Lesson 11 Sri Ishopanishad
dask...@gmail.com
Sri Ishopanishad
Its a remarkable Upanishad. Mahatma Gandhi said that if we Hindus only
remember the first verse of Sri Ishopanishad Hinduism would live for
ever.
Sri Ishopanishad is one of the most popular upanishads It has only 18
verses these verses carve out the building blocks of mysticism. This
wisdom of enjoying what belongs to them and renounce the one over which
we have no control can help us tremendously becoame a better human
being.
This is one upanishad which is very strong in its pronouncements. It
derides those who deny the presence of the Supreme and condemns them to
the darkest region of the hell. Its importance can be judged by the
fact that in many families, ven to this day, they recite Ishopanishad
to a dying man so that he can get salvation.
Its invocation looks like an algebra equation but its impact can be
felt. It just contradicts the basis of modern civilization. The modern
economist will be baffled by this invocation. The simple reason is that
the economist speaks on the material platform and Isopanishad speaks on
spiritual platform. It tells us that when we become aware of the
consciousness or divine love, which sustains us we can stop expecting
satisfaction from our material endeavors.
This leads us to two thoughts - it is better to need less than to have
more and that there is enough in this world for everyone's need but not
enough for everyone's greed.
Invocation
om purnam adah purnam idam
purnat purnam udacyate
purnasya purnam adaya
purnam evavasisyate
TRANSLATION
The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is
completely perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal
world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced
of the complete whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the
complete whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He
remains the complete balance.
TRANSLATION OF THE VERSES
Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is
controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only
those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota,
and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they
belong.
One may aspire to live for hundreds of years if he continuously goes on
working in that way, for that sort of work will not bind him to the law
of karma. There is no alternative to this way for man.
The killer of the soul, whoever he may be, must enter into the planets
known as the worlds of the faithless, full of darkness and ignorance.
Although fixed in His abode, the Personality of Godhead is swifter than
the mind and can overcome all others running. The powerful devas cannot
approach Him. Although in one place, He controls those who supply the
air and rain. He surpasses all in excellence.
The Supreme Lord walks and does not walk. He is far away, but He is
very near as well. He is within everything, and yet He is outside of
everything.
He who sees everything in relation to the Supreme Lord, who sees all
entities as His parts and parcels and who sees the Supreme Lord within
everything, never hates anything nor any being.
One who always sees all living entities as spiritual sparks, in quality
one with the Lord, becomes a true knower of things. What, then, can be
illusion or anxiety for him?
Such a person must factually know the greatest of all, who is
unembodied, omniscient, beyond reproach, without veins, pure and
uncontaminated, the self-sufficient philosopher who has been fulfilling
everyone's desire since time immemorial.
Those who engage in the culture of nescient activities shall enter into
the darkest region of ignorance. Worse still are those engaged in the
culture of so-called knowledge.
The wise have explained that one result is derived from the culture of
knowledge and that a different result is obtained from the culture of
nescience.
Only one who can learn the process of nescience and that of
transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of
repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessing of immortality.
It is said that one result is obtained by worshiping the supreme cause
of all causes and that another result is obtained by worshiping that
which is not supreme. All this is heard from the undisturbed
authorities who clearly explained it.
One should know perfectly the personality of God and His transcendental
name, as well as the temporary material creation with its temporary
demigods, men and animals. When one knows these, he surpasses death and
the ephemeral cosmic manifestation with it, and in the eternal kingdom
of God he enjoys his eternal life of bliss and knowledge.
O my Lord, sustainer of all that lives, Your real face is covered by
Your dazzling effulgence. Please remove that covering and exhibit
Yourself to Your pure devotee.
O my Lord, O primeval philosopher, maintainer of the universe, O
regulating principle, destination of the pure devotees, well-wisher of
the progenitors of mankind--please remove the effulgence of Your
transcendental rays so that I can see Your form of bliss. You are the
eternal Supreme God, like unto the sun, as am I.
Let this temporary body be burnt to ashes, and let the air of life be
merged with the totality of air. Now, O my Lord, please remember all my
sacrifices, and, because You are the ultimate beneficiary, please
remember all that I have done for You.
O my Lord, powerful as fire, omnipotent one, now I offer You all
obeisances and fall on the ground at Your feet. O my Lord, please lead
me on the right path to reach You, and, since You know all that I have
done in the past, please free me from the reactions to my past sins so
that there will be no hindrance to my progress.
Om tat sat.
(Nex Lesson : Kali Santarana Upanishad)