Essentials of Hinduism - Brahma Sutra 6

Essentials of Hinduism

Brahma Sutra

Chapter 4 – Phala - Result

SECTION 1

Topic 1 – The Meditation on the Atma enjoined by the Scriptures is to be repeated till Knowledge is attained: Sutra 1: Aavruttihi Asakrud- Upadayshat: Repetition – is necessary (Aavruttihi), repeatedly (Asakrut), on account of instruction by the Scriptures (Upadayshat). The repetition of Hearing, Reflection, and Meditation on the Teaching of the Self is necessary, on account of the repeated instruction by the Scriptures. Sometimes the start is made with Meditation and conclusion with Knowledge, as in, “One should Meditate on the Mind as Brahman” Ch Up. III.xviii.1, and, “He who knows thus becomes resplendent (shine) in fame, prowess (expert), and the brilliance arising from the Vedic Studies” (Ch Up. III.xviii..3). Hence, repetition has to be resorted to even where the Instruction occurs only once.

Topic 2 – In the Meditation on the Supreme Brahman the Meditator is to comprehend Him as identical with Himself: (Sutra 3) – But the Upanishads acknowledge as the Self and also Teach others to be so understood. As a matter of fact, the Vedic texts make us understand God as our very Self, as for instance, “This is your Self that is within all” (Br Up.). Hence, one should fix one’s mind on the Self which is God.

Topic 3 – Meditation in a sitting Posture: (Sutra 7) – One has to practice Upasana in a sitting posture, because in that way alone it is possible. Moreover they mention this in the Smritis – “Having established his seat firmly in a clean place” (Gita VI). It is because of this that the sitting postures like Padmasana (Lotus-Seat) are prescribed on the books of Yoga.

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Topic 4 – No restriction of Place: (Sutra 11) – Wherever concentration is possible, there one should Meditate. One should Meditate facing any direction, in any place, at any time that leads to one’s Concentration of Mind easily. No specific regulation is mentioned in the Upanishads; while the one thing desirable is that one should always have Concentration of Mind while engaged in Upasana.

Topic 5 – Meditation until death: (Sutra 12) – Meditations have to be observed until death, because, their observance even at that moment is seen from the Scriptures. In the first topic of this section it was said that Meditations on Brahman are to be repeated until Knowledge dawns. This Sutra says that Meditations are to be continued until death, because the Shruti and Smriti says so. “With whatever thought he passes away from this World” (Br Up.), Remembering whatever form of being he leaves this Body etc. (Gita 8), Such a thought at the time of death fixes the course of Life hereafter cannot be had at that moment without lifelong practice. Hence Meditations must be practiced until death.

Topic 6 – Past accumulated Sanchita Karmas (excluding the Prarabda Karmas) are destroyed: (Sutra 15) For a Knower of Brahman, all the past two Karmas which have not begun to produce results are destroyed – is this correct?.

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The past two Karmas are: (1) Sanchita Karmas – these are accumulated Karmas. These Karmas have not yet begun to bear the results; (2) Prarabda Karmas – These Karmas have already begun to yield the results and have produced the Body through which a person has attained Knowledge. This Sutra says that only the Sanchita Karmas are destroyed by the Knowledge, but not the Prarabda Karmas which are destroyed only by being worked out. So long as the momentum of these Karmas lasts, the knower of Brahman has to be in the Body. When they are exhausted, the Body falls off and he attains Perfection.

His Knowledge cannot check these Prarabda Karmas, in the same way as, an Archer has no control over the arrows already discharged which comes to rest only when their momentum is exhausted. The Shruti declares that in Texts like, “And for him the delay is only so long as he is not liberated from his Body; and then he is one with Brahman” (Ch Up. VI.xiv.2). Therefore, this Sutra clarifies that Prarabda Karmas are not destroyed by Knowledge. Only the past Sanchita Karmas (exclusive of the Prarabda Karmas) are destroyed for the Knower of Brahman.

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Topic 7 – Agnihotra etc.: (Sutra 16) – But the results of Agnihotra etc. are not destroyed by Knowledge and contribute to the very same result as Knowledge leads to Liberation, because that is seen from the Scriptures. This Sutra says that the regular works performed in the past are not destroyed. Works are of two kinds: those which yield specific results, and those which help to produce Knowledge. Obligatory regular works performed before Knowledge are of this latter kind. And since this Knowledge leads to Liberation, the regular works also may be said to contribute indirectly to that. Hence their results persist till death.

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.