What is upanishad mean?
Upa=near
nishad= to sit
Upanishad = to sit near (to sit nearer)
Near to what? or near to whom?
It is sitting nearer to our own true self. Upanishads are those which take us to our true self. Upanishads are also termed as Vedanta. When Vedas are called as knowledge from the root word vid=knowledge, then Vedanta means end of knowledge. Which means there is nothing after the knowledge. Where knowledge ends there the mind also ends. This is a clear indication that the vedas explain or give information about the manifested (vyaka swarupa) universe while vedanta or upanishads explain or give information about the unmanifested (avyaka swarupa) universe. Since avyakta cannot be expressed in words, it is always expressed in negation as 'not this', 'not this' or 'neti', 'neti'.
The prime requisite to understand upanishads is to understand the word upa, which means near and i.e., nearer to the true self or Self and this is possible only when one stops the external noise and enters into the inner silence or stillness. The near means 'inner' and it is within. In that Silence and with the help of negation one gets aware of the 'Avyakta'.
While vedas explain about 'vyakta', vedanta or upanishads explain about the 'avyakta' and they do it only by negation and with some pointers.
The prime requisite to read or learn upanishads would be to understand stillness and silence. One should be able to enter into that stillness and silence, then only upanishads can be understood.
21 August, 2011 Dakshin Express; 23:40 hrs
Upa=near
nishad= to sit
Upanishad = to sit near (to sit nearer)
Near to what? or near to whom?
It is sitting nearer to our own true self. Upanishads are those which take us to our true self. Upanishads are also termed as Vedanta. When Vedas are called as knowledge from the root word vid=knowledge, then Vedanta means end of knowledge. Which means there is nothing after the knowledge. Where knowledge ends there the mind also ends. This is a clear indication that the vedas explain or give information about the manifested (vyaka swarupa) universe while vedanta or upanishads explain or give information about the unmanifested (avyaka swarupa) universe. Since avyakta cannot be expressed in words, it is always expressed in negation as 'not this', 'not this' or 'neti', 'neti'.
The prime requisite to understand upanishads is to understand the word upa, which means near and i.e., nearer to the true self or Self and this is possible only when one stops the external noise and enters into the inner silence or stillness. The near means 'inner' and it is within. In that Silence and with the help of negation one gets aware of the 'Avyakta'.
While vedas explain about 'vyakta', vedanta or upanishads explain about the 'avyakta' and they do it only by negation and with some pointers.
The prime requisite to read or learn upanishads would be to understand stillness and silence. One should be able to enter into that stillness and silence, then only upanishads can be understood.
21 August, 2011 Dakshin Express; 23:40 hrs
your explaining things is unique.just clarify...how to enter into silence or stillness. Is it by sitting calm? or some thing else.
ReplyDeleteJust sit and let go every thought. Then, lo and behold the silence and stillness surfaces itself.
ReplyDelete