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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
The Upanişads
Upanişad says "The mind in truth is for mankind the means of bondage and release; for bondage, if to objects bound; from objects free that's called release."! If some rituals be prescribed here and there, they are the means of cultivating an appropriate mental attitude and background; but the most important thing is the mind which knows. The knowledge of the Vedas, according to the Upanisads does not possess magic-power to effect liberation in man. Mere mechanical utterance of the sacred hymns is not at all useful and sufficient to effect liberation. What is important is the understanding of the nature of Brahman and its actual realisation, a throbbing and living experience of the Ātman's being himself, in his own heart.
It has been stated frequently by the Upanisadic seers that the Self cannot be perceived by the sense organs. Although it dwells in words the words do not know it, though it dwells in the eyes, in the ears, in the skin, in the mind they cannot know it; it is the unseen seer, the unheard hearer, the unthought thinker, the ununderstood understander, is the immortal inner controller of all things and beings;3 it cannot be known by the mind because it cannot reach it; it is even beyond intelligence." The Self is beyond all the means of understanding. It cannot be understood by any of these agents. It
1 Maitrāyani Up. 6.34. Tr. Hume, p. 448. 2 Mundaka Up. 3.1.8; Katha 1.3.15; Kepa 1.3. 9 Břh. Up. 3.7 ( whole) and 3.7.23.
Kasba Up. 2.6.12 and 1.3.10. A 5
For Private And Personal
| SR No. | 020053 |
| Book Title | tman_and_moksa |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | G N Joshi |
| Publisher | Gujarat University |
| Publication Year | 1965 |
| Total Pages | 901 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 12 MB |