Brahmrishi Vishvatma Bawra - The Eternal Soul: Commentary on the Katha Upanishad

The Upanishads, a collection of dialogues between teachers and disc i ples, are considered to be the distillation of truth as revealed in the V e das. With devotion, the intellect of the seeker can adopt the same qualities and experience of the teacher who is absorbed in supreme consciousness . Accordingly, the disciple becomes uplifted and is shown the goal of practice, which removes doubt and quickens his or her awakening.

Although the tradition of sitting near a seer was an ancient practice, it continues to this day. We are not alone on the journey to realize truth . When the inner demand and sincerity of a pract i tioner quickens, a teacher comes to aid the process of realization. If fortun ate , that teacher will be a truly realized soul with no pe r sonal interest , and will have the capability to awaken supreme consciousness within his disciple. Brahmrishi Vishvatma Bawra (1934-2002) was that seer for me. Not only did he have a keen i n sight into reality, he had the unique ability to make his insight accessible.

Swami Bawra constantly related his knowledge and experience to the V e das. No matter how unique his insights, he had no inte r est in creating a business, marketing a special technique, or in any other way presenting the spiritual quest as new. His only wish was to share the eternal teachings gathered by the Vedic seers and to assist others in ending their suffering. By purifying and developing the mind and intellect, we gain the same eternal reward first r e vealed by the Vedic seers.

Knowledge is not exclusive to any sect or person; it is the d i vine right of every human being. Knowledge and consciousness are one and the same. W hen one properly directs the intellect toward supreme consciou s ness , the ultimate truth can be known. As my G uru often said , no one can do this for you, but if you use your own intellect, you will see reality th r ough your own self.

Because of my relationship with Swami Bawra , I have no doubt that Vedic knowledge and wisdom are cosmic vibrations, intuitively exper i enced by the seers of old and continuously available to all humankind. In the course of searching out a philosophical truth , Swami Bawra would sit in deep meditation and the knowledge would come to him. When the i n tellect is pure and focused, it is able to intuit and analyze a truth that is unavailable when one is distracted. Eternal truth exists always and b e comes known when the intellect is refined. This he taught, and this has become my own experience.

I was blessed with a deep spiritual awakening in my early twe n ties, and had the opportunity to spend twenty years with Swami Bawra. Now, fo l lowing my retirement from a professional career and having raised my family, I am a ble to focus entirely on his spiritual message. In 2006, I r e searched audio lectures, compiled written material of Swami Bawra, and, by early 2008, completed a commentary on Kapils S mkhya S tras and the first two chapters of Patanjalis Yoga S tras .