Teachings of Sage Uddalaka Aruni
Prelude: Sage Uddalaka Aruni’s discourse with his son Svetaketu in Chandogya Upanishad gives an insight into the knowing of ultimate truth and the real Self.
Svetaketu: Supreme Being is said to be nameless and formless? How can I know this principle?
Uddalaka Aruni: Son, you might have seen many earthen pots of many forms having different names. There are also gold and steel articles of different forms and names. When you crush them, you will get the essence of the articles like clay, gold and steel. Though the forms and names are lost, the essence of the articles is revealed as clay, gold or steel. That revelation as to the nature of the mud or metals is the ultimate truth. Form and names are immaterial to know the Reality, which is the Supreme Being.
Svetaketu: Father, you had told me about the non-living things. How about living things like human beings, animals and insects?
Uddalaka Aruni: A man, a tiger or a fly is having different names and forms. But, when it dies, it loses its name and form. A subtle essence leaves its body. That subtle essence is the Reality, which is the Supreme Being.
Svetaketu: When the articles of clay, gold or steel are crushed, we are left with residues, which are perceptible. But, when the living creatures die, why should we not presume that all have perished along with their bodies?
Uddalaka Aruni: Fine question, son. From the clay, gold or steel, articles take its form. Hence, there should be some basic element in the living things to give birth. We call it as the Soul or Being, which is though non-perceptible, is the Reality. Let me explain this principle by an example. Please bring a ripe red berry like seed of the banyan tree. Split the seed into two.
Svetaketu: I have split it into two and I see innumerable tiny seeds inside.
Uddalaka Aruni: Take one tiny seed and split it.
Svetaketu: I have split it, but I see nothing at all.
Uddalaka Aruni: O, my son! The big banyan tree cannot come out of nothing. Only you cannot see the subtle essence in the seed from which springs forth the mighty banyan tree.
Svetaketu: It is baffling. But, how can I realize it, even if I merely know it?
Uddalaka Aruni: It is very simple. Take a few crystals of salt and put them into a bowl of water.
Svetaketu: I have done as ordained.
Uddalaka Aruni: Take out the salt.
Svetaketu: Salt is dissolved in the water. How can I take it?
Uddalaka Aruni: All right! Taste the water in the bowl.
Svetaketu: It is salty.
Uddalaka Aruni: The Soul or Being, which is invisible like salt, pervades all living things. Just looking at the water, you cannot presume that the water does not contain salt. Similarly, insight into the subject matter like the act of tasting will make one to realize the soul or Reality, when living things die. Existence of soul is thus established.
Svetaketu: Fine. But, Individual Soul is said to merge with the One Supreme Being. How do I to know the individual soul loses its individuality on its merger?
Uddalaka Aruni: Bees collect honey from various flowers and store it in the hive. When the honey is taken out from the hive, is it possible to identify the droplets of the honey to the respective flowers? Similarly all beings like honey in the flowers lose their identities. One more example will enforce clarity in understanding of the Being losing its name and form on its merging with the One Supreme Being which pervades everything.
Various rivers from four quarters flow into the vast sea only to lose their names and forms. Can anyone make out the waters of the various rivers from the sea? No. So is the case with the various Beings when they merge in that One Being.
Svetaketu: Now, it is quite clear that every Being is from that One Being and is also to go and merge with that One Being. But, how could the departing Being find its way to that One Being?
Uddalaka Aruni: Suppose we blindfold a man and leave him into an unknown forest away from his residence. What would he do? How would he try to find his home? As soon as he is left to himself, he would just remove the cover from his eyes. Then he would wander about inquiring for the region from which he was taken away. He would ultimately get a proper guide and will succeed in reaching his residence.
In exactly the same manner a man who has found a teacher acquires true knowledge. This true knowledge is the gate pass to merge with the One Being. For others who are yet to achieve this true knowledge, their souls have to take birth again and again, till their realization.
Svetaketu: Supreme Being is said to be nameless and formless? How can I know this principle?
Uddalaka Aruni: Son, you might have seen many earthen pots of many forms having different names. There are also gold and steel articles of different forms and names. When you crush them, you will get the essence of the articles like clay, gold and steel. Though the forms and names are lost, the essence of the articles is revealed as clay, gold or steel. That revelation as to the nature of the mud or metals is the ultimate truth. Form and names are immaterial to know the Reality, which is the Supreme Being.
Svetaketu: Father, you had told me about the non-living things. How about living things like human beings, animals and insects?
Uddalaka Aruni: A man, a tiger or a fly is having different names and forms. But, when it dies, it loses its name and form. A subtle essence leaves its body. That subtle essence is the Reality, which is the Supreme Being.
Svetaketu: When the articles of clay, gold or steel are crushed, we are left with residues, which are perceptible. But, when the living creatures die, why should we not presume that all have perished along with their bodies?
Uddalaka Aruni: Fine question, son. From the clay, gold or steel, articles take its form. Hence, there should be some basic element in the living things to give birth. We call it as the Soul or Being, which is though non-perceptible, is the Reality. Let me explain this principle by an example. Please bring a ripe red berry like seed of the banyan tree. Split the seed into two.
Svetaketu: I have split it into two and I see innumerable tiny seeds inside.
Uddalaka Aruni: Take one tiny seed and split it.
Svetaketu: I have split it, but I see nothing at all.
Uddalaka Aruni: O, my son! The big banyan tree cannot come out of nothing. Only you cannot see the subtle essence in the seed from which springs forth the mighty banyan tree.
Svetaketu: It is baffling. But, how can I realize it, even if I merely know it?
Uddalaka Aruni: It is very simple. Take a few crystals of salt and put them into a bowl of water.
Svetaketu: I have done as ordained.
Uddalaka Aruni: Take out the salt.
Svetaketu: Salt is dissolved in the water. How can I take it?
Uddalaka Aruni: All right! Taste the water in the bowl.
Svetaketu: It is salty.
Uddalaka Aruni: The Soul or Being, which is invisible like salt, pervades all living things. Just looking at the water, you cannot presume that the water does not contain salt. Similarly, insight into the subject matter like the act of tasting will make one to realize the soul or Reality, when living things die. Existence of soul is thus established.
Svetaketu: Fine. But, Individual Soul is said to merge with the One Supreme Being. How do I to know the individual soul loses its individuality on its merger?
Uddalaka Aruni: Bees collect honey from various flowers and store it in the hive. When the honey is taken out from the hive, is it possible to identify the droplets of the honey to the respective flowers? Similarly all beings like honey in the flowers lose their identities. One more example will enforce clarity in understanding of the Being losing its name and form on its merging with the One Supreme Being which pervades everything.
Various rivers from four quarters flow into the vast sea only to lose their names and forms. Can anyone make out the waters of the various rivers from the sea? No. So is the case with the various Beings when they merge in that One Being.
Svetaketu: Now, it is quite clear that every Being is from that One Being and is also to go and merge with that One Being. But, how could the departing Being find its way to that One Being?
Uddalaka Aruni: Suppose we blindfold a man and leave him into an unknown forest away from his residence. What would he do? How would he try to find his home? As soon as he is left to himself, he would just remove the cover from his eyes. Then he would wander about inquiring for the region from which he was taken away. He would ultimately get a proper guide and will succeed in reaching his residence.
In exactly the same manner a man who has found a teacher acquires true knowledge. This true knowledge is the gate pass to merge with the One Being. For others who are yet to achieve this true knowledge, their souls have to take birth again and again, till their realization.
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