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Shreyas Preyas: Bhagavad Gita and Kathopanishad
This is an interesting discussion revolving around our great Upanishads, whose teachings are universal, transcending the boundaries of Space and Time. I hope that you will give me a patient read, so that all of us can begin our interesting journey into the world of serious spirituality.
It would not be wrong to say that almost all the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita are the most concentrated extract from the teachings of Upanishads. Everything in the Bhagavad Gita revolves around Shreyas Preyas. Shreyas Preyas are two sides of the coin called life.
Shreyas stands for the long-term spiritual values that stay with a man of Dharma.Although he may seem to have temporary setbacks because of Karma, even though he stands with Shreyas. Over time, Shreyas always delivers the best possible outcome.
Preyas on the other hand stands for short-term Goals. Since values cannot be short-term, it mostly stands for materialistic profit that may satisfy a Jeeva by taking the shorter route, which shall eventually violate Dharma.
Preyas is a short-sighted view of current life situations, while Shreyas is a far-sighted approach towards life and beyond.
Preyas, in the long run, can only lead to catastrophe and downfall.
Sri Krishna delivered Upanishadic Teachings to His friend Arjuna in the form of the Bhagavad Gita. We find a close similarity of point of reference for the Gita in an Upanishad called Katha Upanishad a.k.a. Kathopanishad.
The Kathopanishad is a lively conversation that happened between Yamaraj and Nachiketas.
The character, enveloped in confusion, among the two main Sri Krishna and Arjuna, was of course Arjuna. Similarly, in the conversation that happened between Yamaraj and Nachiketas, the one confused with the fundamentals of religion was of course Nachiketas, the young boy.
The background of the Scripture Kathopanishad was constructed through an anecdote. This anecdote is part of the Taittiriya Brāhmaṇa portion of the Vedas that precedes the Kathopanishad.
Shreyas Preyas: Intent of Fire Sacrifice
Vajrasrava Gautama performed a sacrifice called Sarvavedas or also known as Sarvadakshina.
In this sacrifice, the goal is to offer everything that one has, without retaining or holding back any of one’s possessions. One has to do this activity with total abandon. Those were the days of Truth and sincerity.
This Video will be useful to understand the deep philosophy of Shreyas Preyas.
Who would dare to perform such a sacrifice in these modern days of Kaliyuga?
It is practically impossible. This sacrifice known as Sarvadakshina was normally performed as preparation for the performer’s last stage of spiritual life. This was the rigor and norm of those old days when spirit mattered more than possessions.
Strangely, though Vajrasrava Gautama prepared himself for this grand sacrificial ceremony, he had not yet attained the maturity for such a sacrifice.
There was a gap between his inner state and the act that he was about to perform at the external platform. There was some sort of unpreparedness and deceit which he adhered to.
He wanted to offer only those things in the sacrifice that he did not find useful. He followed the letter of the law of the sacrifice, but discounted the spirit behind the sacrifice.
Shreyas Preyas: Nachiketas Observes Duplicity in Sacrifice
Strangely, his son Nachiketas was keenly observant. He noted the duplicity of his apparently religious father. The boy’s father was giving away old, useless, barren cows and all that which had no return value.
This pained the boy, who was a well-trained Brahmin.
Seeing his father’s hypocrisy, he exclaimed, “Joyless is the place to which the giver of such worthless things goes. To whom do you plan to give me.”
Instead of appreciating the boy’s Truthful and clean nature, the father was red with rage. The boy meanwhile repeated this question thrice. “To whom are you going to present me, father?”
Gautama now lost his cool and shot back, “To Death, I shall hand you over, you wretched one.” This story outlines the Introduction to the Kathopanishad.
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Shreyas Preyas: Significance of the Story of Nachiketas
The brief story has many implications.
Modern man is leading a superficial life and does not quite connect deeply with himself. Man portrays a double character more often than not.
Thus, he leads a double life. This is exactly what the introductory passages of the Kathopanishad hints at.
While Gautama represents the outer form of religion, Nachiketas symbolizes the inner spirit or spirituality, the heart of religion. The former attitude expects something from every religious act: ‘What shall I get from my pilgrimage, from a sacred bath, etc.?’
These are the questions of such a mind. “If I will not get something, I will not be religious”. This attitude exhibits a commercial approach that is nothing short of bigotry.
While the outer form is necessary—like the legs of a person who can walk with them, but also needs the head to think with.
Having legs without a head is inadequate by itself. A man can exist without legs, but he shall not live without the head. The spirit should go hand in hand with the form. Religion has meaning only when the spirit leads.
The outer form of worship should be an expression of inner surrender, and not a mere symbol.
Shreyas Preyas: In Kathopanishad
Gautama represents short-term benefits, like covering some distance by swimming in the ocean, but has no long-term thought, whether he can swim the ocean without any preparation.
Such action is thoughtless. This approach represents Preyas, something that gives you apparent success but is heading towards failure.. What Gautama’s sacrifice lacked was the vision of the Spiritual Domain. What is the point of desiring the very same things that you are giving away?
It is like trying to row a boat through the water while the boat remains chained to a rod, rooted to the shore.
On the other hand, there is Nachiketas, who understands the spirit behind the ritual that his father is performing. His heart is clean, and his vision is open.
He sees the shallowness of his father and is ready to give himself away as a gift so that his father is saved from ignominy. Nachiketas is truthful and straightforward. He has his vision on Shreyas, long-term well-being. He is willing to suffer in the short term for permanent benefits that will emerge out of the sacrifice.
Having a heart like that of Nachiketas is as rare as a celestial jewel that is priceless.
The whole world will be sold, but the jewel cannot be bought. This is the value of a character like Nachiketas, rare but priceless. To get a deeper understanding of the 2 fundamental concepts of Shreyas and Preyas I highly recommend reading this article.
Because it has tons of examples and analogies that can clarify all doubts!
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