable maya. Our intellect is infected and corrupted by Maya. Only Sadguru and Satshatra can take us away from maya and lead us towards the emancipation. Otherwise we spend our time in earnings, relationships, luxuries, happiness, miseries, enjoyment, disease, responsibilities and become old and give away the precious human birth in mundain actions.
Then finally one day crying and reciting, my children, my wealth, my property, leave this world to have another birth! Nobody knows whether it would be as an elephant or ant.
That is why the Seeker has to believe sayings in ved (Vedvakya) as well as advice and guidance of enlightened Guru, more than his own life.
From tomorrow onwards we will take a look at those statements of Ved and Guru in details which appear to be conflicting and which will take us away from the gravitational field and orbit of Maya.