The Chandogya Upanishad - 3-8. .Swami Krishnananda.

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Wednesday, July 06,  2022. 06:00.

Chapter - 3 : Sanatkumara's Instructions on Bhuma-Vidya : 

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SECTION 8: STRENGTH

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Mantram-1.

" Balam vava vijnanad-bhuyah api ha satam vijnanavatam eko balavan akampayate, 

sa yada 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."

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Commentary :

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

is 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—

boddha 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,

the atmosphere and the heavens. Everything that is in this

world maintains its position on account of strength that is

present 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.

Gods 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.

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Next- Mantram-2.

To be continued ....

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