Dreams can be situations which amplify Vāsana.
“Dreams can be situations
which amplify Vāsana.”
– TKV Desikachar on the
Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣat verse 4
Upaniṣat Textual Quotes Collated
Posts archive: Krishnamacharya and Desikachar Upaniṣat Posts
My belief in Yoga is not dependant on a belief in God…
In each one of us there is something that experiences.
“In each one of us there is
something that experiences.”
– TKV Desikachar Introduction `
to the Taittirīya Upaniṣad 2001
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The request for learning must come from the aspirant……
“The request for learning must come from the aspirant.
Only then can be the process be step by step.
First one question which is understood, then the next.
For example Annam is Brahma,
then Prāṇa is Brahma.
This was the traditional approach by the aspirant.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983
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In observation, try to go from Annamaya to the deeper levels.
“In observation, try to go from Annamaya to the deeper levels.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras 1987
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What is the relationship between diet and health?
Question to TKV Desikachar:
What is the relationship between diet and health?
TKV Desikachar Response:
It is a big subject. Our system has to be nourished. Food or Annam is needed. There is the Annamaya, we have a body which has to be nourished. The food we need and eat is Annam.
“Annam is that which will nourish you or that which will eat you.”
This Annam is a very interesting Saṃskṛta word. Annam is that which will nourish you or that which will eat you. The Annam or food must nourish me, it should not consume me. For this reason there is given so much importance to Annam that nourishes and Annam that will consume.
– TKV Desikachar from an interview in the Journal Viniyoga Italia on Yoga and Well Being.
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Whatever is the source of life is surely the source of freedom……
“Whatever is the source of life is surely the source of freedom,
a source which knows us and cares for us.
It is everybody’s right, and is not beyond us, but within us.”
– TKV Desikachar from unedited manuscript for ‘What are We Seeking?’
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The heart knows no boundaries.
“The heart knows no boundaries.”
– TKV Desikachar from unedited manuscript for ‘What are We Seeking?’
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There are also fundamental differences between Yoga and Vedānta……
“There are also fundamental differences between Yoga and Vedānta. And, if at all we can link them, it is as follows: Yoga is a means towards Vedānta for those who are interested.
Vedānta involves a lot of enquiry and reflection, and also demands the development of Bhakti, and, for both the mind and for the individual, Yoga is the means towards Bhakti.
Also, Vedānta is Jñāna Mārga, and a state of mind that is necessary for Jñāna can only come through the practice of Aṣṭāṅga.”
– TKV Desikachar from lectures on ‘The Yoga of T Krishnamacharya’,
given at Zinal, Switzerland 1981.
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The Hindu Veda classify Dhyāna into three major but not water-tight divisions……
“The Hindu Veda classify Dhyāna into three major but not water-tight divisions:
1. Karma – actions, the details, precise actions and results of rituals, such as the how and where you sit; considered most important for Dhyāna.
2. Jñāna – inquiry, into anything from the lowest to the highest, such as God, myself, Prāṇa, Brahma, etc; recognising absolutely one object of inquiry, not many.
3. Bhakti – trying to connect myself with the highest force; to accept the absolute power of God – that he is Master and Teacher, the only reality.
Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra, the definitive text on Yoga, classifies Dhyāna in different yet similar terms.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras December 20th 1988
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The word Mantra means something that we will ponder……
The word Mantra means something
that we will ponder,
that we will reflect upon.
That is, you go to a teacher,
they say something and
I go back home and reflect upon that.
That is the essential feature of Mantra,
to reflect upon again and again.
The purpose of Mantra is to
help us cross a harbour, an obstacle.
That is why the definition of Mantra is:
मननात् त्रायते इति मन्त्रः॥
mananāt trāyate iti mantraḥ ||
“Who reflects on this,
will cross the obstacle”.
– Extract from an interview with TKV Desikachar on Vedic Chanting
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So many Upaniṣad mention OM because most Upaniṣad are……
“There are many texts on Yoga and Yoga is
found in one form or another in the Upaniṣat.
Yoga for them is the means to realise God
and OM is the key to that process.
So many Upaniṣad mention OM
because most Upaniṣat are involved with Vedānta
or the movement towards God.”
– TKV Desikachar “The use and abuse of OM”,
Lecture on September 5th 1983 in Zinal, Switzerland
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Śraddhā can’t be taught, but can be kindled.
“Śraddhā can’t be taught,
but can be kindled.”
– From my notes studying Taittirīyra Upaniṣad Chapter Three verse 5 with TKV Desikachar
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In Mīmāṃsā there is a word called Prayoga (connection)……
“In Mīmāṃsā (a philosophical system to interpret the Veda, especially the Brāhmaṇa and Mantra, with the object of correctly performing the Veda rituals) there is a word called Prayoga (connection).
The same Mantra has to be recited differently for different rituals.
Or different Mantra in the same ritual.
So even here different applications are needed, the ancients recognised this.
There is a verse which says that if the Mantra is not used correctly it has the opposite effect and destroys or boomerangs.
Instead of doing good it will harm.
This is Mithyā Prayoga (wrong connection) with an opposite effect.
Having spoken of viniyoga (appropriate application), now looking at important points the old teachers used to convey these ideas.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983
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Yoga – To Link to myself. Hinduism – To Link to God.
“Yoga – To Link to myself.
Hinduism – To Link to God.”
– TKV Desikachar introducing the Taittirīya Upaniṣad 2001
