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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
The Upanisads
44
lives; the absence of the Self in an individual means the annihilation of the individuality itself. Yājñavalkya states in the Brh. Upanisad that whatever we feel dear to us, is not dear for the sake of the thing, but everything is dear for the sake of the Self. He says that the son, husband, wife, wealth, world, gods, etc., all are dear not for their own sake, but 'not for love of all is all dear, but for love of the soul all is dear. Verily, it is the (Atman) that should be seen, that should be harkened to, that should be thought on, that should be pondered on, O Maitreyi, Lo, verily with the seeing of, with the harkening to, with the thinking of, and with the understanding of the Soul, this world-all is known." Everything is not dear that you may love everything; but that one may love the Self, all is dear. Thus the Self is the ultimate end towards which all the cravings of the individual are directed; thus consciously and unconsciously the destiny of all our thoughts and actions, of all our attractions and temptations-and drives-is the Self-the Atman. The attainment of the Self thus gives the individual the final relief, the ultimate satisfaction. All the passions and desires, all the urges and cravings rest satisfied in the Self. When the Self is realized all passions and desires come to an end. When the Self is known, no more does the individual experience any kind of uneasiness and restlessness. All his desires being fulfilled in it, he lives a completely self-satisfied man. Then he attains eternal and abiding satisfaction which is marked
1 Brh. Up. 2.4.5.
For Private And Personal
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