Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Ch.2.5.1 Lecture 72 on 27 September 2026 Q&A

Discussion on Tanmatras, Individual Differences, and the Company of the Holy

Question 1: Are All Minds Made of the Same Tanmatras?

Participant: Maharaj, today you talked about tanmatras. Yeah, so the subtle body is made of those tanmatras, correct? So all the minds are made of the same percentage of tanmatras, Maharaj.

The Five Elements and Five Tanmatras

Response (Maharaj): Absolutely. So take it this way. The entire physical universe, the gross universe, is the result of the combination of all the five elements. Anything you take – a piece of stone, a mosquito, a human being, a star, it makes no difference. Everything contains all the five elements in different proportions. The same principle you apply to subtle bodies also – not my mind and your mind. Every single mind is the combination of these five subtle elements called tanmatras.

Participant: But one mind is different from another mind in its gunas.

Virat, Hiranyagarbha, and Ishvara

Response: Yes, that is why I have discussed this matter even today. I gave the analogy: when we are looking at the individual, this is my gross body, this is my gross mind, this is my subtle mind, this is my causal mind, causal body. But take it from the other side – Virat, Hiranyagarbha, and Ishvara. Yes.

So the entire physical universe is nothing but the manifestation of Virat, which in Bhriguvalli we called Annam Brahma. And the entire – from Pranamaya Kosha to Vijnanamaya Kosha – that is the whole subtle mind, the cosmic subtle mind, is called Hiranyagarbha. So when that Hiranyagarbha alone is manifesting as my mind, your mind, etcetera.

Analogy: The Father and His Three Children

Response: Okay, let me illustrate this. Suppose a person has three children. So he has, let us say, ₹300. Each one of his children he gives ₹100, and then you say, "Now you do whatever you want with this. That is all I have. I gave you everything that I have."

You look back at their lives after, say, five years, ten years: one person has become a billionaire. Another person has become a rich man. Another person has become a tramp.

Participant: Who are first?

Response: Tramp. They all started with the same thing, element.

Participant: Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Response: So that is how, when Virat gives a little bit of his portion to each one of us, it depends how we use it. That makes us feel everything is different from everything else.

Participant: Sure.

The Same Elements, Different Manifestations

Response: Yeah, we have to meditate upon these truths. In reality, we contain exactly the same, the same elements, nothing different. So this purpose – the purpose of this Madhu Kanda – is to cognize that fact.

And a poor man depends upon the rich man or not?

Participant: Yes.

Response: And the rich person depends upon the poor man or not?

Participant: Yes.

Response: Otherwise, how can he become?

Participant: He may not call himself rich.

Response: And who will call him rich? If everybody is rich, who will call him rich?

Anecdote: The Beggar and the Rich Man

Response: So once a beggar went to beg of a rich man. The rich man got very angry, said, "You are a parasite, get out." The beggar said, "Sir, there is after all not so much of difference between you and me. While you are trying for your second million, I am only trying for my first million. This is the only difference."

You see a poor man. How do you know a poor man will not be a billionaire?

Participant: Yeah, no telling.

Response: Suppose this billionaire's, let us say, daughter falls in love with this very handsome-looking fellow, intelligent fellow, and marries him. Has he become rich or not?

Participant: Yes.

Response: Who knows?

Participant: Yeah.

Response: In India, it is a common thing – that is what they call the dowry system. Anyway, so we are all made up of exactly the same elements, and how it differs, manifesting in a different way, is because of what we did with the things God had bestowed upon us – this body, this mind, etcetera.

Participant: Yes.

Response: That is the difference.

Participant: Thank you.

Question 2: What Should We Grasp from the Company of the Holy?

Participant: Maharaj, one more question. In the Gospel, Thakur stresses a lot about the company of the holy.

Response: Yeah.

Participant: But when we – every person's circumstance is very different depending on the station in life and the situation. We cannot imitate everything that a holy man does. But there are some things that we need to observe and take in. What are the most important things that we should really grasp from holy company?

Unselfishness, Truthfulness, and Following Dharma

Response: If I have to put it in one word, I say unselfishness. So the other things are truthfulness and following dharma – what brother calls the imitation of Christ. You follow the footsteps of Christ. That means what events took place, how he took it, how he reacted.

That is why the very Bible makes it crystal clear: that Jesus is sent to destroy the sins of all the people. But it doesn't really mean he is going to destroy the sins of everybody. Only those people who follow him – then he takes up the burden and says, "Okay."

So our attempt to lead a Christ-like life, Ramakrishna-like life – that alone. Bhagavan Krishna says that if you have determined to surrender to me, very soon – Shipram Bhavati Dharmatma – very soon you will turn out like a God. Shashwat Shantim Nigachati – he attains the highest truth and enjoys indescribable peace and bliss.

Removing the Greatest Obstacle First

Response: So take up there also – we have to be a little bit intelligent. We have to take up what is the most important quality we need to change. Simply the least important thing that we try to change – that will not help. Our greatest – first remove the greatest obstacle, then slowly the second great obstacle, like that.

So that is what is beautifully enumerated in Vedantic scriptures. What is the first greatest obstacle – kama? What is the next one? Krodha. Then lobha, moha, mada, matsarya – in that order.

Conclusion: Following the Footsteps of Great People

Response: So that is called following the footsteps of great people. It takes time, but first understanding is necessary.