The Upanishads
Chandogya Upanishad
My previous posts on the book and its chapters:
- Upanishads - Prashna
- Taittriya Upanishads
- Mundaka Upanishad
- Kena and Katha Upanishads
- Brihadaranyaka and Mandukya Upanishads
Notes (from the book)
According to immemorial Indian tradition, the universe is founded on two principles. One is rita, rythm, or regularity. ... The sages of the Upanishads banked on this principle, and came up with the most orderly and comprehensive description of reality known to human culture.
The second principle is yajna, sacrifice.
If rita is the moral law, within and without, yajna is the human response to live in accordance with that law... So important is this principle to human functioning that the Chandogya says simple, "Man is sacrifice" (III.16.1).
Selections from the Chandogya Upanishad
I.I.2 For as the earth comes from the waters, plants from earth, and man from plants, so speech is the essence of the Rig Veda; but Sama is the essence of Rig, and of Sama the essence is OM, the Udgitha.
III.14.1 This universe comes forth from Brahman and will return to Brahman. Verily, all is Brahman.
Chapter 4 tells the story of Satyakama, and Chapter 6 the story of Shvetaketu.
VI.2.2 "In the beginning was only Being,
One Without a second.
VI.8.1 "Let us start with sleep. What happens in it?
When a man is absorbed in dreamless sleep,
He is one with the Self, though he knows it not.
We say he sleeps, but he sleeps in the Self.
VI.8.6 "When a man departs from this world, dear one,
Speech merges i mind, mind in prana,
Prana in fire, and fire in pure Being.
VI.8.7 There is nothing that does not come from him.
Of everything he is the innmost Self.
He is the truth; he is the Self supreme.
You are that Shvetaketu; you are that."
Chapter 7 is Narada's Education
VII.23.1 "Whatever you know is just words," said
Sanatkumara, "names of infinite phenomena.
It is the Infinite that is the source of abiding
joy because it is not subject to change.
Therefore seek to know the Infinite."
VII.24.1 "Where one realizes the indivisible unity
of life, sees nothing else, hears nothing else,
knows nothing else, that is the Infinite. Where
one sees separateness, hears separateness,
knows separateness, that is the finite. The
Infinite is beyond death, but the finite
cannot escape death."
VIII.3.1 Here our selfless desires are hidden by
selfish ones. They are real, but they are
covered by what is false. Therefore whoever
of our own departs from this life, not one can
ever be brought back before our eyes. But all
those we love, alive or departed, and all
things we desire but do not have, are found
when we enter that space within the heart; for
there abide all desires that are true, though
covered by what is false.
Like strangers in an unfamiliar country
walking over a hidden treasure, day by day
we enter the world of Brahman while in deep
sleep but never find it, carried away by a what is false.
VIII.13.1 From the Divine Dark to the manifest
To the Divine Dark I pass again.
As a horse shakes free its mane, I have
Shaken off evil. Freeing myself
From the bonds of birth and death as the moon
Escapes from Rahu's mouth, I have attained
The pure realm of Brahman; I have attained
The pure realm of Brahman.
VIII.15.1 Brahman is my home. I shall not lose it.l
Truly I shall not be lost again.
OM shanti shanti shanti
Book Details:
- Paperback: 311 pages
- Publisher: Nilgiri Press; 1 edition (June 1987)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0915132397
- ISBN-13: 978-0915132393
- Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.5 x 1 inches
- Nilgiri Press page on Wikipedia
- Eknath Easwaran entry in Wikipedia
- Nilgiri Press web site
- Michael Nagler's web site
