ISAVASYA UPANISHAD : - Mantram -1.

ISAVASYA UPANISHAD :

or  


VAJASANEYI    SAMHITA    UPANISHAD 



Mantram -1.


 Discussion-4. 'two  approaches  to  truth' ...


In  the  Upanishads,  there  are  two  approaches  to  Truth ---  one  through  the  external  world-of-objects,  and  the  other  through  a 'Subjective'  enquiry  into  this  assemblage  which  the  seeker,  by  error  and  habit  has  come  to  call  as  himself.

This  'Upanishad' in  its  very  first  mantram, starts by  a  declaration  that  the  seeker's  own  multiple  personality  is  presided  ofer  by  the ' Isa' ,  the  Lord.

The  student  is  apt  to  misunderstand  here  that  the 'Atma' is  divinely  sparkling  only  in  himself  and  may  come  to  understand  that  the  Divine  is  presiding  over  the  forms  of  only  men!

May  be  include  in  his  concept  all  mankind.



To  negate  this  misunderstanding  in  the  seeker,  the  very  first  line  of  the  'mantram'  continues 
in  an  adverbial  clause  to  modify  the  pronoun  'this' ! 

It  says  that  the  term  'this' includes  and  incorporates  all  "that  moves  on  this  universe, including  the  moving  universe  itself." 

The  entire  world  of  perceptions,  feelings,  and  ideas  exists  only  in  the  Supreme  Reality,  just  as  all  kinds  of  waves,  bubbles,  froth,  and  whirls  exist  only  in  the  ocean.

We cannot  have  a  wave  but  in  the  ocean;  in  fact,  the  wave  is  nothing  other  than  the  ocean;   
waves  are  but  expressions  of  the  strength,  might  and  power  of  the  ocean.

Similarly,  whatever  ( yat-kinca )   names  and  forms  are  there  in  the  universe,  all  of  them  are  but  expressions  of  the  glory  of the  Eternal  Truth;  in  themselves  they  are  nothing  other  than  the  'Spirit'.

To  be  continued  ...

      
  Swami Chinmayananda ( on chair ) and  Swami  Dayananda Saraswati ( on the floor )