After 101 Years

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They both(Indra & Virochana) looked at themselves in a bowl of water.

 

Prajapati:What did you see in the water ?

Both:We have seen the Self, even the hair and the nails.

P:Put on your best clothes, adorn your body; and look again in the

water.

P:What did you see in the water ?

B:We have seen the Self, well-dressed and well-adorned.

P: That is the Self, fearless and deathless. That is Brahman, the

supreme.

 

Indra and Virochana went away satisfied.

 

P to himself: They have seen but have not recognized.

 

Indra, however, recognized the fallacy and returned with questions.

After 32 years, Prajapati replied:"That which about in joy in the

dreaming state is the Self, fearless and deathless. That is Brahman,

the supreme.

 

Indra went away satisfied at first, but upon reflection figures that,

"yet the Self may appear to suffer or to be slain. In such knowledge

I see no value".

 

Indra returned with more questions.

 

After another 32 years, the teacher said,"When a person is sleeping

soundly, free from dreams, with a still mind, that is the Self,

fearless and deathless. That is Brahman, the Supreme".

 

Indra went away satisfied as usual. However, upon reflection, he

thought, "In the state of dreamless sleep one is not aware of oneself

or any other. The state of dreamless sleep is very close to

extinction. In this knowledge I see no value".

 

Indra retruned to Prajapati and expressed his concerns.

Prajapati replied, "You are thinking clearly,Indra".

 

After another 5 years (a total of 101 years) Prajapati revealed the

highest truth of the Self to Indra...

...(12.1 onwards in Chandogya Upanishad).

 

-- Chandogya Upanishad

 

With Love,

Raghava