Arsha Vijnana Gurukulam

As one studies and gains the knowledge, viveka and vairāgya is gained. Sage Śākāyanya pleased with King Bṛhadratha penance, tells him to ask for any boon, however, the king launches into a monologue on the reality of the gross, mental and subtle bodies, displaying immense viveka and vairāgya. These mantras serve to give one instant vairāgya.  

King Bṛhadratha's austerity results in the manifestation of a teacher, as the great Sage Śākāyanya. In this episode, we begin Swami Rama Tirtha's erudite commentary on this Upaniṣad, giving us a deeper understanding on what vairāgya and tapas means and why titikṣā, forbearance is important for Self-knowledge. 

This Upaniṣad asks us to turn to karma yoga right away by spiritualizing all actions. It lays great emphasis on the importance on being contemplative on the Self. It asks us to meditate on prana, the life force and vayu, air, to understand the sarvātmābhava, the interconnected whole. Verse 2 then goes on to illustrate a beautiful story of King Bṛhadratha, who desirous of a Guru, renounces his kingdom and performs severe austerity. Find out why vinaya- humility, and vidya- knowledge, go hand in hand and why humility is required for self-knowledge.  

Maitri Upaniṣad appears in the Krishna yajurveda right in the middle. This Upanishad is unique in which, it is the only Upanishad to use the word Śūnya, hence it is also popular among the buddhist and among the proponents of the Sāṅkhya philosophy. Dive into this text and listen to the exposition of Verse 1.

Practice this meditation to assimilate the truth of yourself as ever free, cultivate a healthy objectivity towards the body-mind-sense complex to see you are but that awareness alone.
Disclaimer: Please do not listen to this mediation while driving or operating machinery.
 
 
 

With the Guru's blessings, we begin a new text called the Maitri Upaniṣad. This episode is a brief introduction on the meaning of the word Upaniṣad, the reason for studying it, and what it reveals.

Accustomed to severe subjectivity, one is mired in the same cycles of pain, sorrow, guilt, hurt and anger. Practice this meditation to cultivate a loving objectivity, and to understand the nature of things in order to finally let go.
Disclaimer: Please do not listen to this mediation while driving or operating machinery.

This Upaniṣad ends on an auspicious note by prescribing a sādhanā, an aid to help overcome the obstacles in the way of this knowledge. The sādhanā prescribed is in the form of a very powerful prayer called Sri Rudram, which when chanted regularly reveals the truth of oneself as that which alone is -Kaivalyam.
Note: The entire talk on Sri Rudram is available in this podcast. Scroll to the 1st episode to begin listening. 

As we near the end of the text, we are given the phala sruti, the benefit of learning this text; one assimilates the pure nature of the ātman thereby knowing the nature of the indwelling self as impartite, non-dual, absolute, beyond cause and effect and as the witness of everything. 

This guided mediation is to cultivate courage with understanding in the face of difficult and distressful situations, and heal from them. Meditate on the meaning of the karmic order to see that the disorder is but a part of the vast order.
Disclaimer: Please do not listen to this mediation while driving or operating machinery.