Chandogya Upanishad 4.5-6 Lecture 137 on 13 September 2025 Q&A

Question 1: The First and Second Pada as Chit and Sat

Student A: Can you interpret the first pada here as the meditation on Chit aspect of Brahman and the second one on the Sat?

Maharaj: Yes, first contemplation should be on Sat. For the sake of practicality, transactional purpose, you divide the infinite space into four parts, isn't it? My office is towards the eastern direction, so will you start travelling to the western direction? You will reach after infinite amount of time.

What is important we have to understand is first comes space. You want to construct a new house, what is the first consideration? Empty space. It is using the same thing, so first thing is space only. How much space you want? How much? How many rooms you want? Everything depends upon the space. Your civil engineer, what is the first thing he will look into?

Student A: How much land there is.

Maharaj: Ahhh, and then only he will design according to how big the bedroom is, etc. Space means manifestation of Brahman as ātmana ākāśaḥ sambhūtaḥ. And then what is beheld? Bhuloka, Bhuvarloka, Svarloka, Samudra—everything is seated where?

Student A: In space.

Maharaj: Ahhh, that is the second one.

So first contemplate on space because everywhere we need space. You want to eat more food, what do you need? You want to think deeply, what do you need?

Student A: More space.

Maharaj: Ahhh.

Question 2: Understanding Ananta - How the Earth is Infinite

Student B: Just wanted to check about the anant part of it. How is the earth understood to be the anant? Is it infinite?

Maharaj: You see, as we progress in spiritual life what happens? Chitta vaishalyata. We start, or anybody who is really progressing starts identifying, transcending the limits of the one's own individual body mind. This person, then he gets married, he identifies with the family. Then children—of course parents will be there, brothers, sisters will be there, their families will be there. Thereafter, the whole village, my village, my language, my religion—the expansion, expansion.

Student B: OK, OK.

Maharaj: Since brahman is infinite, we are travelling towards infinity. Progress is measured in the form how much we have expanded.

Student B: I thought maybe it is infinite in the sense like we have no idea in terms of how many infinite earth, space... Not earth, but...

Maharaj: No, no, that is not meant. My individuality is slowly expanded.

Student B: Finally, when you are reaching to that Brahman level, then it goes much beyond your family, this, that, whatever,

Maharaj: Everything.

Question 3: Swami Vivekananda's Spirit - Brahman or Personality?

Student C: Maharaj, I have read in Swamiji's collection of letters. In the preface there is a comment, where Swamiji said, "Read my letters and you will imbibe my spirit." So here my question is, here the spirit means the Brahman or Swamiji's overall personality including Brahman?

Maharaj: Swamiji's personality. If you are reading my whatsapp publications, Swami Turiyanandaji was telling "Swamiji ever remained identified with..."?

Student C: Brahman.

Maharaj: So there is a realised soul. We are looking at him as a realised soul, but a realised soul looks at himself as what?

Student C: Brahman.

Maharaj: Slowly we have to progress. And that's what says, if we can have faith in Swamiji's words with reverence, with Bhakti, if we go on studying, then to the extent we surrender to him, to that extent he enters into us. To the extent you make your room empty, to that extent the light... it is like that.

Student C: It means everything, correct?

Maharaj: That is the idea—that I am divine, that understanding becomes expanded. That is the meaning.