Taittiriya Upanishad Lecture 106 Ch3.8-9 on 27 May 2026 Q&A

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Discussion on Panchakoshas, Vanaprastha Stage, Justice, and Jataka Stories

Question 1: Do All Upasanas Involve All Five Panchakoshas?

Participant: Pranams, Maharaj.

Response (Maharaj): Ok.

Participant: Maharaj, each of these upasanas that come after the panchakoshas – it seems like each of these involves all the five panchakoshas, even though they start with anna.

Response: Absolutely, you are correct. Because we, for the sake of analysis, say these are panchakoshas, but in practice, we cannot even breathe without the panchakoshas. If somebody closes your nostrils and mouth forcibly, your annamaya kosha will beat that fellow out. And you feel like doing it through manomaya kosha; you determine to do it through your Vijnanamaya kosha. And as that fellow's grip loosens, your annamaya kosha starts enjoying it, isn't it? And your pranamaya kosha becomes very happy. Nothing can be separated. That is a good point. You remember: whatever we do, all the five koshas are involved, whether it is thought or speech or action, for dharma or for mukti, (Preyas or Shreyas).

Participant: Sure, thank you.

Question 2: How Does a Sadhaka Know They Have Transitioned into the Vanaprastha Stage?

Participant: Ok, so I have a question: how does a sadhaka know that they have transitioned into the vanaprastha stage and that they can safely wind down work?

Response: Well, I have got some certain indications. First thing is, it has nothing to do with age. Yeah.

So, if he is a householder, he has to have sufficient means. Even if he doesn't want to work and earn money, he should have sufficient to see the family needs; otherwise, the mind will be worried. You can't become a vanaprasthi with a worried mind: "What happens to my wife or children?" Isn't it? Yeah, so these are all taken for granted.

Secondly, you don't feel competitive: "What do other people think about me if I don't work? I am a useless fellow." And by the way, one can retire not only after 50. Anytime we have sufficient so that we are not dependent upon this worldly work, jobs, etc., we should retire. Retirement doesn't mean not working. Retirement means spending our time in exclusively spiritual activities. That is also work. Many people think spirituality is not work. There can be nothing more misunderstanding – misnomer – than this.

Now, when a person is quite happy in studying the scriptures, in contemplating God, hours and hours will pass without getting bored – in fact, joyously – and the mind becomes even more longing: "I want to think of God more; I want to sit for meditation more time." And when the bodily desires become less – that is the concurrent effect we must see.

So, when a person is more happy in spiritual activities, provided the conditions are fulfilled – that sufficient, not luxurious life, but to lead a simple life – if one has enough savings. It is not our duty to provide our children a seven-story mansion, etc. Our duty is to bring them up, make them study well, make them stand on their own feet. That is what Sri Ramakrishna clearly gives as an instruction. A good wife should be – must be – supported. So we also have to save some money because suddenly if we die, the wife should not be – wife and family should not be left bereft.

But once the children grow, we have no further responsibility excepting bestowing our love and instruction. We have no – what is called – wealth relationship with the children. We have to clearly understand: everybody is running, "How can I provide to my own children?" even if the whole world is dying of needs. That is a very wrong view for a spiritual person. Such a person can never be really spiritual.

Only when a person can lead a simple life – simple food, simple dress – but he is able to lead a very joyous spiritual life, that is the time for retirement.

Participant: Thank you so much, Bhagavan. Yes, yes.

Others: Pranam, Swamiji. Guruji, pranam.

Question 3: Justice, Varna, and the Ordinary Person's Duty

Participant: You have expounded so beautifully on the holistic view of life, and wherein the panchamaha yajnas and panchakoshas – so they all are so integrated, isn't it?

Response: Absolutely. When we say "I" – when you say "I" – it means all the panchakoshas.

Participant: So, just I was curious: where does the justice – is it which varna? Or which varna should be justice as a matter of...?

Response: Yes. Those who implement this – that is called justice – belongs to the Brahmana class. Those who enforce that justice, if needed by force, by law, by courts, whatever – they are called Kshatriyas.

Participant: Right, okay. And how important is it for just an average, ordinary person? So, like, it may not be my duty or dharma to actually raise my voice against an injustice that's being carried out, but if it is happening somewhere very close, nearby to me, am I to be involved or not involved?

Response: So, with this regard, I have my own view. Many times we are helpless. So, by raising my voice, not only cannot we stop injustice, but we may ourselves become victims of injustice. So we are not made for that job. There are some people who are made for that job. So let us depend on God. And there is justice, you know. There is something you have to understand: to feel that injustice is done and nobody is observing – that is the falsest idea. And our scriptures categorically tell us that that is a wrong idea. What is meant is that sometimes this justice is done invisibly, sooner or later. So that is why it is extremely difficult to understand what is the karma phala. We think we understand it.

By the way, you just study a few of the Jataka stories of Buddha – Buddha's past lives – you will get this idea very well.

Participant: Any particular source?

Response: You just simply say "Jataka stories." Ok, fine.

So, let us pray to God, but let us first lead our own lives. See that we do not do any injustice to anybody. But that is a negative attitude. Let us do something to earn our punya. Yes, that is important. Jai Thakur.

Participant: No other question.

Question 4: Closing Remarks on Transcripts and Taittiriya Class

Participant: Ok, I sent in the same file – what are the transcripts? Also, yes.

Response: Maharaj, I saw that. Have a look at it and see what you think.

Participant: It is good, Maharaj. I have posted them.

Response: Very good. They are looking very good.

Participant: And then this Taittiriya last class – so much that fellow swallowed, disappeared into the cloud. I will re-learn it in Deep Seek, Maharaj.

Response: Ok.

Participant & Response: Jai Thakur. Jai Thakur.