Namaste, Welcome to SAM-VAD (Together In Conversation), Today I would like to share excerpts from this monumental work by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (India’s 2nd President), this classic book was first published in 1953.
Also as we begin today ‘let us remember this about ‘Attention’. Our life experience would ultimately amount to whatever we had paid attention to. Attention: is important and most of the times we are so indifferent to it. It is as fundamental as food; and we go blundering about, seeking ways to assuage the craving, instead of learning how to provide ourselves with what we need, sensibly and calmly. We feed the hunger blindly. Once the mechanism is brought to our attention and we begin to study it, it is as if a veil has been stripped off ordinary life, and we become freer in our action and choices.
It still remains in print and you can buy your book from the link below or from any bookstore near you or on-line portal accessible to you:
Excerpts:
Brahmanas:
The elements of the ritualistic cult found in the Vedas are developed in the Brahmanas into an elaborate system of ceremonies. Many of the Brahmana texts are devoted to the exposition of the mystic significance of the various elements of the ritual.
Aranyakas:
The Aranyakas do not give us rules for the performance of sacrifices and explanations of ceremonies, but provide us with the mystic teaching of the sacrificial religion. They are meant for the study of those who are engaged in the vow of forest life, the Vanaprastha.
Brhad Aranyaka Upanishad
The Brhad-Aranyaka-Upanishad which is generally recognized to be the most important of the Upanishads forms part of the Satapatha Brahmana. It consists of three kandas or sections, the Madhu Kanda which expounds the teaching of the basic identity of the individual and the Universal Self, the Yajnavalkya or the Muni Kanda which provides a philosophical justification of the teaching and the Khila Kanda, which deals with certain modes of worship and meditation, upasana, answering roughly to the three stages of religious life, sravana, hearing the upadesa or the teaching, manana, logical reflection, upapatti and nididdhyasana or contemplative meditation.
Chandogya Upanishad
The Chandogya Upanishad belongs to the Sama Veda. The Upanishad that belongs to the followers of the Sama Veda is the Chandogya Upanishad. It is a part of the Chandogya Brahmana which has ten chapters. The first two chapters of the Brahmana deal with sacrifices and other forms of worship. The other eight constitute the Chandogya Upanishad.
The first and the second chapters discuss the problems of liturgy and doctrine such as the genesis and significance of Aum and the meaning and names of Saman.
*Chando sama gayati iti chandogah
Aitareya Upanishad
The Aitareya Upanishad belongs to Rig Veda and the Upanishad proper consists of three chapters. This is part of the Aitareya Aranyaka, and the Upanishad begins with the fourth chapter of the second Aranyaka, and comprises chapters IV, V AND VI. The preceding parts deal with sacrificial ceremonies like the mahavrata and their interpretations. It is the purpose of the Upanishad to lead the mind of the sacrifice away from the outer ceremonial to its inner meaning. All true sacrifice is inward.
Taittiriya Upanishad
The Taittiriya Upanishad belongs to the Taittiriya school of the Yajur Veda. It is divided into three sections called Vallis. The first is the Siksha Valli, Siksha is the first of the six Vedangas (limbs or auxillaries of the Veda); it is the science of phonetics and pronunciation. The second is the Brahmananda Valli and the third is the Bhrigu Valli. These two deal with the knowledge of the Supreme Self, paramatma-jnana.
The Principal Upanishads – Dr. S. Radhkrishnan
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | JioSaavn | Podchaser | Gaana | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS