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| # Contemplation is greater than Intelligence (Chan. Upan. 7.6.1 and 2) | | # Contemplation is greater than Intelligence (Chan. Upan. 7.6.1 and 2) |
| # Knowledge is greater than Contemplation (Chan. Upan. 7.7.1 and 2) | | # Knowledge is greater than Contemplation (Chan. Upan. 7.7.1 and 2) |
− | # Power is greater than Knowledge (Chan. Upan. 7.8.1 and 2) | + | # Strength is greater than Knowledge (Chan. Upan. 7.8.1 and 2) |
− | # Food is greater than Power (Chan. Upan. 7.9.1 and 2) | + | # Food is greater than Strength (Chan. Upan. 7.9.1 and 2) |
| # Water is greater than Food (Chan. Upan. 7.10.1 and 2) | | # Water is greater than Food (Chan. Upan. 7.10.1 and 2) |
| # Fire is greater than Water (Chan. Upan. 7.11.1 and 2) | | # Fire is greater than Water (Chan. Upan. 7.11.1 and 2) |
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| <blockquote>चित्तं वाव संकल्पाद्भूयो यदा वै चेतयतेऽथ संकल्पयतेऽथ मनस्यत्यथ वाचसीरयति तासु नाम्नीरयति नाम्नि मन्त्रा एकं भवन्ति मन्त्रेषु कर्मणि || (Chan. Upan. 7.5.1)</blockquote>Summary : To Narada maharshi's question Sanatkumara further answered : चित्तम् || Chitta (Intelligence) is greater than Will. Only when one understands, he will make a resolve, then reflects on his resolve, utters it in speech, spells out the name, and in this the mantras and karma become one. | | <blockquote>चित्तं वाव संकल्पाद्भूयो यदा वै चेतयतेऽथ संकल्पयतेऽथ मनस्यत्यथ वाचसीरयति तासु नाम्नीरयति नाम्नि मन्त्रा एकं भवन्ति मन्त्रेषु कर्मणि || (Chan. Upan. 7.5.1)</blockquote>Summary : To Narada maharshi's question Sanatkumara further answered : चित्तम् || Chitta (Intelligence) is greater than Will. Only when one understands, he will make a resolve, then reflects on his resolve, utters it in speech, spells out the name, and in this the mantras and karma become one. |
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− | Intelligence is the faculty of discriminating things at the proper moment and also the faculty for ascertaining the purposes of past and future events, a faculty thus greater than the Will. Intelligence is the center of all actions and their support. | + | Chitta is the inspiration for sankalpa (resolve). Intelligence is the faculty of discriminating things at the proper moment and also the faculty for ascertaining the purposes of past and future events, a faculty thus greater than the Will. Intelligence is the center of all actions and their support. |
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| Verse 7.5.3 goes on to describe the consequences accruing to such a Meditator on Intelligence. One who meditates on the Will as Brahman, remains permanent, accomplished and undistressed and finally obtains the permanent renowned worlds appointed for him, free from all fear and enemies. | | Verse 7.5.3 goes on to describe the consequences accruing to such a Meditator on Intelligence. One who meditates on the Will as Brahman, remains permanent, accomplished and undistressed and finally obtains the permanent renowned worlds appointed for him, free from all fear and enemies. |
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− | ध्यानम् || dhyana | + | === ध्यानम् || Contemplation === |
| + | <blockquote>ध्यानं वाव चित्ताद्भूयो ध्यायतीव पृथवी ध्यायतीवान्तरिक्षं ध्यायतीव द्यौर्ध्यायतीवऽऽपो ध्यायन्तीव पर्वता ध्यायन्तीव देवमनुष्यास्तस्माद्य इह मनुष्याणां महत्तां प्रप्नुवन्ति ध्यानापादाँ् शा इवैव ते .... ध्यानमुपास्स्वेति || (Chan. Upan. 7.6.1)</blockquote>Meaning : To Narada maharshi's question Sanathkumara replies : ध्यानम् || Contemplation or meditation is greater than Intelligence. पृथिवी || prithivi (earth) meditates, as it were, thus do the sky, water, mountains, devatas and the worldly beings. He, among men, who has attained greatness, has done his share of contemplation or meditation. While अल्पाः narrow-minded people are quarrelsome abusive and slandering, great men have reached heights of meditation. Meditate on Contemplation. |
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− | ध्यानं वाव चित्ताद्भूयो ध्यायतीव पृथवी ध्यायतीवान्तरिक्षं ध्यायतीव द्यौर्ध्यायतीवऽऽपो ध्यायन्तीव पर्वता ध्यायन्तीव देवमनुष्यास्तस्माद्य इह मनुष्याणां महत्तां प्रप्नुवन्ति ध्यानापादाँ् शा इवैव ते .... ध्यानमुपास्स्वेति
| + | By 'contemplation' is meant a continuous uninterrupted concentrated reflection of certain duties mentioned in the vedas. Contemplation brings about firmness as seen in yogis and hence too, the earth appears firm as if it were contemplating. |
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− | vijnana (), Bala (), Anna|अन्न (), apa (), Tejas|तेजस (), Akash|आकाश, smriti, asha( desires) and Prana|प्रणा.
| + | === विज्ञानम् || Knowledge === |
| + | <blockquote>विज्ञानं वाव ध्यानाद्भूयो विज्ञानेन वा ऋग्वेदं विजानाति यजुर्वेदँ् सामवेदमाथर्वणं चतुर्थमितिहासपुराणं पञ्चमं वेदानां वेदं पित्र्यँ् राशिं दैवं निधिं वाकोवाक्यमेकायनं देवविद्यां ब्रह्मविद्यां भूतविद्यां क्षत्रविद्यां नक्षत्रविद्यां सर्पदेवजनविद्यां दिवं च पृथिवीं च वायुं चाऽऽकाशं चापश्च तेजश्च देवाँ्श्च ...... लोकममुं च विज्ञानेनैव विजानाति विज्ञानमुपास्स्वेति || (Chan. Upan. 7.7.1)</blockquote>Meaning : Answering Narada maharshi, Sanathkumara further continues : Knowledge is greater than Contemplation. It is through knowledge one knows the four Vedas, the itihasa and puranas and different sciences, virtues and vices, pleasant and unpleasant (as previously given in 7.1.2). The world knows everything through Knowledge. Meditate on Knowledge. |
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− | Chitta is the inspiration for sankalpa (resolve). All that has been described previously they rest on sankalpa..
| + | विज्ञानम् || Knowledge is experiential and evidence-based and is superior to Dhyana, it is the progenitor of dhyana. Only through this can one have a proper understanding or Vivekabuddhi or all things visible and invisible, leading us to attain the Knowledge of Brahma. Knowledge refers to grasping the meaning of scriptures whereas wisdom refers to cleverness with regard to other things. |
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− | Dhyana| is superior to Chitta. Vijnana| which is experiential and evidence-based is superior to dhyana as is the progenitor of dhyana. Only through this can one have a proper understanding of Vivekabuddhi and also of Brahma.
| + | === बलम् || Strength === |
| + | <blockquote>बलं वाव विज्ञानाद्भूयोऽपि ह शतं विज्ञानवतासेको बलवानाकम्पयते स यदा बली भवत्यथोत्थाता भवत्युत्तिष्ठन् परिचरिता भवति परिचरन्नुपसत्त भवत्युपसीदन्द्रष्टा भवति श्रोता भवति मन्ता भवति बोध्दा भवति .... बलमुपास्स्वेति (Chan. Upan. 7.8.1)</blockquote>Meaning : Continuing his explanation Sanakthkumara says : Strength is greater than knowledge. One powerful man shakes a hundred men of knowledge. A man of power rises (is superior), attends to, approaches, sees, hears (to his superiors and teachers), reflects, understands, acts and hence knows. It is by this Strength that the earth stands, so does the sky, heavens, mountains, devatas and mortals, and all other beings and so does the world. Meditate upon Strength. |
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| + | By Power is meant the intuitive faculty of the Mind, brought about by the use of food. |
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| + | अन्नम् || |
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| + | अन्नं वाव बलाद्भूयस्तस्माद्यद्यपि दशरात्रार्नाश्र्नीयाद्यद्य |
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| + | apa (), Tejas|तेजस (), Akash|आकाश, smriti, asha( desires) and Prana|प्रणा. |
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| + | Dhyana| is superior to Chitta. |
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| It is the bala (strength) of the grain that makes mind strong and right disposition. Thus grain is higher than knowledge.. If one does not get nourishment for ten days then whatever one sees, hears, contemplates, performs action and experiences the results of one’s work will be lost due to under-nourishment. Therefore grain can be seena as a part of brahma. | | It is the bala (strength) of the grain that makes mind strong and right disposition. Thus grain is higher than knowledge.. If one does not get nourishment for ten days then whatever one sees, hears, contemplates, performs action and experiences the results of one’s work will be lost due to under-nourishment. Therefore grain can be seena as a part of brahma. |