Blokes dear.. yo really inspired me to check more on it, especially the last Boon asked by Nachiketha.. I searched for the answer , i mean the reply from Yama... finally able to find this..
The Following Article Appeared in November, 1999 in "Spirit Seeker"
Meditation and Purification
By Krishna Madappa
"The secret of immortality is to be found in purification of the heart, in meditation, in realization of the identity of the Self (Atman) within and Brahman without. For immortality is union with God. "
Katha Upanishad
"Life in the world and life in the Spirit are not incompatible. Work, or action, is not contrary to knowledge of God, but indeed, if performed without attachment, is a means to it. On the other hand, renunciation is renunciation of the ego, of selfishness - not of life. The end, both of work and of renunciation, is to know the Self (Atman) within and Brahman without and to realize their identity. The self is Brahman and Brahman is all."
Isha Upanishad
The literal translation of the Sanskrit word - Upanishad - means "sitting near devotedly." It also means, "secret teaching" because teaching was imparted only to those who were spiritually ready to receive - and hence to know the process of - Purification. These universal truths - or pearls of inner wisdom underlying the Upanishads - were originally imparted to the Rishis and Sages of ancient India. Within these great ones the eternal breath of vital Prana flowed through their entire beings.
Through the milleniums, this Absolute Knowledge has filtered into the very fabric of life and is imparted to our cells at the very moment of conception in our Mother's womb. The continuity of such knowledge was maintained by the sharing of stories while we were growing up and by direct experience through the participation in conscious daily rituals at home and in our environment. These practices reinforced those eternal truths that were exemplified by noble souls who dedicated their lives to enabling humanity to maintain the purity of their essence thereby freeing themselves from all human suffering and lighting the gateway into The Heart of Perfect Wisdom.
These simple truths were:
Faith - Thought - Word - Action - Life - Effort - Remembering - Prayer.
This became the model of behavior that cleansed and energized the pathways of the chakras(energy pathways). When we meditate with the resonance of "OM", we are taught to invoke the primordial harmonic, so that it permeates our entire being, filling us with vital Prana (the dynamic life force.) This practice is performed on a daily basis. Each breath invokes the resonance of "OM" (the eternal breath) and thus all life is a clear journey of meditation and purification.
I would like to share with you, just as it was shared with me some of these simple truths through the following story:
Nachiketa's Story:
A few thousand years ago there lived a great sage named, Vajashrava. He had a son named Nachiketa. Little Nachiketa was very attuned to the daily practices of devotion in the hermitage. On his eighth birthday, Nachiketa asked his father's permission to participate in the Yajnas (prayers and offerings with fire). His father recognizing that it was time for his initiation. So, he sent his son to a Gurukula (forest school) where a wise sage taught. Here he was taught to recite sacred hymns and was given the task of looking after the cattle with two other students.
One day, Nachiketa saw some cows sitting and looking very tired and sad. He asked why. He was told that old age was the cause. At that, he responded, "How nice it would be if there was no such thing as old age!" Then one student pointed to the sky and said that in heaven old age and sickness do not exist. Nachiketa asked, "How does one reach heaven?" He got no answer.
On another occasion, a deer, who had become one of Nachiketa's favorite companions, would not get up from his reclining position in spite of Nachiketa's cajoling. He was advised by his fellow student that, alas, the deer had been overcome by death. When Nachiketa asked about death, he was told, "Death is when there is no life left." Well, this started a small verbal contest between his two companions. One said that death is not the end and that life continues. The other said that death was the end. This verbal duel stirred Nachiketa inside and he asked his guru (teacher) the truth. The guru replied, "One must discover this Truth by oneself."
Nachiketa pondered on these things while performing his duties when a message arrived from his father requesting his son's presence at home. His father was going to perform the Vishvajit Yajna - considered to be the one of the greatest Yajnas in one's lifetime - the giving away of all one's earthly possessions.
Nachiketa arrived home and saw how weak and emaciated the cattle looked. When he realized that this was all his father had to give away, he feared that his father would be doomed to the dark world of the joyless and became very sad. Suddenly, he thought, "I am young and healthy. My father can give me away too.Thus I can save him from joylessness." Over and over again, Nachiketa asked his father "To whom, will you give me?" His father thought his patience was being tested and enraged by his son's persistence, implored, "To Yama" (the god of death.) The instant the words flew from his mouth, his father regretted them, but Nachiketa asked him not to revoke his oath. Rather he said, "Consider how it has been for those who have gone before and how it will be for those that now live. Like corn, a man ripens and falls to the ground. But corn, springs up again in its season."
Having thus spoken, Nachiketa journeyed to Yama's abode with his father's blessing. Nachiketa arrived at Yama's abode waiting three days at his doorstep without food or water. Finally, Yama arrived, saw the little boy, discovered who he was and where he came from and announced that 3 boons (wishes) would be granted to him because no hospitality was offered to a Brahmin (Teachers of traditions).
Nachiketa understood and asked Yama for the first boon - to grant his father's peace of mind and happiness. Yama granted the boon. For the second boon he said, "If there is no hunger, thirst, old age or death in heaven then teach me the Yajna where no hunger or thirst can exist." Since Nachiketa was full of faith and ready to receive these teachings, Yama granted the boon calling it the "Nachiketa Yajna". He taught the little boy all the rites and ceremonies associated with the yajna. Nachiketa reflecting on the third boon, commented that some say that when a man dies there is life after death and some say there is not. So he asked Yama to advise and guide him. Quite taken aback by the depth of this question, Yama remarked that this was an inquiry that even puzzled the gods. The truth is very subtle. He asked Nachiketa to request any other boon, but not this one. However, Nachiketa was unwavering and clear in the request and said to Yama, "There can be no greater teacher on this subject than you even if the gods were unsure."
Yama attempted to distract Nachiketa by tempting him with all the earthly pleasures and the grandeur of mortal life, granting him hundreds of years of pleasure, abundance and riches if only he wouldn't ask him the secret of death. But Nachiketa stood firm, and remarked that earthly pleasures and riches bring but momentary happiness wearing out the senses and the only knowledge desired is that which would bring everlasting bliss.
Yama saw the depth of his passion for true wisdom and began to instruct him. "Of the two paths open to men, the wise choose the good and realize the Self, the foolish choose the path of pleasure leading to a never ending cycle of birth and death." Then Yama began to explain the nature of the Self, explaining that when one dies, the body perishes but not the Self. He used a chariot (i.e. a horse drawn carriage) as an example. "The Self resides in the body as a master in his chariot. The intellect is to the Self what the Driver is to the master of the chariot. The sense organs are the horses that pull the chariot. If the senses are not directed or kept in balance, one cannot reach his destination.
The Self is never born, nor does it die. When all desires have been let go, we become immortal even in this world and have realized Brahman. After Yama instructed Nachiketa, he bid him adieu and Nachiketa returned to his father. His father recognized in his son immediately the glow of Self-realization.
As Nachiketa grew older, he continued sharing and teaching pearls of inner wisdom to true seekers continuing the timeless tradition of connecting simple truths. Pure meditation is the journey of life that cleanses and purifies our being.
OM - SHANTI - SHANTI - SHANTI
I thank you blokes, for getting me more into this.. and hope more to come its way.. loved it to the core...
Devika.
Edited by Devika. - 14 years ago
