07 Apr 2023
[Ms. Thrylokya asked: Swami, kindly tell me the essence of all Vedas in brief i.e., practically useful in the spiritual path of present-day human beings.]
Swami replied: All the Vedas put together essentially contain three parts: i) Jnaana Kaanda or Jnaana Yoga or spiritual knowledge, ii) Upaasana Kaanda or Bhakti Yoga or devotion to God and iii) Karma Kaanda or Karma Yoga or practical devotion involving sacrifice of work and fruit of work. Sacrifice of work is cooking the food for lunch after the first session of the seminar in spiritual knowledge attended by several sages and sacrifice of fruit of work is providing the groceries required for cooking. The practical devotion or karma kaanda is the most important final part that yields the final fruit of the sacrifice to the performer of the sacrifice. Such a spiritual scholar, who is invited for preaching is fed with the best possible food and with some offering of money to the best capacity or to the best devotion because a sacrifice becomes fruitless without the Guru Dakshinaa (adakṣiṇa hato yajñaḥ). If you are totally unable to give Guru Dakshinaa, at least you must give him the best possible food or fruits.
In the present day, the spiritual effort can be drawn from the above essence of the total subject dealt in the Vedas, which is that one should invite scholars in spiritual knowledge that generates and develops devotion to God and hear their speeches by participating in the discussions. Such a spiritual scholar visiting your house is the most deserving person, who shall be worshipped with food and some offering of money as Guru Dakshinaa. If you are totally incapable in giving even the least offering of money, at least, give him some food or at the worst, a small fruit. In the present days, this holy practice is totally forgotten, because everybody has blind fascination for the life partner and issues, who cannot save you in anyway after your death. In the present days, the ultimate goal for everybody is this triad (Eshanaa Trayam, which is life partner, issues and money) before which even the parents, who gave you the birth are totally neglected! This is the best knowledge i.e., to be known from the Vedas.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★