Chapter 5 - Conclusion

Upaniṣad visualises a world where the blowing wind brings a sweet feeling and the flowing rivers remind one of the taste of honey—

madhu vātā ṛtayate madhu kṣaranti sindhavaḥ.^[1]

It also dreams of a world where truth reigns Supreme—

satyameva jayate.^[2]

The study of Upaniṣads is of special significance to us because it is a living factor in our life. The message of Upaniṣads has come down to us as a rich human legacy which is very much fascinating and rewarding study. Bold philosophical speculation of Upaniṣads has shown us the meaning of human existence. The Greatest and most unique contribution of Upaniṣads is in the field of the uniqueness of life. Focus of Upaniṣads is the man in the society. It aims at continuous refinement of his life and thought. Universality is the essential characteristics of the message of Upaniṣads. It is concerned with humanism. It enables man to attain social excellence.

Discovery of divinity in man is the powerful teaching of Vedānta. Teaching of Upaniṣads constitute central stream of Indian culture.

Reality in every man should be realised. The reality is Brahman. Arise and awake is the greatest teaching that Upaniṣads impart. Uttiṣțata jāgrata says the sage in Kaṭha Upaniṣad. We are sleeping. We are ignorant we should get up and give up dreams in which we are merged. We should know the reality. We should realise world is like a dream. Darkness is dispelled as soon as lamp is there. In the same way ignorance vanishes when there is realisation of Truth.

Truth is that Brahman is the only reality, world is mere appearance. As fire having entry into the world takes various forms according to the form of the object it has entered, in the similar way the Supreme Self which is one adopts various forms according to the shape of worldly objects.

agnirjathaiko bhuvanaṃ praviṣṭo rūpaṃ rūpaṃ pratirūpo vabhūva /
ekastathā sarvabhūtāntarātmā rūpaṃ rūpaṃ pratirupo vahiśca /^[3]

Though the primary focus of Upaniṣad is on knowledge that prepares the ground for Salvation, it has not remained unconcerned about Dharma (righteousness), Artha (prosperity) and Kāma (enjoyment), the other aspects of human life. Upaniṣad recognizes the human urge to enjoy worldly happiness but advises individuals to desist from thinking that everything is for their exclusive enjoyment and to make it a point to remember that others have their due share.

Upaniṣads are not averse to acquisition of wealth but advise people not to fix covetous gaze on wealth possessed by others—

mā gṛdhaḥ kasyasvid dhanam.^[4]

Upaniṣads also advise people to practise self-control, nonattachment and non-violence—

dāmyata datta dayadhvam^[5]

It is desirable to have control on one's own senses and remain calm under all circumstances however adverse that might be. One should never be tempted to resort to violence, however grave the provocation may be—

mā vidviṣāvahai^[6]

It is also advisable to refrain from being attached to anything beyond certain measure—

tena tyaktena bhuñjīthāḥ.^[7]

Upaniṣads make us properly equipped to be engage in life struggle. Upaniṣadic messages provide impetus for building up character desired of a real human being. Upaniṣads have taught us that our mother is the incarnation of God.

mātṛdevo bhava.^[8]

The care with which our mother nurtures us is a manifestation of divine love. Upaniṣads taught us that our father and our preceptor also are incarnations of God.

pitṛdevo bhava, āchāryadevo bhava.^[9]

We always owe an unrepayable debt to our father who prepares our road to worldly way and to our teacher who leads us to the path of enlightenment. Upaniṣadic teachings provide invaluable guidance towards character building in human beings. The teachings of Upaniṣad are to be thoroughly followed in order to achieve perfection in life. Every good work and every good thought brings us closer to the ideal of an all embracing purity.

Advice of Upaniṣads is—

yānyanavadyāni karmāṇi tāni sevitavyani, no etarāṇi.^[10]

Do what is praiseworthy and not otherwise. Swamiji says, there are two tendencies in human nature—one to harmonise the ideal with the life and the other to elevate the life to the ideal.^[11]

The Central theme of Upaniṣads is to make us realise that we all are one with divine being—tattvamasi^[12]

Thou art that. When we accept that individual self is no other then the Supreme Self, we arrive at the concept of The One reciting in all and do away with the idea of multiplicity. Unity is real and Diversity is merely an appearance. This Upaniṣadic ideal of oneness propels us to love all because we are all one—idaṃ sarvaṃ yadayamātmā^[13]

All this is Supreme Soul. To feel for others is thus realising this oneness. The feeling that encourages people to consider oneself separate from others is illusory. When oneness is truth it is imperative for us to love others.

Radhakrishnan says, ''the destiny of human race as of the individual depends on the direction of its life focus, the lights which guide it and laws that mould it''.^[14]

Upaniṣads is the light that shows us the part of life. Brahman or Supreme Self is—

Saccidānandasvarūpam.^[15]

Existence knowledge and bliss. By realising this bliss one becomes blissful—

Raso vai saḥ. rasaṃ hyevāyaṃ lavdhvānandī bhavati.^[16]

Having become blissful having brought the mind under control we realise true nature of self—

ānandarūpamamṛtaṃ yad vibhati.^[17]

That which is real is blissful and immortal. Upaniṣads thus stand out as a perennial source of inspiration to achieve success and lead a meaningful life by rendering service to fellowmen.

In line with Upaniṣadic thinking, Swami Vivekananda pointed out^[18] that the greatness of an individual on one hand and of the entire nation on the other emanates from the ability to fulfil three necessary conditions, namely, (I) conviction of one's own inherent power of being good and doing what is good for the world, (II) ability to inculcate the habit of avoiding jealousy and suspicion when dealing with people, and (III) the inclination to be of help to all who are making efforts to be good to others and to do whatever is good for the society.

Herein lies the spirit of Upaniṣads which needs to be imbibed by the human mind as its prime end. To unveil this spirit would be the objective of the present study.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Bṛhadāraṇyakaopaniṣad 6.3.6

[2]:

Muṇḍakopaniṣad 3.1.6

[3]:

Kat. U. 2,2,9

[4]:

Iśa U.I

[5]:

Bṛhadāraṇyakaopaniṣad 5.2.3

[6]:

Taittirīya Upaniṣad 2.1.20

[7]:

Iśa U. 1

[8]:

Taittirīya Upaniṣad 1.2.2

[9]:

Taittirīya Upaniṣad 1.2.2

[10]:

Taittirīya Upaniṣad 1.2.2

[11]:

Vivekananda Reader P195

[12]:

Chāndogyopaniṣad 6.8.7

[13]:

Bṛhadāraṇyakaopaniṣad 4.5.7

[14]:

Eastern Religion and Western Thought P2

[15]:

Vedan. Mangalā. 1

[16]:

Taittirīya Upaniṣad 2.7.1

[17]:

Muṇḍakopaniṣad 2.2.8

[18]:

Letters of Swami Vivekananda P67