Union with the True Self – Selections From the Upanishads, an Ancient Hindu Text, Part 1 of 2 (presented in Nepali with many subtitles )

Today, it is a delight to present selections from the fourth and fifth prapâthaka in the Maitrâyana-Brâhmana- Upanishad from the book “The Upanishads,” translated by Max Müller.

Maitrâyana-Brâhmana- Upanishad FOURTH PRAPÂTHAKA.

“The Vâlakhilyas, whose passions were subdued, approached Pragâpati Kratu full of amazement and said: ‘O Saint, we bow before thee; […] for thou are the way, and there is no other for us. What process is there for the elemental Self, by which, after leaving this (identity with the elemental body), he obtains union with the (true) Self?’ Pragâpati Kratu said to them: ‘It has been said elsewhere: Like the waves in large rivers, that which has been done before, cannot be turned back, and, like the tide of the sea, the approach of death is hard to stem. Bound by the fetters of the fruits of good and evil, like a cripple; without freedom, like a man in prison; beset by many fears, like one standing before Yama (the judge of the dead); intoxicated by the wine of illusion, like one intoxicated by wine; rushing about, like one possessed by an evil spirit; bitten by the world, like one bitten by a great serpent; darkened by passion, like the night; illusory, like magic; false, like a dream; pithless, like the inside of the Kadalî; changing its dress in a moment, like an actor; fair in appearance, like a painted wall, thus they call him; and therefore it is said: Sound, touch, and other things are like nothings; if the elemental Self is attached to them, it will not remember the Highest Place. […]

For thus it is said: By ascetic penance, goodness is obtained, from goodness, understanding, is reached, from understanding the Self is obtained, and he who has obtained that, does not return. “Brahman is,” thus said one who knew the science of Brahman; and this penance is the door to Brahman, thus said one who by penance had cast off all sin. The syllable Om is the manifest greatness of Brahman; thus said one who well grounded (in Brahman), always meditates on it. Therefore, by knowledge, by penance, and by meditation is Brahman gained. Thus one goes beyond Brahman (Hiranyagarbha), and to a divinity higher than the gods; nay, he who knows this, and worships Brahman by these three (by knowledge, penance, and meditation), obtains bliss imperishable, infinite, and unchangeable. Then freed from those things (the senses of the body, et cetera) by which he was filled and overcome, a mere charioteer, he obtains union with the Self.’ […]”

“Next follows Kutsâyana’s hymn of praise: ‘[…] Lord of the Universe, glory to Thee! Thou are the Self of All, Thou are the maker of All, the enjoyer of All; Thou are all life, and the lord of all pleasure and joy. […]’”