The Yogasara Upanishad

By Sri Sri Ravishankar

“Sitting close to the Master that is `Upanishad' you catch many things! You catch the inexpressible... You catch something that is indescribable... Here, words are simply a vehicle: a lot more flows in-between the words: Energy moves... Grace moves... Joy moves... And that transforms life!” Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar So sit close... and soak in this incredible series of lucid commentaries, by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, as He illuminates the profound Yogasara Upanishad, which reveals the sublime essence of true yoga! These inimitable commentaries have been drawn from four scintillating talks, on the subject, that Gurudev gave to an intimate audience in Weggis (Switzerland), under the titles; SURRENDER AND BONDAGE if you are carrying a load on your head, there cannot be any freedom! It's ironic that freedom and surrender go hand-in-hand! A big irony!” UNITING WITH THE DEPTH

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aslan eReads
• Release date: Apr 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9789385898181

Book preview

Title

The Yogasara Upanishad

A

Commentary by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Sri Sri Publications Trust, India

Copyrights Sri Sri Publications Trust

This digital edition is published by

arrangement with Aslan Business Solutions

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ISBN: 978-93-85898-18-1

Layout by: Sri Sri Publications Trust

Contents

Title

Preface

Surrender and Bondage

Uniting with the Depth

Beyond the Wrapping Paper

Be a Witness

The Art of Living & The International Association for Human Values

The Founder

Follow Sri Sri on:

The Art of Living In Service Around The World

The Art of Living Programs

International Centres

Landmarks

Cover

Preface

Gurudev: You may ask some questions! What do you want to listen to today? Hmm?

[A man in the audience says, The Upanishad!]

Gurudev: Upanishad… This is Upanishad!

"Upanishad " is sitting close – sitting close to the Master, not just physically, but also mentally… and we’re all sitting very close, physically and mentally!

Now, what does sitting close or mentally sitting close to the Master mean?

It means understanding, right; understanding the words of the Master.

Some things cannot be fully expressed in words; only an indication can be made. The deeper the subject, the lesser, words suffice. Whatever you can describe is gross. If you can describe something totally, it is very gross! The subtler you go, the more difficult it becomes to express, the more difficult, to describe. Do you see what I’m saying?

You can experience pain, but it’s difficult to describe that pain totally. You can experience an emotion, but it’s impossible to describe it totally, let alone make someone else experience it. So you experience love, but you cannot describe or express it, totally. This is why lovers are always sort of restless! They want to express, but they cannot find the words to express! They cannot find a single expression, capable of totally expressing what they feel! But, sitting close to the Master (that is Upanishad), you catch many things… You catch the inexpressible… You catch something that is indescribable.

Here, words are simply a vehicle; a lot more flows in-between the words – energy moves… Grace moves… joy moves… and that transforms life.

There is an innate tendency to unite… because love is to unite.

So what does love mean?

It is the tendency to unite, to become one.

To become one with what? What is this tendency to unite?

In this entire creation, there is a tendency to become one, to get back to one… because two is painful. Going, from two, to one, is the purpose of creation. Everything wants to merge into something… And what is this?

We call this love. The rishis call it "Yoga. So yoga" means union, uniting… and uniting what?

That is what we will see in this Yogasara Upanishad…

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Weggis, Switzerland

Surrender

and

Bondage

Weggis, Switzerland

The Upanishad begins with a prayer…

Prostrations to Para Brahma, Shree Ganesha,

Saraswati, Devi, all Rishis and Yogis.

"ऊँ योवे ब्रह्मन् विद्धाति पूर्वं योवे वेदान्श्चापर्हिनोति

तस्मै तमहदेव आत्मा बुद्धि प्रकाशं मुमुक्षुर्वै शरणमहं प्रपद्ये

ऊँ शांति: शांति: शांति:"

"Om yo ve Brahman viddhati pūrvam

yo ve vedānschaparhinoti |

Tasmay tamahadeva ātmā buddhi prakāsham

mumukshurvay sharanamaham prapadye ||

Om Shāntihi Shāntihi Shāntihi"

Translation: "To Him, who ordains Brahma in the beginning, and, who delivers to Him the Knowledge, the Vedas – to that God, who is lighted by His own intelligence – do I go for liberation, do I resort to for refuge."

Om. Peace, Peace and Peace!"