Upadesha Sara Verse 1

Sharmila Sridharan
Sep 8, 2018 · 3 min read

Class Notes from Week 1 — Sep 6, 2018

Class Notes by Sharmila

Introduction:
In the science of knowing oneself, the appreciation of one’s bondage or potential is known as “Duhkha Nivrutti, Sukha Praapti”. Duhkha Nivrutti is the force to not be limited and Sukha praapti is to let go of being dependently joyous. However, have we let go of sorrow fully and experienced joy fully? For this, we follow the life and teachings of someone who has renounced sorrow and embraced independent joy.

Sri Ramana was born in 1879 as Venkata Ramana. Even as a child He would be in deep introspection. At the age of 17 He left all pursuits of pleasure, possession and position and went to Arunachala in TamilNadu. There He experienced Samaadhi (well and fully placed in the divine). Upadesha Sara is the direct words of Sri Ramana.

Verse 1:
In the first verse, Sri Ramana explains how action is inert. The creator directs the results to our actions; then how can action be supreme? Action is inert.

All that is created has a creator. The creator has the knowledge of creation. The creator also generally cares most about his or her creation.

None of us created ourselves, so there must be a creator of this multiverse. When we live our life knowing this fact that the creator created this creation, knows more about this creation than me, and the creator cares about creation more than me, then we just live better.

Why are we so definitive that we are in control of our life, so definitive about free will? The fruits of our action is not in our control. The fruits are distributed by the governance of the creator.

The actor, instrument and action are all finite. Time, space and matter are also limited. Then how can we live our life so action oriented when all these are limited? Karma is not the purpose of life.The fruits of action are finite. We get what we deserve/need and not necessarily what we want.

Sri Ramana explains that Jnaana (knowledge) is not Karma (action). My nature is completeness. Only knowledge will help me realize I am complete. Moksha (enlightenment) is not a phala (result). Jnaana (knowledge) can lead us to Moksha.

Doership is selfishness and deservership is stress. We have to acknowledge the presence of Ishwara who is the creator and controller, this leads to less doership, less deservership, less selfishness and less stress. This comes not by action but by knowledge.


Class Notes by CM Jacksonville
This was the first discourse on Upadesha Sara. Vivekji started with an introduction on how human are the only beings that have the ability to realize the true self (consciousness) and attain permanent happiness. Happiness can ONLY be attained by removing/discarding various layers of ‘Samsara. Ignorance is inhibiting us from ‘Ananda’. We are already complete, but we need awareness/knowledge to fully realize it.

Introspection is the key to get started on the path of removing various sheaths that are distracting us from experiencing bliss.

Verse 1 — Creator governs the realization of fruits of an action. How can action be supreme? Action is dependent hence, not supreme

· Action, and actor are limited and finite by themselves

· In addition, they are constrained by time and space.

· As humans are we have control of is how we act, what we focus on, but not on the fruits

· We only get what we need (from the creator) and not what we want

· Action is finite. For us to realize that we are complete, we will need the knowledge (gyana)

· Karma (action) leads to fruits (finite)

· Gyana (knowledge) leads to infinity

Discussion Topic — What is the practical difference between ‘gaining that which is not gained’ versus ‘gaining that which is already gained’?

Vichara Gurukula

This community platform provides an opportunity for Seekers within Chinmaya Mission to read, reflect, and contemplate, on their journey of Self Development.

Sharmila Sridharan

Written by

Vichara Gurukula

This community platform provides an opportunity for Seekers within Chinmaya Mission to read, reflect, and contemplate, on their journey of Self Development.

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