ISHA
UPANISHAD
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Also
called the Isavasya Upanishad, deals with the union of God, the world, being
and becoming. The stress is on the Absolute in relation with the world (paramesvara).
The gist of the teachings is that a person's worldly and otherworldly goals
need not necessarily be opposed to each other.
By the Lord
is enveloped all that moves in the moving world. By renouncing this, find
your enjoyment. Do not covet the possessions of others. Working here one may
wish to live for a hundred years. Thus it is up to you---there is no other
way than this--- the work does not adhere to you. Demonic are those worlds
named, covered in blinding darkness; there after death go those people who
kill the soul. Unmoving the one is faster than the mind. The angels do not
reach it, as it is always beyond them. Standing still it passes beyond those
who run. In it the Mother establishes the waters. It moves, and it does not
move. It is far, and it is near. It is within all this, and it is also
outside all this. Whoever sees all beings in the soul and the soul in all
beings does not shrink away from this. In whom all beings have become one
with the knowing soul what delusion or sorrow is there for the one who sees
unity? It has filled all. It is radiant, incorporeal, invulnerable, without
tendons, pure, untouched by evil. Wise, intelligent, encompassing,
self-existent, it organizes objects throughout eternity. Into blind darkness
enter those who follow ignorance; into even greater darkness go those who
follow knowledge. It is distinct, they say, from knowledge. It is distinct,
they say, from ignorance. So have we heard from the wise who explained it to
us. Knowledge and ignorance, whoever knows the two together with ignorance
passes over death, with knowledge attains immortality. Into blind darkness
enter those who follow non-becoming; into greater darkness enter those who
follow becoming. It is distinct, they say, from becoming. It is distinct,
they say, from non-becoming. So have we heard from the wise who explained it
to us. Becoming and destruction, whoever knows the two together with
destruction passes over death, with becoming attains immortality. The face
of truth is covered with a golden disc. Unveil it, nourisher, for one whose
duty is to see the truth. Nourisher, one seer, controller, sun, child of the
creator, spread your light and gather your brilliance that I may see your
loveliest form. Whatever is that Spirit, that also am I. May this life enter
into the immortal breath! This body then ends in ashes. Aum. Purpose,
remember! Action, remember! Purpose, remember! Action, remember! Agni, lead
us by a good path to success, you god who knows all ways. Keep us away from
deceitful sins. We offer ample prayer to you.
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