The Ancient World (HUM 124 - UNC Asheville)/Texts/Upanisads

In the Upanishads, Svetaketu is trying to learn where existence came from and the purpose of human life. He asks his teacher about the existence of Earth, and his teacher says, "But, son, how can that possibly be?' he continued. 'How can what is existent be born from what is non-existent? On the con­trary, son, in the beginning this world was simply what is existent--one only, without a second." This explanation of the creation of the Earth varies from those written in Genesis. In Genesis, God created Earth in seven days. God then creates humans which forsake him and are punished by being banished from the Garden of Eden. However, in these stories, the purpose of mankind is explained in a different light. Man's purpose lies within self-realization, self-tranquility and a relationship with the natural world to become closer to Brahma. Through these stories it is shown that every person is spiritually the same because "we are merging into the existent." The atman, the soul, is what brings humans closers to their deities. Svetaketu cultivates his atman by engaging in self-realization and self-tranquillity. This is demonstrated through the stories by having Svetaketu goes on to find Brahma is all things, the honey is his soul gathered from "this tree's nectar" and "that tree's nectar", never just from one place.

In another story of the Upanishads Bhrgu learns austerity from his father Veruna hoping to gain a connection with Brahma. "He perceived: Brahma is food, life breath, mind, perception and bliss." Learning what Brahma is, is subjective to each person because practicing those austerities are connotative and rely on the individual. "This is the doctrine of Bhrgu. ... when someone comes to know this-he will be firmly established...and the lustre of sacred knowledge; he will become a big man on account of his fame."

Introduction

Upanishads, the latest part of the sacred scriptures Vedas. These scriptures are thought to be translated as knowledge in the early Vedic period (1500-800 BCE).

The self, or the atman, is described as the tiniest and largest thing, residing in the heart. Held in the atman is everything absorbed in the world by that person. It remains after death and re-enters the world until one understands itself in relation to Brahman. In Chapter 6: 13 the teacher compares the atman to salt dissolved in water. The teacher uses this to explain to the student that although the atman is always present, even if it is not visible.

Space is the Atman because it encompasses everything, and you become Brahman after you die. Your presence in life is Atman, what your soul becomes after is Brahman. A quote from passage one of the Upanishads is " That in which these things are born on which once born that they live and into that they pass beyond death, which is Brahman."

The Upanishads is a series of multiple stories that teach different lessons about life and creation much like other holy books.

There are more than two hundred known Upanishads. These Upanishads are divided into different categories. The word Upanishad means "sitting near devotedly".

The Upanishads were created in Northern India.

The Upanishads include sections on philosophical theories and even include rituals. The Upanishads are known as "wisdom teachings that explore the deeper, internal meaning of sacrifice".

Key Terms

Jalan - waters, commonly associated with the Goddesses of Hinduism

prana - lifeforce, breath, vital principal

Brahma - creator God in Hinduism

Brahman - one unified, divine essence, the Absolute, the Origin

Atman - self, a spiritual component, or pure consciousness

Moksha- release from the cycle of rebirth