Samayasara OR Nature of Self

SR No.: 011119
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A Chakravarti
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith
Publication Year: 1950
Total Pages: 406
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 38 MB

Page 77

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SAMAYASARA this advaitic attitude there are also symptoms of theistic tendency. Brahman is spoken as identical with Rudra and Vishnu. He is spoken of as the creator and sustainer of the Universe. The individuals are to look up to him for spiritual guidance and help and for final emancipation from Samsara. Besides these general tendencies there are other characteristics of the Upanishadıc Agc.
1. The Upanishads are mainly antiritualistic. Since thcy are antiritualistic they are in a sense anti-Vedic also. Internal evidence indicates that the new thought had its origin mainly among the Rajarishis.
II. Asceticism and the practice of Yoga scems to be the characteristic institution of the Upanishadic age. The practical course of realising the Brahman contemplated by the Upanishads involves an elaborate process of self discipline. As against the older forms of fire sacrifice the Upanishads contemplate a new kind of sacrifice. Sacrificing one's own attractions towards the would. “These two are unending immortal oblations referiing to the sacuifice of speech and other sense qualities. Whether waking or sleeping one is sacrificing continuously uninterruptedly. Now whatever other oblations there are they are limited, for they consist of works-Karma maya. Knowing this very thing verily indeed the ancients did not sacrifice the agnihotra sacrifice." (Kaushithak Upanishad II Adhyaya.) This passage indicates that Yoga or Tapas is considered as an ancient institution and has taken the place of the traditional agnihotra about the time of the Upanishads. This is further strengthened by circumstantial cvidence that the Upanishadic age must be of very long duration comprehending within itself an carlier conflict between antiritualism and ritualism and a later attempted reconciliation of some sort. Asceticism of the type of spiritual agnihotra must necessarily imply what is elsewhere called the other worldliness. The concrete of our everyday life is associated with evil and suffering. The goal of life is emancipation from samsaric cycle. The means of attaining this goal consists in eradicating all desires by performing Tapas. All that is of the nature of evil in Life must be burned in the spiritual fire of the Atman. This is the path of self-realisation. Instead of the sacrifice of various animals to realise the aim of one's