This is in continuation of the previous blog. Sage Uddalaka in an effort to make Svetaketu, his son and disciple understand the significance of “TAT TVAM ASI” “You are that,” or “That you are,” uses one more analogy.This dialogue between father and son is in Chandogyga Upanishad.
Sage Uddalaka point out at the various rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, etc. At the end of their trail they go and enter ocean and fall into the same body of water. Once they enter the ocean they become a mass of water and longer can make out which is Ganga, which is Yamuna, or any other. If we take a tumbler of water from the ocean we do not know which river-water we are holding. Why? Because the identity of the river has been abolished in the body of the water called ocean.
Again when the Sun draws up the water from the ocean and the clouds are formed and the rain comes down and the rain water flows to the rivers. Then their identity as river is regained. This is an analogy to describe what Absolute is, in respect of the various individuals. These created individuals in bodies are, like rivers, tending towards the ocean of the Absolute. Upon reaching the Absolute, the individual consciousness is Absolute consciousness, just like the rivers entering the ocean. The rivers become the ocean and they do not know where they are, yet they are there. But when they are transformed into rain water by Sun they assume the name of river again.
When they have flown into the ocean and come back as rain from the ocean, they do not know that they have gone there and have come back from there. Similarly we have touched, entered, practically become one with the Absolute in deep sleep, but we do not know that. It is as if our eyes have been blindfolded. When we wake up or take another body, each one of us get back the labels and tags as the rivers get back their identity. That is it. Even in the water waves are formed, ripples are generated, froth is produce, but all this some time merge into the water.
"Now this is the Reality, this is the Absolute of all things, and you too are that“TAT TVAM ASI”, Svetaketu, Says father Uddalaka.
Svetaketu is now interested in knowing about life in all Beings. That we call the survival which is vital for all, called life. Some has life in it and there is no life in some. A plant has life, but a rock has no life. What is meaning of life?
Svetaketu asks his father Sage Uddalaka “Is it that Absolute has not manifested ample in one thing, and has manifested in a greater proportion in something else? It seems that there is a greater manifestation of Absolute in plant and animal kingdom than in rocks and the mineral kingdom; Kindly explain this so that my doubts may be cleared.”
What is the analogy for manifestation of life???? ……. Coming in the next blog!!!!!
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