THE MANDUKYA UPANISHAD -6. Swami Krishnananda.

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Chinmaya Mission

Chinmaya Mission Peoria Ilinois, USA, joyously celebrated the long-awaited Moorti Sthapana - A Grand Loving Welcome to Maa Saraswati in August 2022. The sthapana was most special and memorable as it was graced by Pujya Swami Swaroopananda ji, Pujya Swami Shantananda ji and Pujya Swami Sharananada ji!!

The preparatory ceremony started from August 11th with  Ankurarpanam, Kalasha Prathistha of 11 kalashas and Yantra Japa and lasted till 20th August.

On August 20 pre-sthapana rituals with Ganesha puja and moola mantra homam in the presence of Pujya Swami Sharananandaji were performed. Swami Sharananandaji gave a benedictory speech blessing us on this occasion, followed by a cultural offering to Devi Saraswati.

On August 21, Sthapana was performed in the presence of Mukhya Swami Swaroopananda ji, Pujya Swami Shantananda ji, and Pujya Swami Sharanananda ji. Swamijis placed the Saraswati yantra, panchalokas, and navaratnas at Saraswati's altar. Pujya Swami Shantanandandaji gave a benedictory speech blessing the devotees. Mukhya Swamiji gave a jnana yagna on the "Power of Speech" inspiring all the devotees and connecting us with the symbolism of Devi Saraswati.

On August 28 evening, Chinmaya Bala Vihar families for a Saamoohika Saraswati Pooja to commemorate the Devi Prathistapana as well as start the new Bala Vihar year 2022-23.

With this, Chinmaya Hamsavaahini has a new beginning to inspire our families with the gracious presence of Devi Saraswati.

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Monday, September 05, 2022. 07:30.
POST-6.

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The Mandukya Upanishad gives this analysis of our basic nature. But it is said that we will attain moksha by knowing this knowledge – Mandukyam ekam eva alam mumukshunam vimuktaye. How would we get Moksha by knowing this? It is also added that we are the same foolish persons; we have never become different. This foolishness of ours can be removed by the gradual practise of Yoga. The suggestion of a particular kind of Yoga that is made by the Mandukya Upanishad is the recitation of pranava or omkara. It has a simple way, a very easy means of meditation to tell us, not complicated – the recitation of pranava. 

OM is the pranava or the omkara which is a blend of three syllables, letters – A, U, M. A-U-M becomes OM. When we chant OM, when we articulate the vocal organ in the recitation of OM, all the parts of the vocal organ act simultaneously in such a way that they may be supposed to be uttering every letter at that time. All language is supposed to be included in OM because of this reason. All the articulatory process takes place in the recitation of OM, if we can properly observe it.

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The visva, as I mentioned, is the name given to the waking consciousness. Dreaming consciousness is called taijasa, sleeping consciousness is called prajna. The transcendental consciousness is the Atman. So, visva, taijasa, prajna and Atman are the designations of the very same consciousness involved in the physical body and physical sensations, involved in dream perception, involved in sleep, and not involved in anything. In a way, the letters of the Mantra OM – A, U, M – are identified by the Mandukya Upanishad with these three states; A is waking, U is dreaming, Ma is sleeping and OM is Atman. "OM is the name of the Ultimate Reality," says Patanjali in his Sutra. The name of God is OM – He has no other name. As God is all-pervading, His name also should be all-inclusive. We do not call him ka ka, ga ga, abcd. It is an inarticulate universalised vibration. It is not actually a letter or a word, but a vibration. 

OM is to be chanted for the sake of the removal of this dross accumulated in our psyche in the form of impressions of past Karmas. Merge waking in dream, merge dream in sleep and merge sleep in the Atman. Draw the consciousness gradually from waking to dream – that is to say, draw it from the waking body consciousness to the psychological consciousness, and from that to the sleep consciousness. How do we do this? In the beginning we have to be seated in a suitable posture and slowly articulate this beautiful name of God, which is OM or Pranav.

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The scripture says that, in the beginning, the Vedas did not exist. In the Krita Yuga, the golden age as we call it, the Vedas did not exist; only pranava existed. That religion was not Hinduism, Christianity, etc. Hamsa was the name of the religion of Krita Yuga. Hamsa means just love of God. It is not love through some 'ism' – this community or that community – no communities existed in Krita Yuga. 

It was total man loving total God, and OM was considered as inclusive of all the three Vedas. From Akara, Ukara and Makara, Prajapati is supposed to have extracted the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda. The three Padas of the Gayatri Mantra are supposed to be extractions of the three Vedas, and are also supposed to be embedded in A-U-M, so that all the Veda is inside OM – all three Vedas.

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To practice this meditation according to the Mandukya Upanishad, be seated properly, without distractions, and chant Aauuuummmmm. Take a deep breath and then chant Aaauuuuummmmmmm, Aaauuuuummmmmmm, Aaauuuuummmmmmm, Aaauuuuummmmmmm, Aaauuuuummmmmmm. When you recite OM like this, don't you feel a sense of satisfaction inside? In a few seconds you will feel the difference. You feel as if you are a different person altogether. You are not the same body; you were not even aware of that body for two seconds. It was melting, as it were, gradually melting. Every day practice this chant for fifteen minutes, in the morning and in the evening. You will feel as if the body is melting. Actually, physically, it may not melt; the sensation of melting may arise on account of the withdrawal of consciousness from the body. It will withdraw itself from even the mind, and it will withdraw itself from even your personality consciousness. 

By the chant of OM only you can enter into the bliss of the Atman, is the teaching of the Mandukya Upanishad. All Yogas are combined in this. So do this practice yourself when you are alone somewhere, under the tree, or at the Ganga, or at the temple, or in your room – wherever you are. Sit for a few minutes and chant in the same way as I told you, with a sonorous sound, beautifully, calmly, creating an equilibrated vibration in your personality. You will forget all your worries; you will feel happy inside. You will feel a tingling sensation in the body, as if the consciousness is slowly getting withdrawn from body. This is the practice of the Yoga of the Mandukya Upanishad. God bless you.

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End.

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