VI. The Mundaka Upanishad: Modes of Knowing
In the Upanishads, the concept of satya means “the truth”, “the Real”, and “the Good.” These three qualities are all the same. Turn away from negativity and separateness and unreality.
“ A great householder named Shaunaka once came to Argira and recently asked: What is that by knowing which all is known?
He replied:
The illumined sages say knowledge is twofold, higher and lower.
The study of the Vedas, linguistics, rituals,
Astronomy, and all the arts can be called lower knowledge.
The higher is that which leads to Self-realization.”
“The rituals and sacrifices described in the Vedas deal with lower knowledge.
The sages ignored these and went in search of higher knowledge.
Such rituals are unsafe rafts for crossing
The sea of samsara (appearances) is of birth and death.
Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross
The sea of samsara on these poor rafts.”
“The Lord of Love is above name and form.” [Name and form also known as “you” 有，in the “Dao De Jing“ by Laozi: Ch. 1)
“Take the great bow of the sacred scriptures
Place it on the arrow of devotion;
Then draw the bowstring of meditation
And aim at the target, the Lord of Love.”
“Like two golden birds perched on the selfsame tree
Intimate friends, the ego and the Self
Dwell in the same body.
The former eats the sweet and sour fruits of the tree of life
While the latter looks on in detachment.”
“When you realize that you are the Self
Supreme source of light, supreme source of love
You transcend the duality of life
And enter in the unitive state.”
“Not through discourse, not through the intellect
Not even through study of the scriptures
Can the Self be realized.
The Self reveals himself to the one who longs for the Self.
Those who long for the Self with all their heart
Are chosen by the Self as his own.” [John 6:44]