Nachiketa's Story
Book: Essence of the Upanishads, Eknath Eswaran.
Do you know Nachiketa's story?
This a myth from the Upanishads.
Like all Indian myths, concepts are deeply personified in this story. Death is a God, Yama / Kalan who by appointment comes to people's doorsteps one day to take their life out of their bodies. Busy man.
Deep meditation into inner self and consciousness is a journey undertaken in unworldly realms.
The story starts off with a teenager Nachiketa witnessing his father, a rich man, in a status driven society announcing he is giving away all of his possessions to the temple.
He goes on to say he is giving away all of the cows he own. In ancient India, cows are legal tender.
The Senior did this only to get his name etched on the founding stone of the Temple. He forego his values to get instant gratification.
Like most teenagers, Nachiketa is a ruthless truth seeker. Curious, he asks in a loud whisper - Dad, you say you are giving away all of your possessions and is giving away our cows - we know they are all on their last legs.
They don't give milk, and will not live long.
The Senior is silent. Nachiketa goes on with his questions. He asks - "I am also your possession, will you be giving me away as well?".
The Senior is fuming with anger and bursts - "I will give you to Death!".
Curiosity
Nachiketa is now stirred from his core.
He knows and remembers people and animals around him who had perished. What is death?
He ponders. What is life? Do I live to study, find work, get married, have kids, do work, and perish? Do I have a purpose to my life? I want to find out!
He decide to go on a journey to learn about the very meaning of life. He decides the best person to learn this from is Yama (Death) himself.
This journey in reality is into the inner self.
Nachiketa sits in meditation.
My favorite author, Eknath Easwaran compares the process of meditation to diving.
Imagine an ocean bed - the restless waves up on the surface are the racing thoughts in our minds.
As you dive deeper, you cut through the flows of water into the depths. The ultimate place one reach is called Atman.
Usually people take years to cut through the flow of emotions like anger, fear and reach the depths of consciousness, let alone Atman.
Buddha after years of practice is said to have sat down with the resolve to reach Atman. He did so over 6 days.
Nachiketa's resolve is extraordinary here. He dives in with force into the depths and immediately reach the gates of the palace where Yama lives. He knocks and someone opens - only to say Yama is on tour. The busy man is always working. The occational Facetime calls and the daily Whatsapp messages are the only way palace dwellers know their king is in good health. Speaking of Yama - he is an immortal and the God of death himself.
The wait
Nachiketa says - he will wait,
He waits 3 days and 3 nights.
Please remember that this is in meditation without food or water.
Yama arrives
Yama arrives and the palace dwellers speak highly of the guest who is unwavering like a pillar of fire.
Yama seem impressed.
The meeting
Yama like any Indian invites the guest in and treat him like a God.
Yama says - "I'm so sorry to have had you wait. I will grant you 3 boons for the 3 days you had to wait."
First boon; Forgiveness
Nachiketa asked for "Forgiveness". He wants his Father to forego his anger.
In meditation: the ones with compassion can go farther wading through the flow of anger and resentment.
Second boon; The fire ritual
Nachiketa asked Yama about the famous fire ritual where sacrifices are made to fire - to reach self realization.
Yama clarifies that the fire is the fire within and sacrifices are about foregoing personal desires.
When one detaches from their selfish desires, then only can they realize the self.
Third boon; Immortality
Nachiketa beats around no bush.
He jumped straight to the ultimate question.
This part is experiential. Experiencing the ever changing and the changeless, that which was never born and will never die, experiencing Atman, experiencing Brahman.
The one way for this experience is in meditation. Once you transcend body, mind, intellect, ego and reach atman - you attain self realisation and know the immortal self.
Vedas
Let me try and show Upanishad's place in the Vedas.
Vedas are scriptures. There are 4 Vedas.
The 4 Vedas:
Rigveda. (c. 1500-1200 BCE)
Yajur. (c. 1200 - 900 BCE)
Sama. (-do-)
Atharva. (-do-)
Each one of the Vedas have 4 subdivisions.
The 4 subdivisions of each Veda:
Samhitas
Aranyakas
Brahmanas
Vyasa
One of the immortals.
Wrote: Bhagavat Gita (c. 1000 - 1 BCE) among others including the four books of Vedas.
Birth name: Krishna Dvaipayana.
Upanishads
Katha Upanishad (from Krishna Yajurveda) have the story of Nachiket. Story of Nachiket, his father's rage, following meditation, and internal conversation with Yama or Kalan. Interestingly the rage is over a question about the intent of a given charity.
Nachiket who was then (in meditation) taught self-knowledge, knowledge about Atman (soul) h (Atman (state) b), and Brahman (ultimate reality) by Yama or Kalan.
The Dhammapatha (book: The Dhammapatha, Eknath Eswaran) talk about meditation.
Transcending in meditation are: mind, body, intellect, ego, and finally atman (I always imagine concentric circles).
References
[1].
Notes to readers:
Thank you for your time!
Come back later to read any changes to this live art blog, Vedas.
Re-read for the best experience.
Mods
Edit 1: Vedas and the place or Upanishads in it.
Edit 2: Nachiketa's story from the Upanishads.
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