Odyssey of Life

शास्त्र (Scriptures) are collection of knowledge that instructs qualified student about the goal and paths to achieve it. शास्त्र are प्रमाण (authority) for the knowledge. While discussing about Vedic scriptures, it is imperative to understand the emphasis they put on the “Quality of Student” and “Process of learning”. Scriptures defines ideal student as the one who possesses humility and servitude. Student must come with an “empty cup”, i.e. let go of his preconceived notions, and should have sufficient maturity to apply the knowledge appropriately in absolute and transactional situations. Scriptures capture learning as four-phased process (चतुष्पाद विद्या). They are

1. अधीति (Active listening),
2. बोध (Reflection),
3. आचरण (Practical application) and
4. प्रचरण (Sharing/Propagation of knowledge).

These phases are not necessarily sequential. They may overlap or repeated based on readiness of student.

Categorization of Scriptures

शास्त्र are categorized based on the content of the knowledge and how they help an individual in achieving one’s purpose (पुरुषार्थ).

1. भौतिक शास्त्र (material science),
2. साहित्य शास्त्र (art and literature),
3. धर्म शास्त्र (purpose, values and duties) and
4. मोक्ष शास्त्र (liberation).

धर्म and मोक्ष शास्त्र helps in achieving धर्म and मोक्ष पुरुषार्थ respectively. They guide one in living a balanced life and finally heading for liberation. भौतिक and साहित्य शास्त्र helps in achieving अर्थ and काम पुरुषार्थ. They guide one in acquiring material resources and enjoy emotional fulfilment.

Another way to categorize शास्त्र is like a layered like a pyramid. With foundation layer as वैदिक (encompassing 4 वेद, 4 उपवेद, 6 वेदांग). पुराण / इतिहास, स्मृति and तंत्र as its middle layer, and दर्शन शास्त्र as the topmost layer.

Schools of Philosophy

दर्शन शास्त्र (Philosophy) helps one in perceiving the Truth. They do so by addressing following eight fundamental areas/topics.

1. अहम् – Focuses on the Subject or “Who am I?”,
2. इदम् / जगत – Focuses on the Object or the World),
3. ईश्वर – Focuses on the Creator?
4. ईश्वर-जगत संबंध – Focuses on the relation between the Creator and the Creation,
5. अहम्-जगत संबंध – Focuses on the relation between the Subject (I) and the Object (world),
6. ईश्वर-अहम् संबंध – Focuses on the relation between the Creator and the Subject (I),
7. Purpose of life and finally,
8. Path to achieve the purpose.

आस्तिक दर्शन शास्त्र considers वेद as a प्रमाण, whereas नास्तिक दर्शन शास्त्र does not. न्याय, वैशेषिक, सांख्य, योग, पूर्व-मीमांसा, उत्तर-मीमांसा are examples of आस्तिक दर्शन शास्त्र. Whereas चार्वाक, बौद्ध and जैन are examples of नास्तिक दर्शन शास्त्र. मीमांसा enables us to understand the Truth about the तत्व (ईश्वर/वेद), by structured and systematic thinking.

Sections of Veda

वेद are logically divided into four sections. The first two sections are grouped in पुर्व-मीमांसा, viz. संहिता (धर्म / कर्म कांड) and ब्राह्मण. These sections cover mantras / rituals and their applications to make our lives better (here and hereafter). They help in removing doubts about rituals, do’s and don’ts about the right way to live life. Rishi Jaimini structured these sections. These sections enable one to purify mind thru धार्मिक कर्म – चित्तशुघ्घि. Third section of वेद is called आरण्यकम्, and is categorized as मघ्यम-मीमांसा. This section focuses on various उपासना that enables one to give up conflicting notions and rise above it. Meditation is one such उपासना, enabling one to achieve single pointed focused mind – चित्तएकाग्रता. Significant amount of this content has been lost during periods of foreign invasion and cultural clash; thus, this is no longer an official दर्शनशास्त्र. Rishi Sankarshan is primary Acharya who structured this section. Fourth section of वेद is called उपनिषद, and is categorized as उत्तर-मीमांसा. This section focuses on ब्रह्मविद्या – i.e. Knowledge about the Supreme Truth. This शास्त्र is also known as वेदांत (Conclusive end of वेद).

वेद शास्त्र has eight major topics. They are:

1. अधिकारीनिर्णय – defines qualifications of a student to study and experience the Truth
2. गुरुउपसदन – defines qualifications of Guru and a way to approach him
3. त्वम् पद विचार – defines जीव (individual conscriousness)
4. तत् पद विचार – explains ब्रह्म (supreme consciousness)
5. तत् त्वम् असि – explains जीव-ब्रह्म-ऐक्य (oneness between individual and supreme consciousness)
6. विरोध परिहार- removes seeming contradictions
7. साधना – defines path from intellectual understanding to experiential knowledge
8. फलम् – explains outcome / fruit of such साधना.

वेदांत शास्त्र is generally categorized as either a) Fundamental text or b) Topic based text. Fundamental text is referred as प्रस्थानत्रयी – i.e. collection of three types of scriptures that helps one travel from known to unknown (undertake the highest journey). In other words, साधक reaches साध्य thru साधना using प्रस्थानत्रयी ग्रंथ.

प्रस्थानत्रयी is further classified into three types.

1. श्रुति-प्रस्थान (उपनिषद): These are scriptures revealed to rishi in the absolute silence of meditation.
2. स्मृति-प्रस्थान (भगवद् गीता): These scriptures are formulated using reflections by purified intellect.
3. न्याय-प्रस्थान (ब्रह्मसुत्र): These are scriptures cover logical reasoning & analytical approach, with examples and arguments.

वेदांतिक literature are of various types based on their depth and elaboration. Purpose of creating such diverse literature with varying degree of depth is to cater to different audiences of different times, with varying degree of intellect. Original scripture can be commented upon, calling those comments. भाष्य. Further elaboration can be found in टीका. Detailed notes and explanation are documented in टिप्पणी and कारिका. At times, exquisite details are captured in विवरण and contrary viewpoints and critical study documented in वार्तिक.

प्रकरणग्रंथ are topical study of वेदांत शास्त्र. They cover only a specific topic (and not the entire text) in systematic and exquisite detail, with intent to remove any doubts from seeker’s mind. These are not independent text and are only based on प्रस्थानत्रयी ग्रंथ. They are of immense value and support seeker’s analysis and contemplation process as they a) bring ideas from various शास्त्र related to same concept and b) highlight relation across seemingly different concepts.