Nidhidyasanam is referenced in many areas in Vedanta, the reference here is from the great Brihadaraynaka Upanishad - widely acknowledged as the great forest of knowledge. This Upanishad is acknowledged as one of the major Upanishads and hosts some of the mahavakyas such as aham Brahmasmi, asato mā and pūrṇam adah.
There are 2 ways for gaining spirituality - one is to "know the truth" and the "other is to do "upasana" - Upasana in higher sense is taken as doing meditation.
Any learning happens through steps of hearing (sravanam), comtemplating (mananam) and meditation (nidhidyasanam). The starting phase of knowing the truth is to read the scriptures, and usually as these scriptures are deep in meaning, their meaning is best to be "heard or learnt" from a good teacher.
Shastra do not demand blind belief or acceptance of what is taught. The mode of inquiry, analysis, clarifying doubts and assumptions is highly encouraged. This is broad what is covered in the mananam phase.
Brihadaraynaka Upanishad (2.4.5) - in this verse, Yajnavalkya tells Maitreyi: “The Self should be seen, heard, reflected on and contemplated upon. By seeing, listening, reflecting, and contemplating, all is known”.
Ōm pūrṇam adah, pūrṇam idam, pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate;
pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvasisyate.
Ōm Śāntih! Śāntih! Śāntih!
This invocatory verse from bṛhadāraṇyaka upaniṣad emphasises about the non dual reality as follows -
That is Full; this is full. From the Full does the Full proceed.
After the coming of the Full from the full, the Full alone remains.
Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!
oṁ asato mā sad gamaya
tamaso mā jyotir gamaya
mṛtyor mā amṛtaṁ gamaya
oṁ śānti śānti śāntiḥ – bṛhadāraṇyaka upaniṣad 1.3.28
There are 2 ways for gaining spirituality - one is to "know the truth" and the "other is to do "upasana" - Upasana in higher sense is taken as doing meditation.
Any learning happens through steps of hearing (sravanam), comtemplating (mananam) and meditation (nidhidyasanam). The starting phase of knowing the truth is to read the scriptures, and usually as these scriptures are deep in meaning, their meaning is best to be "heard or learnt" from a good teacher.
Shastra do not demand blind belief or acceptance of what is taught. The mode of inquiry, analysis, clarifying doubts and assumptions is highly encouraged. This is broad what is covered in the mananam phase.
Brihadaraynaka Upanishad (2.4.5) - in this verse, Yajnavalkya tells Maitreyi: “The Self should be seen, heard, reflected on and contemplated upon. By seeing, listening, reflecting, and contemplating, all is known”.
ātmā vā are dṛṣtavyaḥ śrotravyo mantavyo nididhyāsitavyo maitreyi
ātmano vā are darśanena śravaṇena matyā vijñānenedaṃ sarvaṃ viditam
ātmano vā are darśanena śravaṇena matyā vijñānenedaṃ sarvaṃ viditam
Sravanam means listening to the Upanishads, Mananam is reflection on the content, and Nidhidhyasanam refers to the contemplative state which is induced by the verse.
The primary teaching method is a form of indirect implication of verses such as “tat tvam asi” (you are that, Chandogya Upanishad 7.8.7), “aham brahmasmi” (I am Brahmam, Brihadaranyaka 1.4.10) as taken up for study by the teacher.
According to classical Advaita, words have literal meanings (vacyartha) as well as implied meanings (lakṣyartha). The teacher dwells on the verse to draw attention to the secondary implied meaning, which puzzle the student’s mind, thereby stimulating them to negate their individuality and awaken themselves to the actual nature of the pervasive non-dual reality.
According to classical Advaita, words have literal meanings (vacyartha) as well as implied meanings (lakṣyartha). The teacher dwells on the verse to draw attention to the secondary implied meaning, which puzzle the student’s mind, thereby stimulating them to negate their individuality and awaken themselves to the actual nature of the pervasive non-dual reality.
This is in contrast to some of the contemporary yoga schools where contemplation is emphasized and textual study is either absent or secondary (do they teach the comtemplation of the true meaning of Om/tat tvam asi? Adi Shankarar (8 A.D) says the truth is clouded by inchoate worldly Karma and can be revealed only by listening and then contemplating the revelations given by the ancient texts). In all Vedic Vidya principles, textual study and contemplation go together.
According to the contemporay Advaiti Swami Dyananda Saraswathi, the reading of the sacred texts during the lectures automatically induces Nidhidhyasana.
Few golden nuggets from the Brihadaraynaka Upanishad before closing this blog.According to the contemporay Advaiti Swami Dyananda Saraswathi, the reading of the sacred texts during the lectures automatically induces Nidhidhyasana.
Ōm pūrṇam adah, pūrṇam idam, pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate;
pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvasisyate.
Ōm Śāntih! Śāntih! Śāntih!
This invocatory verse from bṛhadāraṇyaka upaniṣad emphasises about the non dual reality as follows -
That is Full; this is full. From the Full does the Full proceed.
After the coming of the Full from the full, the Full alone remains.
Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!
oṁ asato mā sad gamaya
tamaso mā jyotir gamaya
mṛtyor mā amṛtaṁ gamaya
oṁ śānti śānti śāntiḥ – bṛhadāraṇyaka upaniṣad 1.3.28
Lead Us From the Unreal To the Real,
Lead Us From Darkness To Light,
Lead Us From Death To Immortality,
Let There Be Peace Peace Peace!
Man and women live in a peculiar situation, the intellect that can exercise the power of discrimination between the true self (and the external - such as attachment to body or wordly affairs) is under the influence of the very external world and gets constantly affected and drawn towards it.
quote the KatoUpanishad here --
Many (humans) are not fortunate to hear about the Truth (Self)
Others who have heard about it, may still not undersatnd it
He/she who speaks about it is gifted
More fortunate are those who contemplate about it
The most blessed is he who is able to Understand it when taught by a good teacher who knows that Brahmam
Having the understanding of truth will help conquer Raga (attachment), Dwesha (several meanings anger, hatred) and Moha (desire) - thus promoting Internal Peace.
There was a cave which existed for millions of years - The interior of the cave had never ever witnessed a single streak of light.
On this occasion of Diwali, a lamp was lit in the cave. Just like the lamp dispelled darkness of the cave not slowly, but rather instantaneosly - let Sravanam, Mananam and Nishidyasanam bring happiness and peace to One and All.
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.
Lead Us From Darkness To Light,
Lead Us From Death To Immortality,
Let There Be Peace Peace Peace!
Man and women live in a peculiar situation, the intellect that can exercise the power of discrimination between the true self (and the external - such as attachment to body or wordly affairs) is under the influence of the very external world and gets constantly affected and drawn towards it.
quote the KatoUpanishad here --
Many (humans) are not fortunate to hear about the Truth (Self)
Others who have heard about it, may still not undersatnd it
He/she who speaks about it is gifted
More fortunate are those who contemplate about it
The most blessed is he who is able to Understand it when taught by a good teacher who knows that Brahmam
Having the understanding of truth will help conquer Raga (attachment), Dwesha (several meanings anger, hatred) and Moha (desire) - thus promoting Internal Peace.
There was a cave which existed for millions of years - The interior of the cave had never ever witnessed a single streak of light.
On this occasion of Diwali, a lamp was lit in the cave. Just like the lamp dispelled darkness of the cave not slowly, but rather instantaneosly - let Sravanam, Mananam and Nishidyasanam bring happiness and peace to One and All.
May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.
