Essentials of Hinduism - Brahma Sutra 4

Essentials of Hinduism

Brahma Sutra

Chapter 3 – Sadhana – Spiritual Practice

Topic 1 – Departure from the Body: Sutras 1 to 7 - The Soul, when passing out of the Body at death, is enveloped with subtle parts of the Gross Elements (which are the seeds of the Next Body). Moreover, the Body is a product of the Three Elements, since all the three, namely – Fire, Water, and Earth, are seen to be involved in its making.

The Past Actions are the Efficient Cause for the production of the Next Body.These Sutras says this is a fact known from the Scriptures. “When it departs, the Vital Force follows. When the Vital Force departs, all the Organs follow” – (Br. Up.). Therefore, it is decided that the Soul goes enveloped with Subtle parts of the Elements when it goes to other spheres for enjoying the fruits of its Good Karma.

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Topic 2 – Return of the Souls: Sutras 8 to 11 – On the exhaustion of Good Work, the Individual Soul along with the Residual Karmas, descends to this Earth as is known from the Shruti and Smriti, along the Path it went up from here and may be different too. “Having dwelt there till their Work is consumed, they return again the way they went by” etc. (Ch Up.). which means that all their Karmas are exhausted and there is nothing left. Moreover, it is reasonable to think that Karma done in One Life (as Man) is worked out in the next as God.

The Shruti says, “Those whose conduct has been good will quickly attain some Good Birth etc. The Smriti also says, “With the remainder of their Karmas, they are born in a noteworthy Place, Caste, and Family, with becoming Appearance, Longevity, Knowledge, Wealth, Happiness and Intellect.” So, the Soul is born with Residual Karmas. Therefore, it is settled that those who go to Heaven performing Sacrifices have Residual Karmas as the Cause of a new Birth on Earth.

SECTION 2

Topic 1 – The Nature of Brahman: Sutras 11 to 21 – The Shruti 11 starts like this – not even according to place can Brahman have a two-fold Characteristic, for Everywhere (it is taught to be without Attributes). With the help of Upanishadic Texts, the Nature of Brahman is now being ascertained. Vedic texts about Brahman are met with which are indicative of Brahman both with Qualification and without Qualification. “He is the doer of all (Good) Acts, possessed of all (Good) Desires, all (Good) Smell, all (Good) Tastes” (Ch Up.) – indicates that Brahman has Attributes. “It is neither Gross, nor Minute, neither Short nor Long” (Br Up.) – indicates that He is devoid of Attributes.

Vedantin: This being the position, we say: As to that, the Supreme Brahman, cannot logically have both the Characteristics; this is Self-Contradictory. Sutra 14 – Brahman is only Formless to be Sure, for that is the Dominant Note of the Upanishadic Teaching - “It is neither Gross, nor Minute, neither Short nor Long” (Br Up.); “Soundless, Touchless, Colorless, Undiminishing” (Ka Up.); “Purusha is Transcendental (Tranquility), since He is Formless; and He is Coextensive (with same Scope with Space or Time) with all that is External or Internal, since He is Birthless” (Mu Up.). But when they involve a Contradiction (With or Without Attributes), the Principle to be followed for deciding one or the other is that, those that have the Formless Brahman as their Main Purport (Claim) are more Authoritative than the others which have not that as their Main Purport. It is according to this that one is driven to the conclusion that Brahman is formless, though Texts having both the Claims are in Evidence.

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Topic 2 – Unconditioned Brahman and Soul: Sutra 11 – Anandadayaha Pradhanasya – Bliss and other Attributes (Anandadayaha) of the Brahman (Pradha-nasya). Bliss is described as Knowledge, All-Pervading, the Self of all, Truth‘ etc. in different texts of different Scriptures. All the Attributes are not mentioned in all the Places. Now the Question is, whether they have to be combined in our Meditation on Brahman or not. This Sutra says that they have to be combined, because, the object of Meditation on Brahman is one and the same in all Scriptures, and therefore, the Knowledge (Vidya) is one.

Topic 3 – The Self is Higher than Everything Else: Sutra 14 – Teaching that the Self is higher than Everything Else. Higher than the Senses are the Objects, Higher than the Objects there is the Mind... Higher than the Self there is Nothing, this is the Limit, the Supreme Goal. This Sutra says that it is in one sentence and means that the Atma is Superior to all these. This information is given for the sake of Meditation on the Atma, which results in the Knowledge of Him. The Atma alone is to be known, for the Knowledge of Him gives Freedom. It should be stressed at this point that the Atma is hard to realize without deep Meditation.

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This article is a snippet from the Book Essentials of Hinduism, Authored by G.S Nilakantan. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.