From the Bhakti List Archives
• January 15, 2001
Dear BhakthAs : Yesterday night , adiyEn had the BhAgyam of listening to Dr.AnanatharangAcchAr Swamy's TeleupanyAsam in the Sathsangam of few other BhakthAs. It was a most memorable experience . First of all , my sincere thanks are to Sri Krishna Kalale and Srimathi Nagu Satyan for taking the initiative for organizing this outstanding Tele-UpanyAsam .Those who have missed this first UpanyAsam would very much benefit from listening to this great vedAnthic Scholar providing clear instructions for Self realization backed up by innumerable PramANams and answering clearly and concisely the Questions from the listening audience.It was a great feast for the ears and mind . Starting from the three questions of NachikEtas to Yama in KatOpanishad , Swamy took us through the intrepretations of different AchAryAs to define PurushArtha YogyathA to realize the fruits of one's saadhanA.He underlined AchArya PrApthi is a must for any SaadhakA independent of His knowledge level.He defined the qualities (attributes ) of a SadAchAryan from Swamy Desikan's Sri Sookthi and connected it to the Upanishadic PramANams (SrOthriyam Brahma Nishtam--). He pointed out that AchArya Sevai is one of the most important ingredient to advance in one's Saadhanai to reach the goal. He explained that the BhagavAn's KaaruNyam alone makes us attain a SadhAchAryan ( Isvara SouhArdham , VishNOr KatAksham YadrucchA Sukrutham , adhvEsham, Aabhimukyam and Saathvika SambhAshaNai being the six ways in which one can realize a SadhaachAryan). Sri AnantharangAcchAr Swamy summarized the nithyAnithya- Vasthu vivEkam of NachikEtas , which helped him sort out the asaaram (earthly bhOgams) , alpa saaram ( that of little value such a sSvargam ) Saaram ( Kaivalyam ) Saarataram and Saaratamam . That vivEkam made NchikEtas choose from Yaman the instructions on Aathman as the Saaratamam (Supreme essence)to learn . Swamy had quite a link to specific slOkAs of Geethai dealing with the recognition of the seven DhOshAs to overcome during one's spiritual journey towards the gaining of Parama PurushArtham. The questions comon to allschools of VedAnthA are: (1) who am I ? (2) What should I gain? (3)How can I gain it ? (4) What are the obstacles? (5) What are the results (prayOjanam) for observing such a discipline (Saadhanai)? He pointed out the need for control of Raagam /Kaamam(desires ) and dhvEsham/Krodham (hate/anger) for overcoming "prabhalakara prAchina karma VaasanaikaL".Once the above two (Raaga-DhvEsaham ) are controlled , tranquility and progress towards the goal will become easier. This is connected with the control of the mind , which stands in between Aathman and the external world. Listening to AnantharangAcchAr Swamy's upanyAsam on the various steps in reaching the goal of a Saadhakan reminded adiyEn of Swamy Desikan's brilliant summary of the NINE STEPS of the LADDER that we have to climb to attain the Lord's parama Padham .AnantharangAcchAr Swamy referred to a few of these steps ( Virakthi, NirvEdham and Bheethi).The Slokam of Swamy Desikan enlisting all the NINE steps in His Parama Padha SOpAnam is positioned at the very beginning of His Sri Sookthi: VivEka-nirvEdha-virakthi-bheethaya: prasAdha hEthuruthkramaNaarchirAdhaya: prakruthyathikrAntha padhAdhirOhanam parApthirithyathra thu parvaNAm krama: The order of ascension on this ladder to Parama Padham is summarized here: (1) VivEkam : discriminating intellect that comprehends true Tatthva Jn~Anam about the sentient (Chith), insentient (achith) and Isvaran ( The Supreme Lord ). (2) NirvEdha: " metaphysical agony " over the wasted time spent in Svaroopa Viruddha kaaryams. (3) Virakthi: VairAgyam to avoid worldly temptations that are savroopa Viruddham . (4) Bheethaya: Fear over the thought that this SamsAric experience will recur. (5) PrasAdha HEthu: The Bhakthi and Prapatthi UpAyams that lead to Bhagavath anugraham (6) UthkramaNam: The departure of the Aathman from the body(prison ) . (7) ArchirAdhaya: the archirAdhi gathis (travel via archirAdhi maargam led by aadhi vaahikAs). (8)Prakruthi-athikrAntha-padha-adhirOhaNam: reaching Parama Padham , which is beyond the Prakruthi MaNDalam . (9) ParApthi: The enjoyment of Sri Vaikunta Naathan in His Parama Padham These are the nine ParvANAm Krama: ( Order of steps in the ladder to Parama Padham). AnantharangAcchAr Swamy concluded by saying that the Karma Yogam is backed up by IsAvAsyam , Bhakthi Yogam by Kena Upanishad and Jn~Ana Yogam by BruhadhAraNyam and ChAndhogyam . It will be a wonderful treat to listen to this great Scholar-teacher again. Please particpate in the future upanyAsams. V.SatakOpan -------------------------------------------------------------- - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH - To Post a message, send it to: bhakti-list@eGroups.com Search archives at http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/index.html#SEARCH Manage your subscription at http://www.egroups.com/mygroups
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