The Chandogya Upanishad - Chapter-3, Section - 8 - Swami Krishnananda.

 =============================================================

============================================================

Wednesday, January 19,  2022. 20:00.

Chapter-3 : Sanat Kumara's Instructions Bhuma-Vidya : 8.

Section-8 : Strength.

==============================================================

Mantram-1.

" Balam vava vijnanad-bhuyah api ha satam

vijnanavatam eko balavan akampayate, sa yada bali

bhavati, athotthata bhavati uttisthan paricarita

bhavati, paricaran upasatta bhavati, upasidan

drasta bhavati, srota bhavati, manta bhavati,

boddha bhavati, karta bhavati, vijnata bhavati,

balena vai prthivi tisthati, balenantariksam, balena

dyauh, balena parvatah, balena devamanysyah,

balena pasavas-ca vayamsi ca trnavanaspatayah

svapadan-akita-patanga-pipilakam, balena

lokastisthati, balam upassveti."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, Sanatkumara tells us something very interesting. Mere understanding in a theoretical form is of no use. It is like mere application of theory in one’s own brain, inside one’s own mind, without any corresponding object behind it. There is a need to connect one’s understanding with the realities of life. There should not be a mere abstract contemplation without any corresponding object behind it, without any solid content inside it. The connection between one’s body and one’s intellectual capacity is well known. There is a need to bring about a blend of understanding with the bodily conditions. We know very well that understanding should have a proper content. It should not be mere theory. Sage Sanatkumara says that strength is superior to understanding.

By strength he means a very general form of a blend of the functions of the mind with the functions of the body. When the body and mind come together, there is an energy of a superior character. Suppose a person has only a strong mind, but no healthy body. He will not be able to exercise his thoughts effectively. A weak body which is emaciated, sickly, about to die, may not be able to put into action its thoughts in the manner required. Also, a mere healthy and hefty body alone will not do. It requires a strong and firm mind to animate it and to give it a value. Bala, strength, is the union of the power of the psyche with the power of the body, the union of consciousness with its object. Strength or power is superior to everything mentioned earlier. A person who is strong can defeat a hundred people who have mere understanding without strength, says the Upanishad.

The commentators of this passage tell us that this has a specific reference to the condition of a disciple in relation to the Guru whom he serves. Well, that is only one aspect of the interpretation. A student is supposed to serve his master or Guru. This capacity to serve the Guru would not be there if the student’s body is emaciated and rickety, being starved without food, even though he has got great power of thought and understanding. The service of the Guru would only be practicable if the strength of the body s coupled with understanding. Then he can stand up— utthata bhavati. Then he can serve—paricarita bhavati.

Then he can approach— upasatta bhavati. Then he can see what is the ideal before him in his student life, in the vicinity of the Guru—drashta bhavati. Then he can listen to what the Guru says—srota bhavati. Then he can understand what the Guru says—manta bhavati. Then he can understand and apply it in his own meditation— oddha bhavati. Then he can do exactly as the Guru says— karta bhavati. Then, of course, his understanding becomes complete—vijnata bhavati. Now again the master says that strength seems to be the reason behind the stability of the elements, as also the earth, he atmosphere and the heavens. Everything that is in this world maintains its position on account of strength that is resent in it. 

So strength, a general term indicating power, is not merely physical strength but a power which is the outcome of a combination of knowledge with its content. ods and men become successful on account of the strength that they possess. This is also the cause of the success of the animals, birds, etc. The whole world rests on the basis of strength of some sort or the other—balena lokas-tisthati. ‘Whatever you think, that you become’, is an adage. If one contemplates that one is a very weak person, a finite fellow, capable of nothing, unwanted by people, thrown out of society, very poor, then naturally, due to this self-hypnotism that one imposes upon oneself, one may turn out to be all that. But, if one contemplates on the capacity that is within, hidden within, the potentiality that is in one, then that strength, which need not be imported from outside but which has only to be generated from within by a proper coordination of the principles of one’s own personality, will certainly materialise. 

Strength is an automatic outcome of a proper functioning by way of coordination of all the limbs of the personality, psychic as well as physical. Such strength is the heritage of all. Therefore one should meditate on strength. 2. Sa yo balam brahmety-uaste, yavad-balasya gatam, tatrasya yatha kamacaro bhavati, yo balam brahmeti-upaste, asti, bhagavan balad-bhuya iti, balad-vava bhuyostiti, tan-me, bhagavan bratitv-iti. To the extent of our power or strength, we are perfect. This is a simple truth. “Is there something greater than strength?” asks Narada. Sanatkumara replies, “Yes.” “Then indly instruct me on that which is greater than strength.”

This is the further request of Narada.

*****

Next Section - 9 : Food :

To be continued ....

=============================================================