The Atman

When the body decays and dies, the atman is intact. The atman has no sense of sin, old age, death, sorrow, hunger or thirst. A king rules over his subjects. Like that , a person who does not know about the atman, is ruled over by the desire to savour the fruits of his action. Those who do not know about the atman during life, continue to be in bondage in the after-life. But those who know about the atman during life, become free in the after-life. 

The atman is like a bridge; it holds the worlds together. The atman knows no night or day, it knows not old age, death, misery, sorrow, righteousness and evil. Sins cannot touch the atman. 

Essence of the Brahman

The Brahman cannot be realised through speech, the mind or the eyes. Those who believe in the Brahman say that he exists. There are atheists who do not believe in the existence of the Brahman. How can the Brahman become manifest to such atheists?

The essence of the Brahman can only be felt if it is believed that he exists. When the Brahman is felt to exit, his radiance shines forth.

"Upanishads"

 

Brahman Grant Us Wisdom

May the unique brahman grant us wisdom. At the time of creation, he creates diverse objects. At the time of preservation, the entire universe finds refuge in him. At the time of destruction, the entire universe merge into his being.

the brahman is the fire, the sun, the wind, the moon, the stars and the water. he is hiranyagarbha, the creator. he is born and accepts different forms. he is man and woman, young and old. he is the blue bee, the green parrot, the cloud full of lightning and the seasons and the oceans. he has no origin and is present everywhere. It is form him that the universe was created.

"Upanishads"

Radha-Krishna Swing Carved Panel at temple

No other Path to Immortality

“The Brahman is constant and does not get destroyed. When he adopts two different forms, that is known as the state of being in twain (dvaita). (This means the Brahman and the atman.) One (the atman) can then see, smell, taste, hear, touch and know the other (the Brahman). One can talk to or think about the other. But when the two merge and become one, how can one see, smell, taste, hear, touch or know the other? How can one think about the other? The Brahman is the one who has been described by the expression neti, He has no destruction or decay. He is unattached and alone. If you realise the union, you will not talk about realsing the Brahman. I have now instructed you. There is no other road to immortality.”

"Upanishads"

Attains Fame and Energy

The mind and the sky must be worshipped as the Brahman.  The powers of speech, hearing, smell and sight are all parts of the Brahman. Who is in the mind. Fire, wind, the sun and the directions are all parts of the Brahman who is in the sky. The power of speech is ignited with the power of fire. He who knows this, attains fame and energy. The power of smell obtains its force from wind. He who knows this, attains fame and energy. The power of sight is energized by the sun. he who this, attains fame and energy. The power of hearing obtains its force from the directions. He who knows this, attains fame and energy.
"Upanishads"

Ganesha Carving on Temple in Fort Myers, FL

 

Lord of all the gods

He is the Lord of all the gods. We know him to be the radiant one. He has no body or senses. Yet, there is nothing that is superior to him. It is known that he is creator of all illusion. It is known that he is wisdom itself. He has no lord, nor can anything control him. He is the origin. But he himself has no origin. Like a web emanating from a spider, the universe and its forms and action, emanate out of the Brahman. May the Brahman help us to seek union with him.

"Upanishads"

Navagraha Temple in Fort Myers, FL

Nature of the Brahman

He who knows the nature of the Brahman, merges into the Brahman. It has been said that the Brahman is truth, wisdom, and all that is eternal. The heart is like a vast sky and intelligence is like a cave in the heart. He who visualizes the Brahman in one’s heart, sees the Brahman in all objects of the universe. He obtains all that may be desired. The sky was created from the Brahman. From the sky was created the wind, the wind created fire, fire created water, water created the earth, the earth created herbs, herbs created foodgrains, and food grains created man. Man can be compared to a bird. The right hand is the right wing and the left hand is the left wing. The part of the body that is below the navel is like a tail.

"Upanishads"

Temple in Fort Myers, FL

Entire Universe Worships

Divine life force enters his body from water and from the moon. Divine life force ensures that a person is never hurt and never destroyed. Such a learned person realise the identity of his individual soul with the souls of all other beings and becomes like the brahman himself. The entire universe worships such a learned person as if he were the brahman himself. Although such a learned person identifies himself with all other living beings, their sorrows touch him not. Only the good deeds that other living beings perform merge into him. The gods are untouched by all manner of sin.

"Upanishads"

Temple in Fort Myers, FL

Brahman Happiness

The happiness that comes from knowing the Brahman can be described. Imagine a youthful person. Let that youthful person be happy. Let him also be learned and the best of rulers. Let his body be firm and strong. Let him possess the entire world with all its wealth. This is the best happiness that man can think of. Multiply this happiness a hundredfold.

"Upanishads"

The self is entangled with the material end, removing it from the equation, doing deeds selflessly, without expecting praise is the path to Brahman.