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Bhagvad Gita Q/A with Shri
V.S. Iyer Before we proceed into the subject matter of this
document, I would like to briefly introduce to the
lay reader as to who Shri V.S. Iyer was and then
explain the outline of this document.
Who is Shri V.S. Iyer?
He was born on 15th April 1969, Salem, Tamil Nadu
as V. Subramaniya Iyer, the first child to Shri
Venkataramana Iyer and Shrimati Rukmini Ammal.
He had his early education in Bangalore and later
studied in Madras Christian College with special
focus on Math and Physics.
He was employed as the registrar of the University
of Mysore (1919-1927)
He assumed discipleship under Swami
Sachidananda Sivabhinava Bharathi (Head of the
then Shringeri Shankar Mutt). Under his Holiness tutelage, he
blossomed into an expert in Vedanta,
especially Mandukya Upanishad (along with Shri Gaudapada Karika
and Shri Shankara's commentary).
He compared all new thoughts - scientific, religious, mystical,
philosophical, with Advaita Vedanta and
arrived at a profound personal assessment of Vedanta, in light
of the modern and ancient world.
In 1920 he was called upon to be the reader of the then Maharaja
of Mysore, his Excellency Shri
Krishnaraja Wadiyar, with whom he formed a lifelong friendship.
He accompanied the Philosopher
Maharaja to England/Europe in 1936 and met with several leading
thinkers of the time. During his
presidential address in the World Philosophical Congress -
Indian Section, held in Paris 1937, he
remarked that "It is India's meaning of truth and her method of
approach through the three states
(waking, dream, and deep-sleep) still unknown to the rest of the
world, that could be thought worthy of
the world's consideration". Along these lines he has made
several lectures which brought the
significance of Shri Gaudapada and Shri Shankaras unrelenting
philosophical reasoning, to the attention
of the World.
A most significant event during his life time was starting the
famous Mysore study circle along with the
Swamis of the Shri Ramakrishna Mission. He was a great admirer
of Shri Ramakrishna and Swami
Vivekananda, as is evident from several of his quotes. The
Maharaja also encouraged the idea that the
Swamis of Shri Ramakrishna Math (who would spread the message of
Vedanta throughout the world)
should benefit by a study of Vedanta, in light of western
science, as expounded by Shri Iyer. Several
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monks of the Shri Ramakrishna Order like Swami
Siddheswaranandaji, Swami Nikhilanandaji & Swami
Ranganathanandaji were among Shri Iyer's study circle. In a
letter received by Shri V.S. Iyer from Swami
Siddheswaranandaji, the Swamiji quotes If today I am privileged
to present Vedanta to the University of
France I owe entirely all the knowledge to you(Reference:
"Tattva Vichara or An Inquiry into Truth" page 201
first edition, see footnote 1). Paul Brunton, a famous author
(and western admirer of the Advaita tradition
and masters, was also positively influenced by Shri Iyers
lectures and discussions (See footnotes 1 & 2).
What is this document about?
In the book titled Tattva Vichara or An inquiry into Truth [See
footnote 1] published by the family of
V.S Iyer and edited by notable scholar and philosopher T.M.P
Mahadevan, pages 135-138 (3 pages) are
filled with 41 interesting questions raised by Shri Iyer. He
chose to answer those questions not with
words but with appropriate chapter and verse number in the
Bhagavad Gita.
So in an attempt to bring out this information published in
those 3 pages and in the process fill in the
blanks.
I have typed those questions (with minor edits/paraphrasing) and
provided not just the chapter/verse
number but also typed in English translation of those
verses.
I resorted to English translations by revered Swami
Ghambhiranandaji and revered Swami
Tapasyanandaji, for this purpose. For Question 41, I
"cut/copy/paste" stuff out of Shri Swami
Ghambhiranandaji's engligh translation of Shri Shankara Gita
Bhasyam.
The format of the information below, is Question, Chapter/Verse
Number,
English Translation of the Verse.
I hold Shri V.S. Iyer in very high regard and consider him one
of the most uncompromisingly
honest philosophers in the modern era. This and the fact that he
is a Vedantin, makes his
views/words on things spiritual and worldly, worthwhile. I hope
this document proves useful to you
and encourages the reader to go through Shri V.S. Iyers life
& work.
1: Title An inquiry into truth, or, Tattva vicra: a collection
of speeches and writings / by V. Subramaniya
Iyer; edited by T.M.P. Mahadevan; Pub Info: Salem, K.
Subrahmanian, [1982]
2: Ref: http://www.paulbrunton.org/teachers.php
3: His scholarship was excellent, after all, though in his
writing he deliberately forsook the academic
style. He had the benefit of in-depth practice, study, and
dialogue with many great teachersincluding
Ramana Maharishi, V.S. Iyer, Atmananda, M. Hiriyanna and T.M.P.
Mahadevan among the Hindus and
Ananda Metteya among the Buddhists.
http://www.paulbrunton.org/articles/reflections.php )
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1 What faculty leads to knowledge of Sankya (which deals with
parmartha vastu)?
II 39
O Arjuna! What has been declared to you is the Truth according
to the Sankya (the path
of knowledge). Listen now to the teaching of Yoga (the path of
selfless action combined with devotion)
by practicing which the bondage of Karma is overcome.
2 What is the chief characteristic of a resolute seeker?
II 41
O Arjuna! In those following this path, the Buddhi (the
understanding) that has the
nature of producing conviction, is directed towards a single
objective. In those without any spiritual
conviction, the understanding gets scattered and pursues
countless ends.
3 What should a seeker finally find refuge in?
II 49
O Arjuna, mere action (with attachment) is far inferior to
action done with the mind
poised in evenness. Seek shelter in this state of unperturbed
evenness (which can arise only in a desire
less mind in communion with the Divine). Those who work for
selfish gains are indeed pitiable.
4 What enables one to free oneself, even in this world, from the
effects of actions?
II 50
One endowed with this unperturbed evenness of mind abandons the
effects of both
good and bad actions even here itself. Therefore strive for this
state of Yoga. Yoga is skill in action.
5 What enables one to attain to that in which there is no
evil?
II 51
Wise men, established thus in the unperturbed evenness of mind,
abandon the fruits of
action, free themselves from entanglement in the cycle of births
and deaths, and attain to the state of
freedom from all sorrow (liberation).
6 What enables one to overcome delusion?
II 52
When you have overcome the delusions of your understanding
sprung from self-
centered attachment, and then you attain to a state of
indifference towards all the past experiences and
the others yet to be had.
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7 What enables one to remain steady amidst perplexities?
II 53
When your intellect, fed up with the bewildering scriptural
doctrines and their
interpretations, settles (finally) in steady and unwavering
introspection, then you will attain to real Yoga.
8 What, if lost, Man is utterly ruined?
II 63
Anger generates delusion, and delusion results in loss of
memory. Loss of memory
brings about the destruction of discriminative intelligence, and
loss of discriminative intelligence spells
ruin to a man.
9 What does tranquil-mindedness influence most in securing
peace?
II 65
On attaining tranquility all one's sorrows come to an end. For
soon does the intellect of
a tranquil person become steady.
10 What is indispensable to attain peace and happiness in this
world?
II 66
A man of uncontrolled senses has no spiritual comprehension. He
has no capacity for
meditation either. For the unmeditative there is no peace. And
where is happiness for one without
peace of mind?
11 What is superior to all kinds of actions?
III 1
O Janardana, if, according to Thee, discriminative insight is
superior to action, why dost
Thou enjoin on me this terrible action (of engagement in
war)?
12 What is needed for the removal of ones confusion?
III 2
By seemingly conflicting words, Thou art confusing my
understanding. Speak to me only
about that which will definitely lead to my highest good.
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13 What one faculty in the ignorant should on any account be
unsettled?
III 26
An enlightened man should not cause confusion in the minds of
ignorant people (by his
conduct), Himself working with equanimity, he should make them
interested in all activities.
14 What is the supreme among the faculties in a man?
III 42
The senses are great, they say. Superior to the senses is the
mind, and superior even to
the mind is the intellect. What is superior even to the
intellect is He, the Atman.
15 What is that faculty in man that is nearest to God?
III 42
16 What is necessary to reach God?
III 43
Thus knowing Him who is superior even to the Buddhi, and
controlling the lower self
with the higher, kill that tough enemy in the form of lust, O
mighty-armed Arjuna!
17 What is the benefit of the knowledge of action and
inaction?
IV 18
He who sees work in 'no work' and 'no work' in work, he is wise
among men. Even while
doing all work, he remains established in Yoga.
18 What is that which enables one to purge one's sin?
V 17
Those who think of That always, who are ever at one with That,
who are deeply
devoted to That, and who look upon That as their goal, get
purified of their sins by divine knowledge and
go to the state from which there is no return to worldly
life.
19 Which helps one best to fix one's mind on God?
V 17
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20 What is that which can grasp the infinite joy of Tattva
(Reality)?
VI 21
In which he (the Yogi) experiences that endless bliss which is
beyond the ken of the
senses but is intuited by the purified intellect; wherein
established, one does not waver from the Truth.
21 What enables one step by step to establish oneself in
Highest?
VI 24-25
Abandoning imagination - born longings in their entirety,
restraining all the senses with
the mind on every side, and setting that mind firmly on the Self
under the direction of a steadfast
intellect, one should practice tranquility little by little, and
abstain from every kind of thought.
22 What is that one faculty which grows with man's passage from
birth to birth?
VI 43
There, O scion of the clan of Kurus! he will regain the
spiritual discernment of his
previous birth, and then he will strive harder than ever for
perfection.
23 What characterizes the best among the most intelligent?
VII 10
Know me, O Partha! to be the eternal seed of all beings. In the
wise I am their wisdom
and in puissant men, their prowess.
24 What is that in man which can be compared with even the
Lord?
VII 10
25 What is the without which the Lord's supreme nature remains
unknown?
VII 24
Without any insight into My transcendental nature, unique and
immutable, men of little
understanding look upon Me as a mere human individual, having
come into manifestation from an
unmanifested state.
26 What ranks the highest amongst the attributes of the
mind?
X 4
Intelligence, wisdom, non-delusion, forgiveness, truth, control
of the external organs,
control of the internal organs, happiness, sorrow, birth, death
and fear as also fearlessness
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27 What is the most valuable God given award to his best
devotee?
X 10
To them who are ever devoted and worship Me with love, I grant
that possession of
wisdom by which they reach Me.
28 What should one have recourse to that one may always live in
the Lord?
XII 8
Fix the mind on Me alone; in Me alone rest the intellect. There
is no doubt that
hereafter you will dwell in Me alone.
29 What makes one above all else, dear to the Lord?
XII 14
He who is ever content, who is a yogi, who has self-control, who
has firm conviction,
who has dedicated his mind and intellect to Me-he who is such a
devotee of Mine is dear to Me.
30 What is that in man in which "the light of lights is
implanted?
XIII 17
The self-luminous light of consciousness revealing even all that
is luminous. He is
beyond obscuration by the darkness of ignorance. He, the light
of knowledge. He, the quest of
knowledge. He, the way to whom is knowledge - in the innermost
recess of all beings is He established.
31 What is that in which the 'knowledge' (constituting
knowledge, knowable, and the goal
of knowledge) is implanted?
XIII 17
32 What in man is considered by the Lord as his worthy seat?
XV 15
I am seated in the hearts of all. From Me are memory, knowledge
and their loss. I alone
am the object to be known through all the Vedas; I am also the
originator of the Vedanta, and I Myself
am the knower of the Vedas
33 What does one become when one knows the most secret of all
sciences ?
XV 20
O sinless one, this most secret scripture has thus been uttered
by Me. Understanding
this, one becomes wise and has his duties fulfilled, O scion of
the Bharata dynasty
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34 What is that which when warped makes one see, wicked
ways?
XVI 7, 8, 9
7. Men of demoniac nature know not what should be done and what
should be
avoided. Neither purity, nor good conduct, nor truthfulness is
found in them.
8. According to them nothing is ultimately real in this world.
It is Godless and without
any moral basis. Being born of sexual union, what else but lust
can be said to be its cause?
9. Holding such views, these lost souls - these men of little
understanding- given, as
they are, to cruel deeds opposed to general well-being, appear
as agents for the destruction of the
world.
35 What is that which if perverted one cannot see the truth?
XVIII 16
Anyone, who, owing to the imperfection of his intellect,
perceives the absolute Self as
the agent, that man does not perceive (properly), and has a
perverted intellect
36 What is that if not tainted, keeps one pure though one commit
the crime of killing?
XVIII 17
He who is ever established in the feeling 'I am not the agent'
and whose mind is
consequently unsullied by attachments - he kills not really, nor
is he bound, even though he annihilates
all these beings.
37 What is that which enables one to know liberation from
bondage?
XVIII 30
O Partha, that intellect is born of sattva which understands
action and withdrawal, duty
and what is not duty, the sources of fear and fearlessness, and
bondage and freedom.
38 What should remain unattached so that one may know true
renunciation?
XVIII 49
He whose intellect remains unattached to everything, who has
conquered his internal
organs and is desire less, attains through monasticism the
supreme perfection consisting in the state of
one free from duties
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39 What is the supreme importance in attaining the highest
knowledge?
XVIII 50
Now hear from Me in brief how one, who is established in the
perfection of
transcendence of work, attains to Brahman, the highest
consummation of knowledge.
40 What is that one should finally resort to that one may attain
the supreme?
XVIII 57
Mentally surrendering all actions to Me and accepting Me as the
supreme, have your
mind ever fixed on Me by resorting to the concentration of your
intellect.
41 What is Buddhi? See Shankara's commentary
II 16
Verse: The unreal can never come into existence, and the real
can never cease to
be. The wise philosophers have known the truth about these
categories (of the
real and the unreal).
Shri Shankara's Commentary:
Since 'the unreal has no being,' etc., for this reason also it
is proper to bear cold, heat, etc. without
becoming sorrowful or deluded. Asatah, of the unreal, of cold,
heat, etc. together with their causes; na
vidyate, there is no; bhavah, being, existence, reality; because
heat, cold, etc. together with their causes
are not substantially real when tested by means of proof. For
they are changeful and whatever is
changeful is inconstant. As configurations like pot etc. are
unreal since they are not perceived to be
different from earth when tested by the eyes, so also are all
changeful things unreal because they are
not perceived to be different from their (material) causes, and
also because they are not perceived
before (their) origination and after destruction.
Objection: If it be that [Here Ast. has the additional words
'karyasya ghatadeh, the effect, viz pot etc.
(and)'.-Tr.] such (material) causes as earth etc. as also their
causes are unreal since they are not
perceived differently from their causes, in that case, may it
not be urged that owing to the nonexistence
of those (causes) there will arise the contingency of everything
becoming unreal
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[An entity cannot be said to be unreal merely because it is
non-different from its cause. Were it to be
asserted as being unreal, then the cause also should be unreal,
because there is no entity which is not
subject to the law of cause and effect.]?
Vedantin: No, for in all cases there is the experience of two
awarenesses, viz the awareness of reality,
and the awareness of unreality. [In all cases of perception two
awarenesses are involved: one is
invariable, and the other is variable. Since the variable is
imagined on the invariable, therefore it is
proved that there is something which is the substratum of all
imagination, and which is neither a cause
nor an effect.] That in relation to which the awareness does not
change is real; that in relation to which
it changes is unreal.
Thus, since the distinction between the real and the unreal is
dependent on awareness, therefore in all
cases (of empirical experiences) everyone has two kinds of
awarenesses with regard to the same
substratum: (As for instance, the experiences) 'The pot is
real', 'The cloth is real', 'The elephant is real' - -
(which experiences) are not like (that of) 'A blue lotus'.
[In the empirical experience, 'A blue lotus', there are two
awarenesses concerned with two entities, viz
the substance (lotus) and the quality (blueness). In the case of
the experience, 'The pot is real', etc. the
awarenesses are not concerned with substratum and qualities, but
the awareness of pot,of cloth, etc.
are superimposed on the awareness of 'reality', like that of
'water' in a mirage.]
This is how it happens everywhere. [The coexistence of 'reality'
and 'pot' etc. are valid only empirically --
according to the non-dualists; whereas the coexistence of
'blueness' and 'lotus' is real according to the
dualists.] Of these two awareness, the awareness of pot etc. is
inconstant; and thus has it been shown
above. But the awareness of reality is not (inconstant).
Therefore the object of the awareness of pot etc.
is unreal because of inconstancy; but not so the object of the
awareness of reality, because of its
constancy.
Objection: If it be argued that, since the awareness of pot also
changes when the pot is destroyed,
therefore the awareness of the pot's reality is also
changeful?
Vedantin: No, because in cloth etc. the awareness of reality is
seen to persist. That awareness relates to
the adjective (and not to the noun 'pot'). For this reason also
it is not destroyed. [This last sentence has
been cited in the f.n. of A.A.- Tr.]
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Objection: If it be argued that like the awareness of reality,
the awareness of a pot also persists in other
pots? Vedantin: No, because that (awareness of pot) is not
present in (the awareness of) a cloth etc.
Objection: May it not be that even the awareness of reality is
not present in relation to a pot that has
been destroyed?
Vedantin: No, because the noun is absent (there). Since the
awareness of reality corresponds to the
adjective (i.e. it is used adjectively), therefore, when the
noun is missing there is no possibility of its (that
awareness) being an adjective. So, to what should it relate?
But, again, the awareness of reality (does
not cease) with the absence of an object. [Even when a pot is
absent and the awareness of reality does
not arise with regard to it, the awareness of reality persists
in the region where the pot had existed.
Some read nanu in place of na tu ('But, again'). In that case,
the first portion (No...since...adjective.
So...relate?) is a statement of the Vedantin, and the Objection
starts from nanu punah sadbuddheh, etc.
so, the next Objection will run thus: 'May it not be said that,
when nouns like pot etc. are absent, the
awareness of existence has no noun to qualify, and therefore it
becomes impossible for it (the
awareness of existence) to exist in the same
substratum?'-Tr.]
Objection: May it not be said that, when nouns like pot etc. are
absent, (the awareness of existence has
no noun to qualify and therefore) it becomes impossible for it
to exist in the same substratum? [The
relationship of an adjective and a noun is seen between two real
entities. Therefore, if the relationship
between 'pot' and 'reality' be the same as between a noun and an
adjective, then both of them will be
real entities. So, the coexistence of reality with a non-pot
does not stand to reason.]
Vedantin: No, because in such experiences as, 'This water
exists', (which arises on seeing a mirage etc.) it
is observed that there is a coexistence of two objects though
one of them is non-existent. Therefore,
asatah, of the unreal, viz body etc. and the dualities (heat,
cold, etc.), together with their causes; na
vidyate, there is no; bhavah, being. And similarly, satah, of
the real, of the Self; na vidyate, there is no;
abhavah, nonexistence, because It is constant everywhere. This
is what we have said. Tu, but; antah, the
nature, the conclusion (regarding the nature of the real and the
unreal) that the Real is verily real, and
the unreal is verily unreal; ubhayoh api, of both these indeed,
of the Self and the non-Self, of the Real
and the unreal, as explained above; drstah, has been realized
thus; tattva-darsibhih, by the seers of
Truth. Tat is a pronoun (Sarvanama, lit. name of all) which can
be used with regard to all.
And all is Brahman. And Its name is tat. The abstraction of tat
is Tattva, the true nature of Brahman.
Those who are apt to realize this are tattva-darsinah, seers of
Truth. Therefore, you too, by adopting the
vision of the men of realization and giving up sorrow and
delusion, forbear the dualities, heat, cold, etc. -
- some of which are definite in their nature, and others
inconstant --, mentally being convinced that this
(phenomenal world) is changeful, verily unreal and appears
falsely like water in a mirage.
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This is the idea. What, again, is that reality which remains
verily as the Real and surely forever? This is
being answered in, 'But know That', etc.
III 42
Verse: They say that the organs are superior (to the gross
body); the mind is
superior to the organs; but the intellect is superior to the
mind. However, the one
who is superior to the intellect is He
Commentary: The learned ones ahuh, say; that indriyani, the five
[Five sense-organs: of vision, hearing,
taste, smell and touch; five motor-organs: hands, feet, speech,
and for excretion and generation-these
latter five are also understood in the present context.]
organs-ear etc., are parani, superior, to the
external, gross and limited body, from the point of view of
subtlety, inner position, pervasiveness, etc.
So also, manah, the mind, having the nature of thinking and
doubting;
[Sankalpa: will, volition, intention, thought, reflection,
imagination, etc. vikalpa:doubt, uncertainly,
indecision, suspicion, error, etc.-V.S.A.] is param, superior;
indriyebhyah, to the organs. Similarly,
buddhih, the intellect, having the nature of determination; is
Para, superior; manasah, to the mind. And
yah, the one who is innermost as compared with all the objects
of perception ending with the intellect,
and with regard to which Dweller in the body it has been said
that desire, in association with its 'abodes'
counting from the organs, deludes It by shrouding Knowledge;
sah, that one; is tu, however; paratah,
superior; buddheh, to the intellect- He, the supreme Self, is
the witness of the intellect.
[The portion, 'with regard to which Dweller...the supreme Self,'
is translated from Ast. Which has the
same reading here as the A.A. The G1. Pr. Makes the "abode''
counting from the organs' an adjective of
'the Dweller in the body', and omits the portion, 'is tu,
however...buddheh, to the intellect'.- Tr.]