Two kinds of knowledge: Amrita Bindu Upanishad~Verse 17

Two kinds of knowledge must be known -
The word-Brahman [Sabdabrahman]  and the Supreme Brahman [ Param Brahman]
One immersed in Sabdabrahman reaches the Supreme Brahman. 

dve vidye veditavye tu Sabdabrahma param ca yat |
SabdabrahmaNi nishNAtah param brahmAdhigacchati || 17 ||

~English translation slightly modified from Miles Wright

Swami Chidananda explains this by the PUT Process:
Purify
Unify
Transcend

”Purify your mind by contemplating on inspiring thoughts and ideas from any source that uplifts you.
Unify your mind by repeating your chosen mantra. Then there is a progress from 'many thoughts to one thought.' The single thought of the mantra becomes a wonderful support against all distractions.
The study of Vedanta helps you to see the ego as a mere bundle of memories. Stand apart from the flow of thoughts. Ask: Who am I? The mind subsides. Awareness alone shines! That is transcendence. “

Re: Two kinds of knowledge: Amrita Bindu Upanishad~Verse 17

This verse shows a movement from intellectual activity to clarity. How we can start with what we like to do: read, discuss, debate, understand ideas of other people, teachers, masters.

This kind of intellectual activity helps to raise our vibration from the mundane to the more aware.

Once this is done, we can choose to still the mind by mantra meditation. The mantra can be one given by a teacher as in Transcendental meditation, where each person is given a mantra according to their age and gender. This is what I learned as the technique of meditation that transformed my life.

One can also choose a word or affirmation that we like, in order to do so. somehow I like the mantra given to me, as it has no outer meaning to me and removes me from intellectualization and even from intent. I don't use it a lot nowadays, but it helps to bring one's focus back on the mantra, once you become aware that you are following a trend of thought. This centers, and helps in awareness.

Then, the third: to get into stillness, transcendence. Right now, I can do it for just moments in time. These help me to get aware that the stillness is always present and available. Our daily lives seem to be like that pause we give ourselves, savoring what lies before/after/inward for us; till we are merged in it completely.

Re: Two kinds of knowledge: Upanishad~Verse 17 and Tao verse 1

This also reminds me of the Tao verse 1

One can substitute Tao and Brahman;

“Strips oneself of passion” considering how the word passion is meant; could mean desires, intents, understanding and so on. Like we're using the word intellectualization.

It's not the same verse, each extends in different directions; but for a moment there, looking beyond the words, I felt they flowed together.

1. On the Absolute Tao

The Tao the can be told of
Is not the Absolute Tao;
The Names that can be given
Are not Absolute Names.

The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth;
The Named is the Mother of All Things.

Therefore:
Oftentimes, one strips oneself of passion
In order to see the Secret of Life;
Oftentimes, one regards life with passion,
In order to see its manifest forms.

These two (the Secret and its manifestations)
Are (in their nature) the same;
They are given different names
When they become manifest.

They may both be called the Cosmic Mystery:
Reaching from the Mystery into the Deeper Mystery
Is the Gate to the Secret of All Life.

Re: Two kinds of knowledge: Amrita Bindu Upanishad~Verse 17

Meenakshi,

I do come here to read but don't comment much.  I think that the terminology gets in my way a bit.  I do like to challenge myself intellectually though.  I'm so glad you do this and I want you to know it is appreciated.

When I came here this evening - I got it.  I felt like I understood, at least in part.  Here is what resonated with me today -

[1]  Paying more attention to my Egoic mind and realizing how much noise is there, thanks to the Eckhart Tolle work, I could see the value of having that single word mantra to “support against distractions”.  This makes sense to me now, in a way that it never did before.

[2]  “The study of Vedanta helps you to see the ego as a mere bundle of memories. Stand apart from the flow of thoughts. Ask: Who am I? The mind subsides. Awareness alone shines! That is transcendence.”  This could almost come directly from Chaps 2 & 3 of A New Earth, just stated a little differently.  So, I am able to read this now with better understanding. 

[3]  I could understand the progression of skills or development described in your 2nd post.  Filling the mind with new content, like preparing the soil.  Focusing the mind by removing noise.  Letting go.  At the moment, that is what the transcendence is like for me.  Like I've been hanging on to the bank of the stream and decide to let go and float on it, yet while movement continues, it is as though the water flows under me but I don't move.

[4]  And I really liked how you compared this verse to the Tao verse.  I liked this verse of the Tao that you posted.  If you have other versions to post in the Tao Te Ching discussion board, for any verses, I would appreciate them.  The more perspectives on basically the same thought, the more able we are to comprehend it in our own unique way, as we are truly meant to do.  I guess that's why so many have translated it for themselves, why so many have written their “own unique” version.  It's remarkable that a philosophical system could allow such rampant interpretation.

[5]  I especially resonated with these lines -

Oftentimes, one strips oneself of passion
In order to see the Secret of Life;
Oftentimes, one regards life with passion,
In order to see its manifest forms.

These two (the Secret and its manifestations)
Are (in their nature) the same;

I hope you continue to have patience with us who come from Western thought methodologies, continue to do this appreciated work of making the Upanishad's accessible to us.  At least, I for one do appreciate it.

Deb

Re: Two kinds of knowledge: Amrita Bindu Upanishad~Verse 17

Please refer to my comments on verse 16 also.
'Nama japa' or repettition of the name helps to the development of concentration or contemplation. Any name or mantra can be selected accoring to the taste. This I have already explained in my earlier blog posts. This is also my own experience.Thre are much more to this. Every one will have find it in their own experience.

There is no need to struggling to purify the mind, it will automatically happens. Just observe the mind. Let it roam on its own. Finally it will come to a stand still. four stages of mind also already explined in these posts.

Three stages is called 'Ttri pura' in the name of three cities, in that book these are simply explained with mythological stories. Link is also provided in that thread of the pod.

http://pods.gaia.com/ancients_wisdom/discussions/view/248829
for “AUM”

http://pods.gaia.com/ancients_wisdom/discussions/view/254807
for “Tripura Rahaja(Rahasya)

Re: Two kinds of knowledge: Amrita Bindu Upanishad~Verse 17

I am chuckling ruefully to myself as I see the tie-in of this with Tolle and with my past experiences. Long ago I decided that since I was going to have repetitive thoughts, like it or not, try otherwise as I would, I might as well choose beneficial, uplifting, consciousness-transforming repetitive thoughts !!!!  So I would choose a sanskrit mantra and say it as much as I could all day long, and even whenever I woke up at night. I don't think it stopped my repetitive thoughts, but I used the mechanism against itself, so to speak, tricked it into having the SAME repetitive thought of a more consciousness-expanding/uplifting sort.

The energy of the mantras from their thousands of years of use, was discernible to me, and I felt really good and really familiar with some of them too, even ones that were new in this lifetime. (For example, the Japanese mantra Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, the firs ttime I repeated it over and over FAST, I burst into tears !!!)

And this is all why I adore bhajans, too, the Hindu chants. Mantras set to music, and for me, sooooo powerful, especially in groups. I can do it for hours, happily. Even if I don't know what the Sanskrit words mean, there is often a deep resonance within me.

So, yeah, thanks for these posts and these sharings !!!!

Blessings, OM Bastet

Re: Two kinds of knowledge: Amrita Bindu Upanishad~Verse 17

Group chanting too help individuals and each other in the group to develop more energy but at a certain stage that too wiil go away while further development is achieved. Temples, worship, chanting are also prmary steps towards more acievement. No need to stay at those forever.
even the chanting 24 hours - nama Japa ceases at a stage the mind will take over that and mingles with it. You will become conscious of it at a developed stage.

Re: Two kinds of knowledge- group chanting- [verse 17]

“Group chanting too help individuals and each other in the group to develop more energy but at a certain stage that too wiil go away while further development is achieved.”

I think that “further development” means that we expand into oneness. What does it mean to you, Sanmugan?

And  do you mean that as we develop into oneness, we will not need to do outward group chanting? Or that we will not need to be with other people? I feel we rise to a level ; or go deep into the awareness that we are all connected and we are always chanting in unison.

Re: Two kinds of knowledge: Amrita Bindu Upanishad~Verse 17

Mantra used as japa or chanting repetition can induce a trance. It can push out repetitive thoughts!  And bring in the energy of that sound. It can be specially powerful in a group.

or we can use mantra as a centering device-  not repeating it, but allowing it to enter into consciousness, flow into the inner flow. Each time awareness starts to follow a trend of thought; we bring it back to the mantra.  First, it immediately connects to the inner 'I', the one that is separate from thought and even awareness. This allows for transcendence of the ego level.

I have used both, and have found the latter to be amazing.

I now remember going to an ancient Indian temple where the chanting of ancient Sanskrit prayers was done by the priests.  Only the Brahmin priests could say them, which startled me, as I was raised to not follow the caste system. I had entered with negative feelings about who was allowed in and who was not, startling myself. I now realize that such places draw out negativity / superficial feelings to destroy them. After all, that is what the God Shiva does/symbolizes- destroys to create.

In the sanctum sanctorum, when the priests started to chant the ancient prayers, I was transported into a place which seemed timeless, and I experienced the meaning of 'sacred'. That is when I realized that to connect to the source of creation, we need no intellect and not even “right” behavior. In the face of that energy, all superficialities melt away, and only the hum of the universe prevails

 

Re: Two kinds of knowledge: Amrita Bindu Upanishad~Verse 17

Sanskrit and mantras are not limited to any caste. Only thing they must be used for the betterment of the others. Gayatri was introduced by Great sage 'Visvamitra'(friend of the universe), he was Kshatriya(ruling caste) and he fought to become a Brahma rishi. He taught 'Gayatri' to Prince 'Rama' , now a god. Even lower caste people attained super stages with the help of these mantras.Famous poet, Lord Tennyson tried his own name to test the effect and won.

Re: Two kinds of knowledge: Amrita Bindu Upanishad~Verse 17

In either instance, the word is based upon energy. Nowhere is this idea truer than for Sanskrit mantra. For although there is a general meaning which comes to be associated with mantras, the only lasting definition is the result or effect of saying the mantra.

Re: Two kinds of knowledge: Amrita Bindu Upanishad~Verse 17

From the Bhagavad Gita, Ch.10, Verse 25

The Lord said:

“Among sacrifices, I am the sacrifice of silent repetition”

Re: Two kinds of knowledge: Amrita Bindu Upanishad~Verse 17

The sacred syllable AUM

(immanent aspect of Brahman),
which is imperishable,
when it has subsided,
is the Supreme Brahman.
The wise one should meditate

on the imperishable
if he desires the peace of the Self.
~English translation by Miles Wright

Re: Two kinds of knowledge: Amrita Bindu Upanishad~Verse 17

“According to Patanjali, there is a unique relation between the Godhead and the word AUM. Hindu philosophers regard AUM as the most generalised sound, the substratum and common ground of all sounds.The three letters A, U, M, pronounced in combination as Aum, are the generalised symbols of all possible sounds. A (pronounced aw as in dawn) is the root sound, the key, pronounced without the tongue's touching any part of the palate; it is the least differentiated of all sounds. Again, all articulate sounds are produced in the space between the root of the tongue and the lips; the throat sound is A, and M is the final sound produced by the closing of the lips. U represents the rolling forward of the impulse that begins at the root of the tongue and ends at the lips. When properly pronounced, AUM represents the whole gamut of sound-production as no other word can. It is therefore the matrix of all sounds, and thus the fittest symbol of the Godhead; it is the Word, which, according to St.John, was in the beginning, was with God, and was God.” - Swami Nikhilananda  of  Sri Ramakrishna Math:

Re: Two kinds of knowledge: Amrita Bindu Upanishad~Verse 17

I remember when I first was told that Om, as we thought of pronouncing it, had three syllables. We were intoning in a group, and the effect was magical!

Sanmugan, is this a part of your daily practice? How does this information change your life?