The Atma Jyoti Blog

This is Part 17 of A Catechism of Enlightenment–a serialized commentary on “A Method Of Enlightening A Disciple” from Shankara’s Upadeshasahasri–A Thousand Teachings

61) “The non–dual and resplendent Lord is hidden in all beings. All-pervading, the inmost Self of all creatures, the impeller to actions, abiding in all things, He is the Witness, the Animator and the Absolute, free from gunas.” (Svetashvatara Upanishad 6:11)

Brahman and the Self are witness, but they are also actor–though only in a dream.

62) “The knowing Self is not born; It does not die. It has not sprung from anything; nothing has sprung from It. Birthless, eternal, everlasting and ancient, It is not killed when the body is killed.” (Katha Upanishad 1:2:18)

The salient point here is that nothing has really “come from” Brahman or the Self. All projections for the purpose of “creation” are really only concepts–dreams. The dreams are real, but the things in the dreams are not real.

63) “It is through the Atman that one perceives all objects in sleep or in the waking state. Having realized the vast, all-pervading Atman, the calm soul does not grieve.” (Katha Upanishad 2:1:4)

This simply underscores what was just said in the last section.

64) “‘He is my Self’–This one should know.” (Kaushitaki Brahmana Upanishad 3:8)

This is true knowledge of Brahman–not as an object, but as our inmost reality.

65) “The wise man beholds all beings in the Self, and the Self in all beings.” (Isha Upanishad 6)

This is self-explanatory.

66) “It moves and moves not; It is far and likewise near. It is inside all this and It is outside all this.” (Isha Upanishad 5)

No comment needed.

67) “He [it is] in whom the universe finds a single place of rest. Having seen that Paramatman, one becomes a true knower of all the worlds and proclaims that Reality as immortal. He knows that all-pervasive One.” (Mahanarayan Upanishad 1:15)

There is no place of rest but Brahman and the Self–that are really one. Those who know Brahman and the Self know all the worlds that have come forth from Brahman and the bodies (little “worlds”) that have come forth from the Self. Such a one proclaims Reality both in his life and in his words. His authority is his knowledge.

68) “All beings are the body of One who resides in the hearts of all.” (Apastamba Dharma Sutra 1:8:22)

No mystery here. Brahman is the Self in all bodies, the Self in all selves.

69) “All gods verily are the Self.” (Manu Smriti 12:119)

We have already said a lot about “gods,” including this fact. To really worship gods or God we need to know our Self.

70) “The knowers of the Self look with an equal eye on a Brahmana endowed with learning and humility, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a pariah.” (Bhagavad Gita 5:18)

This is because they see that they are all indwelt by the eternal Self–that is their own Self as well.

71) “Undivided, yet He exists as if divided in beings; He is to be known as the supporter of beings; He absorbs and He projects also.” (Bhagavad Gita 13:16)

Brahman is never divided, but he experiences unreal division by his will. He is “supporter of beings” because he is dreaming them, is the basis of their existence. He alternately absorbs and projects them within the cosmic dream.