Selection from Sacred Text of Ancient Hinduism: Upanishads, Part 2 of 2

Today, we will continue to share with you excerpts from the Kena-Upanishad. This Upanishad focuses on how to know the Absolute Truth of Brahman. Such knowledge transcends the mind. The Kena-Upanishad concludes that it is possible to connect with this Absolute Truth, through the union of the soul with God.

“It (Brahman) is known, when It is known in every state of consciousness. (Through such knowledge) one attains immortality. By attaining this Self, man gains strength; and by Self-knowledge immortality is attained. If one knows It here, that is Truth; if one knows It not here, then great is his loss. The wise seeing the same Self in all beings, being liberated from this world, become immortal.”

“Then the Brahman said: ‘What power is in thee?’ Vayu replied: ‘I can blow away all whatsoever exists on Earth.’ Brahman placed a straw before him and said: ‘Blow this away.’ He (Vayu) rushed towards it with all speed, but was not able to blow it away. So he returned from there and said (to the Devas): ‘I was not able to find out what this great mystery is.’ Then they said to Indra: ‘O Maghavan (Worshipful One)! Find out what this mystery is.’ He said: ‘Yes’; and ran towards it, but it disappeared before him. Then he saw in that very space a woman beautifully adorned, Uma of golden hue, daughter of Haimavat (Himalaya). He asked: ‘What is this great mystery?’”

“The Upanishad is based on tapas (practice of the control of body, mind and senses), dama (subjugation of the senses), karma (right performance of prescribed actions). The Vedas are its limbs. Truth is its support. He who knows this (wisdom of the Upanishad), having been cleansed of all sin, becomes established in the blissful, eternal and highest abode of Brahman (the Supreme Lord), in the highest abode of Brahman.”