Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Ch.3.1.1-3 Lecture 82 on 01 November 2026 Q&A

Discussion on Every Activity as Yajna, Paramashiva, and Bhuta Shuddhi

Question 1: Are All Prescribed Samskaras Reminders That Every Activity Is a Puja?

Participant: Every activity that we're doing is a puja. So this thought – is it correct that all the samskaras that are prescribed in, like, the Hindu way of life, are they adjuncts which kind of again bring this reminder for people, you know, who are not otherwise thinking of these things or doing upasanas on a regular basis?

Every Activity Is a Yajna

Response (Maharaj): Every activity that we are doing is a yajna. Take the simple example. I am breathing in. What for? To live.

Participant: Yeah.

Response: I am breathing out. What for?

Participant: To live.

Response: To live only.

Participant: Yeah.

Response: So I am eating food. What for? To live, not to die. And not to die is overcoming what? Yeah. To live means what? Overcoming the limitations of time, space, and causation.

Happiness and the Consciousness of Time

Response: I am not happy, so I have a desire to be happy. And so I try to fulfil my desire. And when I am enjoying the object of my desire, do I remember time?

Participant: No, no.

Response: You see, how many times I try to explain that one. Happiness and consciousness of time do not go together. So what is the problem? It is only momentary. Then some recollection is there. We should say, "I was very happy." Don't say, "I am happy." When you are happy, you can't say it. You can only say, "I was happy."

So every moment that we are living is for what purpose? To manifest our potential divinity.

Even the Murderer Seeks Happiness

Response: And let me also tell you: every activity – even a murderer trying to murder somebody – is it for – he thinks it is a joyous affair or not?

Participant: Yeah.

Response: I am trying to remove some obstacle in my path of fulfilling my desire, isn't it?

Participant: Yes.

Response: That may be wrong thinking, but what is the goal? To be happy.

Participant: Yeah.

Response: And what is happiness? To overcome death.

Participant: Spacecraft death.

Can a Dead Person Be Happy?

Response: Yeah, I will put it a bit funnily. Can a dead person be happy?

Participant: No.

Response: And can a happy person be dead? No. Yeah, that's it.

Now you understand. And this is called evolution. Every activity that we are doing is a spiritual attempt – albeit an unconscious spiritual attempt. But when you do it consciously, it becomes puja.

Question 2: What Is the Idea of Paramashiva?

Participant: Samaj in puja and then the Nitipura in the Bhuta Shuddhi actually. So there's this idea of Paramashiva. Yeah, from what we understand from the Shiva and Shakti – Shiva represents Purusha or Brahman, you know, and then Shakti is, of course, you know, Divine Mother. So what is this idea of Paramashiva, Maharaj? Is it different, or is it just a way of expression?

The Unconscious Urge to Manifest Our True Nature

Response: We have to reach that highest state called Brahman. But we are at this lower stage of ignorance. Okay, that is called Muladhara. But the unconscious urge is there: I know I am Paramashiva. Every attempt that we make is only to manifest that – my true nature.

So in the course of evolution, we transcend Muladhara, Swadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha, Ajna, and then Sahasrara, isn't it?

Participant: Yeah.

The Goal Consciously Imagined in Puja

Response: So that is what is consciously imagined in puja. This is my goal. My goal is – you call it spiritual progress, call it any progress – but the ultimate goal is to know that I am Paramashiva. That is the real meaning of this Bhuta Shuddhi.

Yeah, to know Aham Brahmasmi. To put it in another way, the Guru says Tat Tvam Asi. So I have to find out what my Guru really means – "that I am that," because "that" means it is somewhere far away.

The Meaning of Tat Tvam Asi

Response: Linguistic expression is a beautiful way of explaining spiritual truths. "I" means me, who I am here – that is called Tvam Padartha. "Tat" means somewhere – "I am finite, you are infinite," but as if you are somewhere in Vaikuntha. Where is Vaikuntha? Somewhere far away, further away. That means it is my goal. That is the meaning – not a location, geographical location.

So the attempts that we make, like a baby growing up slowly, that is called ascending the lower chakras. But the goal is that which unconsciously I know – "I am the Paramashiva" – must become a conscious fact: "I am Paramashiva."

Samsara as God's Playground

Response: So even what you call samsara is also God's playground, where by playing through all these roles, we are slowly made to move from untruth to truth. That is the purpose.

Puja means consciously doing everything. That is what Bhagavan says in the Gita: Svakarmanatam abhyarchya siddhim vindhati manavah. Human being, wherever you are, that would be your spiritual practice. Convert it into the presence of God.