Upanishads what’s in there?

[Michi713]

The Upanishads, a part of the Vedas, were written down during the Vedic Period of c. 1500 - c. 500 BCE, but probably are a lot older than that. 

 

From the introduction by Eknath Easwaran:

 

“The Upanishads offer a very different version of what religion means.  They tell us there is a Reality underlying life that rituals cannot reach, next to which the things we see and touch in everyday life are shadows. They teach that this Reality is the essence of every created thing, and the same Reality in our Real Self, so that each of us is one with the power that created and sustains the universe.  

 

And finally, they testify that this oneness can be realized directly, without the mediation of priests or rituals, or any of the structures of organized religion, not after death but in this life, and this is the purpose for which each of us has been born and the goal toward which evolution moves.”

 

God and the Self are far beyond the comprehension of the materialist, consumptive mindset, in which we were born and raised.  How does one go about realizing the Self in 2020?

[Michi713]

“Isha Upanishad verses 9-14 is what scholars call a ‘crux,’ or famously difficult passage. “ - Eknath Easwaran, translator.  

 

“In dark night live those for whom 

The world without alone is real; in night

Darker still, for whom the world within 

Alone is real.  The first leads to a life 

Of action, the second to a life of meditation.

But those who combine action with meditation 

Cross the sea of death through action

And enter into immortality 

Through the practice of meditation.

So have we heard from the wise.

 

In dark night live those for whom the Lord 

Is transcendent only; in night darker still,

For who, he is immanent only.

But for those whom he is transcendent 

And immanent cross the sea of death

With the immanent and enter into

Immortality with the transcendent. 

So have we heard from the wise.” 

 

The problem, in this advanced industrial society, is that neither the immanent nor the transcendent are readily apparent.  What sort of darkness is this in which we dwell?
 

To avoid syncretism, I won’t offer my explanation of the immanent and transcendent.   How do you interpret the crux? 

[Steph]

Quote

Heaven is eternal, the Earth everlasting.
How come they to be so?
It is because they do not foster their own lives;
That is why they live so long.

- Lao Tsu (Tao te Ching translated by Arthur Waley

 

31 minutes ago, Michi713 said:

In dark night live those for whom 

The world without alone is real; in night

Darker still, for whom the world within 

Alone is real.  The first leads to a life 

Of action, the second to a life of meditation.

But those who combine action with meditation 

Cross the sea of death through action

And enter into immortality 

Through the practice of meditation.

So have we heard from the wise.

 

 

Maybe the Sages are saying we should just act and to hell with the consequences.

 

[Michi713]

Ooh here’s the sun in the Isha 

 

“The face of truth is hidden by your orb

Of gold, O sun.  May you remove your orb

So that I, who adore the true, may see

The glory of truth.  O nourishing sun, 

Solitary traveler, controller, 

Source of life for all creatures, spread your light

And subdue your dazzling splendor

So that I may see your blessed Self.

Even that very Self am I!”

[shabbirss]

 

[SuperstarNeilC]

 

[MarpatV2]

On 12/26/2020 at 11:35 PM, Michi713 said:

The Upanishads, a part of the Vedas, were written down during the Vedic Period of c. 1500 - c. 500 BCE, but probably are a lot older than that. 

 

From the introduction by Eknath Easwaran:

 

“The Upanishads offer a very different version of what religion means.  They tell us there is a Reality underlying life that rituals cannot reach, next to which the things we see and touch in everyday life are shadows. They teach that this Reality is the essence of every created thing, and the same Reality in our Real Self, so that each of us is one with the power that created and sustains the universe.  

 

And finally, they testify that this oneness can be realized directly, without the mediation of priests or rituals, or any of the structures of organized religion, not after death but in this life, and this is the purpose for which each of us has been born and the goal toward which evolution moves.”

 

God and the Self are far beyond the comprehension of the materialist, consumptive mindset, in which we were born and raised.  How does one go about realizing the Self in 2020?

The Bhavagad Gita gives pretty clear instructions about how to approach the supreme being from a devotional angle.

[KTgran]

On 12/26/2020 at 11:35 PM, Michi713 said:

 

God and the Self are far beyond the comprehension of the materialist, consumptive mindset, in which we were born and raised.  How does one go about realizing the Self in 2020?

 

Anybody who tells you they know what God is can only be believing what someone else has told them or they've had an experience where they '*feel* that they've connected with something Other that feels much bigger than they are; a different level of Being.

 

For me, it was reading Wei Wu Wei (Terrence Gray) that tripped a switch that put me into a state of what they call non dual awareness for two days and nights. As you can see from my posts it didn't stay. However, having had that experience I now believe in the oneness of everything, that they call the Self. There are loads of great speakers/teachers on YouTube. I like Paul Hedderman a lot, Jac O'Keeffe, Fred Davis. People like Alan Watts' lectures. I tried to get it back by reading their words, I've got loads of books, or listening to them speak, because it was utter bliss, but It happens when it happens. Listening to people describe the non separation between Subject and Object can push you there. I'd love to stay in that state. Just believing in the Oneness of everything does help when I really start losing the plot. 

[shabbirss]

3 hours ago, KTgran said:

 

Anybody who tells you they know what God is can only be believing what someone else has told them or they've had an experience where they '*feel* that they've connected with something Other that feels much bigger than they are; a different level of Being.

 

For me, it was reading Wei Wu Wei (Terrence Gray) that tripped a switch that put me into a state of what they call non dual awareness for two days and nights. As you can see from my posts it didn't stay. However, having had that experience I now believe in the oneness of everything, that they call the Self. There are loads of great speakers/teachers on YouTube. I like Paul Hedderman a lot, Jac O'Keeffe, Fred Davis. People like Alan Watts' lectures. I tried to get it back by reading their words, I've got loads of books, or listening to them speak, because it was utter bliss, but It happens when it happens. Listening to people describe the non separation between Subject and Object can push you there. I'd love to stay in that state. Just believing in the Oneness of everything does help when I really start losing the plot. 

something similar happened to me, while reading carlos castaneda books...
- total mental clarity
- "feeling" connected to everything around me

lasted around 2 days for me also, recurring at random times...had around 6 experiences like this so far.
its.... beautiful and the mental clarity u have its like crystal