I was looking on You Tube to find any videos or documentaries about the Upanishads or even discourses by scholars explaining the Upanishads for the common man. I came upon this video playlist (in Telugu) on You Tube that consisted of a discourse by Swami Sundara Chaitnayananda titled "Sadhana Sadhyam". I thought I will share with you some of the points from this video.
The essence of this discourse was our constant search for "Trupti". He explained how we look for satisfaction and happiness in people around us, be it our parents, siblings, friends or spouses, in possessions or even our own careers.
Just as the self which is perishable one day so are all the above categories. When people we like are with us we are happy and content, when the same people leave us or when we leave them it makes us sad. When possessions we like are in our hands we rejoice and when they are spent or don't come our way we look for other objects to fill their place.
We are constantly either reflecting back on moments when we either lost something or are looking into the future worrying about what we might lose. He beautifully says how we look for happiness in all the wrong places. He gave an example in the context of relationships. Once the idea creeps in that may be an association with another person can bring us the satisfaction we think we are missing out, we can never be happy in the present relationship. So, we break it and move to another person. But the truth is that, this cycle may never end.
The happiness and satisfaction that we are reaching out to are but momentary as people may leave and possessions perish within our lifetime.. True "Trupti" but comes from within.
I guess the point is... not that we should not be comfortable, not that we shouldn't enjoy life, but to never associate these momentary actions of pleasure or comforts to true happiness. To realize that what comes into our lives is meant to pass at some point or the other. He extends this to the people we associate with. This does not mean that we should not care or love the people around us. In that case the contentment must come from the act of giving and not depend on how it is received. To be satisfied when such worldly possessions and people are not around you as when they were is "Trupti", which comes from a sense of non-attachment.
I am posting one of the videos here. Please note that this is in Telugu. Many thanks to the YouTube user who posted this and many others videos.
I hope to write as and when I see more.
Any comments is appreciated.
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