Summary:

Atman Bodha, Verse 58: All beings, including Brahmā and deities in higher lokas, experience only a fraction of Brahman's undivided happiness (ananda), through temporary seeker-sought resolution. Though higher lokas offer subtler pleasures, they remain limited due to avidya/adhyasa. As Kena Upanishad shows through Indra's story, moksha is unlikely in heaven due to being primarily a bhokta (enjoyer). The only solution is recognizing one's non-connection to the limited traveler (jiva), as moksha offers permanent seeker-sought resolution.

Atman Bodha, Verse 59: Brahman pervades all objects and transactions like butter pervades milk. Whether in pitr loka (ancestral realm), insect, or Brahmā's form – the content is always Brahman. Self-evident Awareness constitutes every form while remaining free of all forms, never changing or having changed, thus findable here and now.

Verse 58: All beings depend on Brahman’s bliss

अखण्डानन्दरूपस्य तस्य आनन्दलवाश्रिताः ।
ब्रह्मादयाः तारतम्येन भवन्ति आनन्दिनः अखिलाः ॥
akhaṇḍa ānanda rūpasya tasya ānanda lava āśritāḥ |
brahma ādayāḥ tāratam yena bhavanti ānandinaḥ akhilāḥ ||

Brahman's nature is undivided ānanda. Depending on just a fraction of that ānanda, the creator and other deities (like Brahmā), all of them experience ānanda in shades of degree and intensity [taste only a particle of the unlimited bliss of Brahman].

Intro to other beings & lokas:

There are other lokas populated by countless jivas. The Jivas in higher lokas enjoy subtler-bodies and subtler-objects – thus pleasures are heightened. Vedic karma–kanda focuses on taking you to higher lokas, recognizing earth-experience is highly limited.

Pleasures are experienced in same way for all beings:

Method by which any being experiences pleasure (in any loka), is via temporary seeker/sought resolution. Additionally, happiness in other lokas (worlds/heavens) are also limited, because your happiness is different from another’s happiness, or Brahmā’s happiness. Long as there’s temporary seeker-sought resolution, it’s within avidya/adhyasa.

For example, in Kena Upanishads, the yaksha (represents guru in potential) asks Vayu (represents the guru) to blow blade of grass. Vayu can’t. Burn this grass Agni. Agni can’t. Indra instead of being arrogant (hearing story of Vayu/Agni), says: What have you come to teach us? That’s when Uma (the guru) comes and helps him see his truth. It wishes to convey moksha is potentially possible in heaven, but unlikely (due to being largely a bhokta – and having little discomfort to begin an inquiry).

Any form of spirituality or travelling to worlds on earth or after death — is bound to seeker/sought temporary resolution. The only solution is to recognize you have no connection to the limited traveler; jiva.

How is pursuit of Brahman different from lokas/better worlds – where happiness is heightened?

In moksha, seeker/sought is resolved permanently in one reality, and I am that very reality. Thus recognizing Brahman, is highest form of contentment from any other loka in Existence.

Verse 59: Brahman pervades all transactions

तद्युक्तम् अखिलम् वस्तु व्यवहारः तदन्वितः ।
तस्मात् सर्वगतम् ब्रह्म क्षीरे सर्पिः इव अखिले ॥
tad yuktam akhilam vastu vyavahāraḥ cid anvitaḥ |
tasmāt sarvagatam brahma kṣīre sarpiḥ iva akhile ||

All objects are pervaded by Brahman. All transactions are taking place within Brahman. Therefore, Brahman is everywhere just like ghee [or butter] is in the milk.

Butter is present throughout milk but not immediately visible until the milk is churned. Similarly, each form is pervaded by the same content (Brahman):

1. Human: Form and it’s content (Brahman).
2. Pitr loka: We give respect to ancestors who contributed to our life. Form is different from human form, content is Brahman.
3. Insect / Brahmā: Form and it’s content Brahman.

Conclusion: Self-evident Awareness makes up every form, while remaining free of every form. Awareness never changes nor changed, else wouldn't find it here-now.

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Recorded 17 Jan, 2025