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Katopanishad Session 9

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Inspirations from Talks by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda Om Namo bhagavate  vaivasvatAya mrityave brahmavidyAchAryAya nachiketase cha The more Yamaraj discouraged, the more encouraged Nachiketas felt. So many objects that cannot be gained in the realm of mortals, were displayed but Nachiketas was unperturbed. His Viveka and Vairagya were very clear. Indulgence only destroys our vitality, all pleasures are temporary but bondages are permanent; long life too is short ultimately; and so not worth!!! Being mortal he had been lucky to reach the immortals who are not subject to old age and death, and knowing they are capable of giving great things; why ask for petty? abhidhyAyan – considering all what they could give and also knowing the limitations of things varnaratipramOdAn   – all pleasurable things, that delight mind & senses through colours/complexions, etc. All enjoyments are only nerve tickling sensations, after which the person is left high and dry. Which intelligent p

Katopanishad Session 8

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Inspirations from Talks by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda Om Namo bhagavate vaivasvatAya mrityave brahmavidyAchAryAya nachiketase ca Yamaraj very gladly and readily gave the first and second boons. But when Nachiketas asked about transcendental truth, he wanted to make sure. 1.1.24 एतत्तुल्यं यदि मन्यसे वरं वृणीष्व वित्तं चिरजीविकां च । महाभूमौ नचिकेतस्त्वमेधि कामानां त्वा कामभाजं करोमि ॥ २४॥ Sometimes people promise so many things and they cannot fulfill anything. But Yamaraj ji is satyasankalpah . As though assuring Nachiketas that all his wishes come true, He says “Ask some other things like the above, wealth and long life. May you become ruler of vast regions! I will make you fit for enjoyment ( kAmabhAjam ) of all desirable things ( kAmAnAm )” 1.1.25 ये ये कामा दुर्लभा मर्त्यलोके सर्वान् कामाँश्छन्दतः प्रार्थयस्व । इमा रामाः सरथाः सतूर्या न हीदृशा लम्भनीया मनुष्यैः । आभिर्मत्प्रत्ताभिः परिचारयस्व नचिकेतो मरणं माऽनुप्राक्षीः ॥ २५॥ ‘Whate

Katopanishad Session 7

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Inspirations from Talks by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda Om Namo bhagavate  vaivasvatAya mrityave brahmavidyAchAryAya nachiketase cha The question is after the death of body, mind and ego is there anything? People try to resolve this doubt by their own intellect, and so they cannot really come to any conclusion. This is not known through intellect or senses. So Vedanta is pramAnam . Vedas are not authored by human, no one individual or group of rishis claim they authored it. Rishis are seers of mantras. The credibility of Vedas is because Lord himself has revealed the Vedas. The manufacturer of one thing alone can give the manual. Lord created the world and humans, he alone can give us manual of how to live in this world. Vedas are free of defects attributed to human authorship Bhrama – wrong understanding or delusion on part of the author PramAda – inadvertence. That is why despite of so many proof reads some mistakes do happen. One person wanted to write ‘immortality is ou

Katopanishad Session 6

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Inspirations from Talks by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda Om Namo bhagavate  vaivasvatAya mrityave brahmavidyAchAryAya nachiketase cha 1.1.20 – The third boon येयं प्रेते विचिकित्सा मनुष्ये - ऽस्तीत्येके नायमस्तीति चैके । एतद्विद्यामनुशिष्टस्त्वयाऽहं वराणामेष वरस्तृतीयः ॥ २०॥ When a person dies there is a doubt ( vichikitsa ), some people say there exists something beyond the body ( asti ) and some say there is nothing ( nasti ). I would know ( vidyAm ) this instructed ( anushishtah ) by you. Of the three boons this is the third boon. This very doubt suggests something exists beyond this body. This is an age old question which fascinates many and there are many views on it as well. One view is that there is nothing before the birth of body and nothing remains after death. With death of body all is gone. But this is not a tenable view. Nothing can come from nothing. Something just cannot vanish into nothing. Also is body alone the person? For we see, that even if body

Katopanishad Session 5

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Inspirations from Talks by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda Om Namo bhagavate  vaivasvatAya mrityave brahmavidyAchAryAya nachiketase cha 1.1.14 – Granting of second boon प्र ते ब्रवीमि तदु मे निबोध      स्वर्ग्यमग्निं नचिकेतः प्रजानन् । अनन्तलोकाप्तिमथो प्रतिष्ठां विद्धि त्वमेतं निहितं गुहायाम् ॥ १४॥ Lord Yama says: “Oh Nachiketa! I, who am well aware ( prajAnan ) of this Fire, will tell you this Agni (rite) which leads to heaven ( svargyam ), you understand it from me ( nibodha ) with attention. This Fire is the attainment of infinite world ( anantalokAptim - relatively infinite world – heaven) and basis of this whole universe ( pratishtAm ), know it to be lodged in the cave of intellect ( nihitam guhAyAm ) of those who know it.” PratishtA – This fire is not just the ordinary fire we know, it is the basis of this world. Fire is not just flames, It is the heat element whose ultimate reality is Brahman. In its essence, Fire is the very root of the world. (Here Fir

Katopanishad Session 4

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Inspirations from Talks by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda Om Namo bhagavate  vaivasvatAya mrityave brahmavidyAchAryAya nachiketase cha When Nachiketas reached yamaloka, Yamaraj was out of station. His Queen and ministers who were there welcomed Nachiketas and offered him hospitality. Nachiketas refused politely but firmly. His thought was that since he had been given to Yamaraj by his father, he cannot eat or drink or rest until he sees and receives further instructions from his master, Yamaraj. He waited thus for 3 days and 3 nights. 1.1.7 वैश्वानरः प्रविशत्यतिथिर्ब्राह्मणो गृहान् । तस्यैताँ शान्तिं कुर्वन्ति हर वैवस्वतोदकम् ॥ ७॥ A brAhmana (not merely by birth but) who is well learned in Vedas and abides in Dharma even at the cost of life is like fire ( vaishvAnarah ) . When Yamaraj returned, his ministers informed him that ‘fire like brahmana that too a guest ( atithi ) has come. He must be treated and appeased like Fire-God indeed. Please carry water for washing his feet