Kathopanishad
Kathopanishad is one of the 10 principal upanishads which present the essence and culmination of all knowledge found within India’s most ancient and sacred texts; the vedas. It is a dialogue between a little boy named Nachiketa and the Lord of Death, Yama, which covers the nature of life after death, the true meaning of sacrifice, and how one can transcend death.
It is believed that listening to the upanishads is the first step towards discovering our unique spiritual path to liberation. In 2020, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai gave a series of talks over the course of a month, which methodically and thoroughly explained the significance of the Kathopanishad and its relevance to us in our lives. This podcast series is compiled from those talks.
Kathopanishad
47. The Body Lives And Dies By The Will Of Brahman Alone
The most important measure of our spiritual progress is how much we are able to reduce our identification with and attachment to the body. This can be achieved by regular contemplation on our true nature.
In this episode, Sadguru teaches us to acknowledge that we are not alive because our body is functioning, rather, our body functions because we are alive. The organs exist to facilitate the prāṇa (life force) within us, but the life force is not created by these organs. Essentially, the body is there because the ātman needs a means of expressing itself.
Just as a house does not exist by its own will, but rather by the will of its owner, so too this body exists by the will of the paramātman. Therefore, we should never fear for our body as it isn’t born by our will. Nor does it live, grow or die by our will. It exists or doesn’t exist according to the will of brahman alone.
If you'd like to get the links and shownotes for this episode, visit:
https://www.saiprakashana.org/KU-EP47
