________________
THE VEDANTA PHILOSOPHY
71
being only a name arising from speech, but the truth being that all is iron. Thus, my dear, is that instruction.” The son said, “Surely those venerable men (my teachers) did not know that. For if they had known it why should they not have told it me? Do you, Sir, therefore, tell me that."
The father said, “In the beginning, my dear, there was that only which is, one only without a second. Others say, in the beginning there was that only which is not, one only without a second; and from that which is not, that which is was born. But how could it be thus, my dear ? How could that which is be born of that which is not ? No, my dear, only that which is was in the beginning, one without a second. It thought, may I be many, may I grow forth. It sent forth fire. That fire thought, may I be many, may I grow forth. It sent forth water. Water thought, may I be many, may I grow forth. It sent forth earth (or food). Therefore whenever it rains anywhere, most food is then produced. From water alone is eatable food produced. As the bees, my son, make honey by collecting the juices of distant trees and reduce the juice into one form, and these juices have no discrimination, so that they might say, I am the juice of this tree or that tree, in the same manner, my son, all these creatures when they have become merged in the true (either in deep sleep or death) know not that they are merged in the true. Whatever these creatures are here, whether a lion or a wolf or a boar or a worm or a midge or a gnat or a mosquito, that they become again and again. Now that which is the subtle essence, in it all that exists has its self. It is the true. It is the self, and thou, O Shwetaketu, art it.”
“Please, Sir, inform me still more ”, said the son. “Be it so, my child,” the father replied. “These rivers, my son, run the eastern like the Ganges to the
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
