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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.
62 Episodes
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What is the Kathopanishad? Why is it important for seekers of the Truth to study it? In this episode, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, gives an introduction to what is known as 'paravidya' or the highest spiritual knowledge that leads one to the Truth of one's Self. He describes how it is different from all other forms of knowledge which are all transient and ever-changing. Sadguru introduces the Kathopanishad, and explains why listening and contemplating to this upanishad can help one assimil...
In this episode, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai dives directly into what He refers to as the main question posed by Nachiketa. It is the very essence of Kathopanishad. “Tell me whether That exists or not because it cannot be touched, tasted, smelled nor heard? So how do I know if It exists?” We are all doubtful about it. Scientists may say It does not exist. But Lord Yama says there is something that exists beyond the senses and the mind. So, is it true or is it not ...
In the Gita, Lord Krishna says “The one who has śraddhā alone is entitled to knowledge.” Through the Kathopanishad, we are shown the qualities which the young Nachiketa embodies – these are the qualities that all seekers of the Truth should imbibe. Further, Sri Adi Shankara says, “In the śāstras, the scriptures, and in the guruvākya, whatever the guru tells, whoever has sattva buddhi, pure mindedness, who believes in that, such a person is called śraddhāvān.” In this episode, Sadguru Sri Madh...
oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ॥ During vedic or prayer invocations, it is common for it to conclude with the chanting of three shantis. When one recites three shantis, each shanti is dedicated specifically for one of the three types of sufferings that every human being endures during their lifetime. tapa means difficulty and traya means three. The three types of sufferings are ādhibhautika (related to the body), ādhidaivika (related to the gods/mind) and ādhyātmika (related to the soul). Swami be...
Although in this day and age, vedantic texts are accessible easily through various mediums at the touch of a button, the Truth as taught in vedanta, is not to be taken lightly. In the past, spiritual seekers had to prove their readiness and make great efforts in order to be deemed worthy of receiving the knowledge from their gurus. In this episode, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai describes in detail, the seven important qualities of such a spiritual seeker as described in another one of the ten ...
Using the analogy of a computer, Sadguru beautifully explains the four aspects of the mind, namely – मनस् manas – a collection of all kinds of thoughts बुद्धि buddhi – the ability to discriminate, analyse, and come to a decision चित्त citta – memory, storage अहंकार ahaṁkāra – identification The body follows what is collectively dictated by these four aspects of the mind. Having described this, Sadguru then shares how to attain a pure, good mind, with pure thoughts, pure intentions leading to...
Many times, Sadguru has declared that His favourite character from the upaniṣads is the young Nachiketa. In this episode, Sadguru gives us a clear indication of why this is so. Sadguru says that even though Yama tries to tempt the young Nachiketa using a multitude of techniques and an array of distractions, he could not succeed in tempting him. Anyone else in Nachiketa's position would have yielded long before this point, falling for these temptations. Sadguru says that if we cou...
Through the example of Nachiketa, and using anecdotes from other stories such as dialogues between Emperor Janaka and Rishi Astavakra, as well as from the Narada Bakthi Sutras, Sadrugu Sri Madhusudan Sai instructs us on the essential qualities of a spiritual seeker. Sadguru also clearly explains to us the meaning(s) of the word upaniṣad and how it relates to the changes within us as we study the kathopaniṣad. If you'd like to get the links and shownotes for this episode, visit: https://ww...
One of the most important teachings is shared by Yama to Nachiketa in this episode. The concept of two paths that appear before man at all times. śreyaḥ and preyaḥ. preyaḥ is the path that appears pleasant, but is essentially not good for the seeker. śreyaḥ is the path that is good for the seeker, although it may appear to be unpleasant at first. Both of these bind you, as the seeker. Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai lovingly explains how one should proceed when faced with these two paths ahead of ...
The ignorant man continuously chases after everything that is temporary. In this episode, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai teaches that out of the temporary, the permanent cannot be attained. Temporary attainments can only give temporary results. A castle of sand is as temporary as the sand itself. Nachiketa clearly understood this. And that is why he did not yield to the tricks of Yama to get him to stop asking him for the Truth. Understanding the core Truth of vedanta is the only path to p...
aṇoraṇīyān It means subtler than the subtlest. This is a word that Yama uses when explaining that the Truth cannot be taught or understood when just anybody talks of it. It will only be understood when one who has experienced it speaks. The truth is subtler than the subtlest. It requires some thinking and withdrawal to be understood. If you'd like to get the links and shownotes for this episode, visit: https://www.saiprakashana.org/KU-EP10
When a movie is played at a cinema hall, it is projected onto a blank screen. Likewise, what appears to be real in our lives is in fact only a ‘projection on the screen’. What is real is only the blank screen. Everything else that comes and goes is false. Likewise, we are like a blank screen on which different roles are projected. In this episode, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai methodically instructs us on the panchakosa-viveka to bring us slowly to the Truth of who we really are. ātman i...
Whether we practise karma yoga, bhakti yoga or jñāna yoga – we should examine the true motivation behind our actions. Are the homas, the seva and the prayers/bhajans really solely to please God/atman? Or are we doing it to achieve or attain some kind of returns for ourselves – by pleasing our mind and body? If it is the latter then, that is not ādhyātma. ādhyātma, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai says, is another word for spirituality. Spirituality is not about anything outside of you. Spirituali...
In this episode, Swami introduces us to the concept of the three pillars of vedānta, which are: शास्त्रप्रमाण śāstrapramāṇa– all that is conveyed and described in the scriptures.तर्कवाद tarkavāda– contemplation, reasoning and logical analysis of what has been heard or read.स्वानुभव svānubhava– understanding the Truth through one’s own personal experience.If the third pillar is not reached, i.e. without anubhava, all that is heard or contemplated on is merely borrowed knowledge. Only when it i...
When we look around, we notice many objects around us. Yet, we tend not to notice the light with which everything is lit up. Likewise, ātman is everywhere, our Self is everywhere, inside, outside and everywhere. We see and experience everything using that Self. Yet we don’t see the Self. In this episode, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai teaches us that It is really not hiding anywhere. But it appears to be hiding, just as the spectacles appear to have gone missing though they are right there, resti...
In this episode, Sadguru explains the three kinds of तपस् tapas (austerities) to be performed in order to attain brahman. शारीरतपः śārīratapaḥ: austerity of the bodyवाङ्मयतपः vāṅmayatapaḥ: austerity of speechमानसतपः mānasatapaḥ: austerity of the mindThe austerities for the body comprise worshipping the Gods, guru and the enlightened, maintaining a clean body, being straightforward and celibate with the complete focus on God and practicing non-violence. The austerities for the speech comprise...
We may practise using the oṁ mantra in so many modified ways, however these are all just a lesser utilisation of a bigger power. oṁ can be used for much, much higher goals, unfortunately, most of us are using it for only very trivial attainments. Sadguru says that the whole universe is filled with this fundamental vibration called oṁ. In this episode, Sadguru describes how we can begin to understand our True form through the meditation of the silence that is the basis of oṁ. If you'd like to...
According to vedanta, the four states of consciousness are captured beautifully in the divine ओंकार oṁkāra. अ a – from silence, form and name emerges from deep sleep जाग्रत् अवस्था jāgrat avasthā (Waking state)उ u – form and name is sustained स्वप्न अवस्था svapna avasthā (Dreaming state)म् m – return to deep sleep सुषुप्ति अवस्था suṣupti avasthā (Deep sleep state)Deep silence – original तुरीय अवस्था turīya avasthā (‘The fourth state’ – The transcendent, non-dual state of the ātman) If you'd l...
By realising the absolute nature of the Self (puruṣa), one achieves freedom from the guṇas (the fundamental attributes that cause desire). This is the highest kind of non-attachment. Knowing this, one can differentiate between that which can exist on its own, and that which depends on something other than itself to exist. The true me; which is neither the body, which is in the waking state, it is not the dreaming mind, nor it is the ignorant deep sleep stage. It is pure consciousness – the fo...
The entire world is a modification of the one pure consciousness. The ātman, subtler than the subtlest and greater than the greatest, dwells in the heart of all beings. The one free from desire and grief, with the sense and mind at peace, perceives the glory of the ātman. The atom which is a micro-representation of the entire cosmic material existence, is made up of 99.9999999…% empty space. Hence the entire universe, is also made up of 99.9999999…..% empty space. If one were to dive deeper a...
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