Swami Iswarananda - God-Realization through Reason

GOD-REALIZATION THROUGH REASON - SWAMI ISWARANANDA

PREFACE

The first edition of this book was published in July 1953 under the title, 'Talks on Jnana Yoga'. This book has been renamed 'God-Realization Through Reason' as many a reader on reading the title only of the first edition got the impression that it is only a re-discussion or study of Swami Vivekananda's lectures on Yoga, whereas it is an entirely independent work. The: topics discussed, the approach to, and the technique of jnanayoga expounded in this book are different from those of Swamiji's lectures. To remove the misunderstanding, a change in the title of the book has been thought advisable.

It is hoped that the book: will also serve as a valuable supplement to Swamiji's lectures for a fuller and more intimate understanding of jnanayoga. The Upanisadic traditions were of two kinds: one theological and mystical and the other rational. Of these, Swami Vivekananda followed the rationalist tradition up to a certain point and advocated, as the final step, mysticism or yoga which culminated in intuition and inspiration in the superconscious state. The rationalist tradition, on the other hand, represented by the rsis to whom this book is dedicated, stuck to reason of the conscious state to the very end for the highest realization, and this book follows their tradition.

The path of brahmajnana advocated in this book does not require any power of reasoning other than that possessed by the ordinary man; no intellectual gymnastic or any involvement in technicalities of logic is demanded of the aspirant. The procedure followed in this book is based on the common experience of all mankind and does not require any 'supra-rational organon' as claimed by some who are fond of modern high-sounding jargons which serve only to surround the clear path of brahmavidya with mysteries blocking the vision of the seeker.

Some of the matter of the Talks has been re-arranged in this edition. Some topics have also been added. All Sanskrit quotations have been transliterated in Roman characters according to the accepted International scheme, a table of which is given at the beginning of the book, and relegated to the footnotes, translations of which have been given in the body of the book. Quotations left untranslated in the first edition have been translated in this edition.

Before closing this preface let me express my heartfelt appreciation of the selfless services of friends who prepared the manuscripts of the book for the press, supervised the printing and corrected. the proofs. I refrain from thanking them for their labour of love, out of respect for their dislike to be thanked. I also desire to. give expression to my deep appreciation of the fine printing and get-up of the book by the Sharada Press, Mangalore.

Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama Trichur Swami ISWARANANDA 26th September 1959

Preface to the First Edition

This book seeks to expound the philosophical approach to the realization of Brahman, the absolute Reality, in a very simple and rational way. The technique adopted here may appear novel to many; but, as a matter of fact,. the author has only sought to clear the most ancient path trodden by the rsis of the Upanisads of over-growths. Mystical approaches and theological doctrines have been so much mixed up with the purely rational method in course of time as to make the latter path disappear, as it were, beneath the former, leaving only a faint streak on the surface to enable it to remind us of the existence of the path of jnanayoga. An attempt is made here to present the brahmavidya shorn of the mystical and theological accretions. Let scientists, rationalists, atheists, agnostics and materialists see if they have not a philosophy here which will not overstrain their power of reason and which will satisfy their intellect, at the same time be: supremely beneficial and practical in their everyday life.

The realization of the philosophy taught in these pages is not such as will absorb the whole energy of man to the exclusion of the activities needed for the maintenance of the individual or social life. The struggle for existence is so keen at the present time as to make people complain that they have little time and energy left for the prolonged religious exercises and mystic absorptions. In this age when every ounce of man's energy, especially in India, has to be spent for acquiring the means of livelihood in a keen struggle for existence, on account of scarcity due to over-population and pressure on material resources, he wants a philosophy and a method of realizing it in everyday life which will release his time and energy for acquisition of those means, after attaining the highest peace, freedom, knowledge, bliss, love, fearlessness and the certainty of eternal life. Such a philosophy and the method of realizing it are offered to every man in these pages, which will take him to the summum bonum of life with the least expenditure of time and energy. May this book be helpful to all seekers of Truth and Reality in all climes and ages.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part consists of expository talks, and the second part is intended for those who want the authority of the scriptures and the great teachers for the standpoint adopted in these talks; in this second part they may have the authority they seek to their fill.

The author is deeply indebted to the donor, who has made a gift of the amount needed for the publication of this book, whose name he is not free to disclose. The sale proceeds of the book will go towards the service of the Sadhus as desired by the donor as well as towards a second edition of the book.

20th July 1953 Trichuri THE AUTHOR

DEDICATED WITH SALUTATIONS

TO

UDDALAKA ARUNI
SANATKUMARA
YAJNAVALKYA
PRAJAPATI
AJATASATRU
PIPPALADA
SANKARACARYA
AND ALL WHO TAUGHT BRAHMAVIDYA THROUGH SAMPRASADAVIDYA

ARGUMENT

OM

Know me to be that transcendental Reality, the real Self identified with which an embodied soul (that is fast asleep) experiences by self-intuition the deep sleep and (supreme) felicity in that state. That consciousness of the embodied soul which while remembering the sleeping and the waking states is aware of itself as the commonground of both, and which could be distinguished from the states, that consciousness is Brahman, the Absolute.

Bhagavan Ananta to Citraketu (Srimad-Bhigavata, VI. xvi. 55, 56)

1. INTRODUCTION

The Upanisads are the highest authority on Hindu Religion and Philosophy. Their metaphysics has risen to the highest flights of thinking ever achieved by man. The dizzy heights to which the vision of their thinkers and sages soared, have never been surpassed anywhere else in the world. In the Upanisads are depicted the sublimest reaches of freedom, fearlessness, bliss and enlightenment to which the soul of man has ever risen. To the suffering, sorrowing, struggling, unhappy race of humanity the Upanisads have imparted the knowledge of the secret of peace, bliss and fearlessness, inspired countless genera- tions to strive for the highest and noblest ideals of life, and beckon all humanity to arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached. These Upanisads have declared in unfaltering tones the realization of the Supreme Being as the highest achievement of great seers and sages. Thus spake one of the rsis: 'I have known that Great Being of the brilliance of the sun, beyond all darkness; knowing him alone one crosses over to immortality; there is no other way to the goal, there is no other way."!

The Upanisads have taught therefore, that Brahma-jana, the realization of the Supreme Being, the One without a second, as the sole means of liberation or moksa for the human soul.

The question is, how to attain this realization? What are the means and methods? The Bhagavad-gita, the next highest authority of Hinduism has dealt with four yogas: Jnana (philosophical investigation), dhyana or abhyasa (practice of mental control and introspection), bhakti (love of Personal God) and karma (way of dedicated works). We shall be dealing here with the yoga or path of philosophical enquiry as taught in the Upanisads. Our object in these talks is to elucidate the fundamentals of the way trodden by the rsis of the Upanisads and present the salient features of this yoga as distinguished from other yogas.