The Universal Problem of Sorrow
The singular problem that afflicts human life is sorrow. Our ancestors—the great sages—deeply contemplated how to overcome this sorrow. The profound truths they realized in deep meditation emerged as the Upanishads. From the Isha to the Brihadaranyaka, the ten principal Upanishads convey one unified essence.
When debates and misinterpretations arose, Sage Badarayana systematized these insights into the Brahma Sutras. These aphorisms delve into Vedantic inquiry and are also called Vedanta Mimamsa. Later, to bring this deep philosophy into practical life, the Bhagavad Gita was revealed.
The Triad of Liberation: Prasthana Trayam
Collectively, these three foundational texts are known as the Prasthana Trayam—the “three points of departure” toward liberation. If sorrow is the fundamental human dilemma, moksha (liberation) is its solution. The seeker proceeds through a threefold path: śravaṇa (listening), manana (reflection), and nididhyāsana (meditative absorption).
Through the Upanishads, one hears the truth that the entire cosmos is permeated by a single divine consciousness—our true nature.
The Brahma Sutras help the seeker intellectually resolve doubts about apparent duality and reinforce this truth through reason.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches how to meditate and live this truth dynamically amidst the duties of life.
This structured journey dissolves sorrow and culminates in liberation.
Why Every Human Must Study the Prasthana Trayam
Everyone—not just in India, but across the world—must contemplate this triad. Material knowledge and worldly arts can only offer temporary relief from suffering. But the knowledge of the Self—Brahma Vidya—alone leads to complete inner freedom. The Prasthana Trayam offers this eternal wisdom. Let us explore how this wisdom is embedded in each text, beginning with the Upanishads.
1. Isha Upanishad – The World Is Divine
This Upanishad opens with the powerful declaration: “Ishaavaasyam idam sarvam”—all this is enveloped by the Lord. Though the world appears as name and form, its true nature is divine. One must cultivate the vision to perceive everything as pervaded by pure existence.
This awareness doesn’t negate daily life. Work, thought, and speech continue—but with the background awareness of the divine. Just as electricity remains unseen behind the glow of a bulb or the whir of a fan, the Self powers all action. Karma and Self-knowledge are not opposed—rather, karma becomes a medium for expressing knowledge.
The Upanishad explains two spiritual outcomes:
- Sadyomukti: Instant liberation through direct realization.
- Kramamukti: Gradual liberation through saguna (qualified) meditation and eventual realization in higher realms.
2. Kena Upanishad – The Power Behind All Perception
Beginning with the question, “By whom is the mind directed?”, this Upanishad reveals a formless divine power behind all thought, speech, and movement. This power is Ishwara—pure knowledge and pure strength.
The formless can be perceived—not through the eyes, but through refined awareness. Just as joy or fear have no form yet are experienced, the divine too is realized inwardly.
The mind has two modes:
Savikalpa (divided thinking) sees parts.
Nirvikalpa (unified vision) sees the whole.
By cultivating nirvikalpa vision, one transcends the body and becomes immortal while living. This transformation is illustrated through a story involving the gods and the goddess Uma, who symbolically reveals the formless truth to Indra. The lesson: only through refined awareness can Brahman be known.
3. Katha Upanishad – Mastering Death
The sage’s son, Nachiketa, seeks to understand death and the Self by questioning Yama, the lord of death. Yama explains that the Self is hidden in all beings and can be grasped only by subtle intellect.
The journey of realization is a retreat inward—from external objects to senses, then mind, intellect, and ultimately to the Self. All distinctions dissolve into one presence, like waves in the ocean.
The famous analogy of the chariot explains:
Body = chariot
Senses = horses
Mind = reins
Intellect = driver
Self = master
Only when the senses are directed toward the Self does one reach liberation.
4. Prashna Upanishad – Tracing the Source
This Upanishad uses questions and reasoned inquiry to explain reality. Six sages ask sage Pippalada about prana (life energy) and manas (mind), the foundations of action and knowledge.
It introduces the concept of shodasha kalas—sixteen rays or aspects of existence (from prana to name). The Self appears segmented through these, but is essentially one and indivisible. By tracing these kalas to their source, one realizes their unity in Self-awareness.
Birth and death, when seen through the lens of consciousness, become parts of the same indivisible whole.
5. Mundaka Upanishad – From Sparks to Source
Everything—from matter to life—emerges like sparks from a sacred fire, from the Supreme Self. This teaches the principle: what is born from something ultimately returns to it.
Even though creation and entry of God into the world are figurative, the scriptures use such illustrations to guide seekers toward non-dual awareness. Everything is a reflection of Brahman.
The sacred symbol “Om” is likened to a bow:
Om = Bow
Self = Arrow
Brahman = Target
Aim with unwavering focus—and the arrow of awareness pierces the veil of duality, leading to liberation.
6. Māṇḍūkya Upanishad – The Fourth State of Consciousness
Omkāra consists of three syllables: A, U, M, representing waking, dream, and deep sleep states. These are pādas (quarters) of the individual Self.
Transcending all three leads to Turīya—the Fourth, which is measureless (amātra) and indivisible (apāda). This is pure non-dual consciousness—shivam advaitam—the state of liberation.
Turīya is realized not through logic alone, but through uninterrupted awareness (ekātma pratyaya sāram) of the one Self.
7. Aitareya Upanishad – From Particular to Universal Knowledge
This Upanishad explains how the jiva, once omniscient, becomes limited through its identification with the body and senses. This leads to three states—waking, dream, and deep sleep—all tied to vāsanās (impressions).
True liberation requires transcending even deep sleep and realizing that all of one’s experience is embedded in prajñāna—universal consciousness. Only then does particular knowledge merge into universal awareness.
8. Chāndogya Upanishad – You Are That
This Upanishad declares: tat tvam asi—“You are That.” It dissolves the world into Self-awareness, revealing that everything is etadātmyam—of the nature of the Self.
By recognizing that the world is not separate from its source, we realize that only the sat-chit-rūpa ātmā truly exists.
The knowledge revealed here is called Bhūma Vidyā—the knowledge of the Infinite. It was taught to Śvetaketu, Nārada, Sanatkumāra, and Indra. The final message: “It is above, below, inside, outside—there is no second.”
9. Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad – I Am Brahman
This Upanishad offers direct realization: Aham Brahmāsmi—“I am Brahman.” It dismantles the idea that Brahman is elsewhere. Like space, Brahman pervades everything. The Self is cidākāśa—the conscious space.
Most people relate only to the visible particulars of life. But the goal is to shift vision from the particular to the universal. When this shift happens, one sees all things—including the self—as Brahman.
Through dialogues with Maitreyī, Janaka, and others, the Upanishad reaffirms that everything, including “I,” is the Supreme Self.
The Brahma Sutras – Synthesizing Vedantic Wisdom
The Brahma Sutras, authored by Sage Badarayana, systematically arrange the core teachings of the Upanishads. In 555 aphorisms divided into four chapters, they clarify the path to liberation:
Chapter 1: Establishes philosophical foundations
Chapter 2: Refutes contradictions and opposing views
Chapter 3: Explores spiritual practices (sādhanas)
Chapter 4: Describes the result—liberation (phala)
Harmony in Vedic Teachings
Confusion often arises from failure to recognize samanvaya—the inner harmony of scriptures. The Vedas, spoken in varied styles, convey one core truth. Differences in expression are not contradictions, but complementary perspectives.
Vedanta teaches us to look past outer rituals to the underlying unity. Whether one follows devotion, knowledge, or action—the destination is the same: the Self.
Avirōdha – There Is No Contradiction
Critics may point to contradictions in scripture, but Vedanta sees a cyclic, evolving cosmos described through diverse visions. Just as physics and chemistry explore the same reality differently, so do various sages and scriptures.
Even within Vedic tradition, newer insights don’t cancel older ones—they deepen them. The Brahma Sutras harmonize these insights and demonstrate how truth is consistent when rightly interpreted.
Sādhana – The Path to Realization
With contradiction resolved, the question becomes: How to attain realization?
Vedanta offers many paths—jñāna, bhakti, karma, dhyāna. The seeker must choose based on temperament. All lead to one goal: dissolving the false “I” and awakening to the Self.
Ethical disciplines (yama, niyama), inquiry (vichāra), and meditative absorption (samādhi) prepare the mind. Sādhanā is not mechanical—it’s inner transformation.
Phala – The Fruit of Realization
The fruit of sādhana is liberation—freedom from the cycle of birth and death. This is jivanmukti—liberation while living. Such a person lives unaffected by dualities, anchored in peace, seeing all as the Self.
The sthita-prajña lives like the lotus—untouched by the water of worldly noise. They embody compassion, fearlessness, and non-attachment. Even the idea of heaven holds no meaning for them. They rest in the Supreme—whole, free, and eternal.
