Uddalaka-Svetaketu-Samvada

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(Chhandogya Upanishad)

 

Uddalaka said: " Svetaketu! Have you ever asked your teacher for that

instruction by which we hear what cannot be heard, by which we

perceive what cannot be perceived, by which we know what cannot be

known? "

 

Svetaketu said: " What is that instruction, Sir? "

 

The father replied, " My dear, just as by a single lump of clay, all

that is made of clay is known, all modifications being only a name

based upon words, (the difference being only a name arising from

speech) but the truth being that all is clay-thus, my dear, is that

instruction " .

 

" Please Sir, explain to me further " said Svetaketu.

 

Uddalaka: " Bring me a fruit of that Nyagrodha tree (banyan tree) " .

 

Svetaketu: " Here is one, Sir. "

 

Uddalaka: " Break it. "

 

Svetaketu: " It is broken, Sir. "

 

Uddalaka: " What do you see there? "

 

Svetaketu: " Those extremely small seeds, Sir. "

 

Uddalaka: " Break one of them, my dear. "

 

Svetaketu: " It is broken, Sir. "

 

Uddalaka: " What do you see there? "

 

Svetaketu: " Nothing, Sir. "

 

The father said: " My son, that subtle essence which you do not

perceive there, of that very essence this great Nyagrodha tree grows

(exists). Believe me, my son. "

 

" Now, that which is the subtle essence (the root of all) in That all

that exists has its Self; that is the Self; That is the Truth; That

thou art, O Svetaketu! "

 

" Please, Sir, explain to me further, " said the son. " Be it so, my

child, " replied the father.

 

Uddalaka: " Place this salt in the water and come to me in the

morning. "

 

Svetaketu, the son, did as he was commanded.

 

The father said to him: " Bring the salt, my dear, which you put in

the water last night. "

 

The son looked for it and did not find it, for it had become

dissolved.

 

The father said: " My child, taste it from the surface of the water.

How is it? "

 

The son replied: " It is salt. "

 

Uddalaka: " Taste it from the middle. How is it? "

 

The son replied: " It is salt. "

 

Uddalaka: " Taste it from the bottom. How is it? "

 

The son replied: " It is salt. "

 

The father said: " Throw it away and come to me. "

 

The son did so; 'It exists for ever.'

 

Then the father said to him: " Here also in this body, forsooth, you

do not perceive the Truth (Sat or Pure Being), my son, but there it

is indeed. "

 

The father said: " Now that which is the subtle essence (the root of

all), in That all that exists has its Self: That is the Self; that is

the Truth; That thou art; O Svetaketu. "

 

(Source: Essence of Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda)