The Monist, Vol. 3, 1892-1893 : $b A quarterly magazineVarious
Philosophy
The Monist, Vol. 3, 1892-1893 : $b A quarterly magazine
Various
Philosophy -- Periodicals
The proud and learned Brahman Bâlâki Gârgya comes on his journey to
Ajâtashatru, prince of Benares, and says to him: “I will announce you
the Brahma.” The king, highly pleased, promises him a great reward, a
thousand cows. The Brahman begins to expound his wisdom: “The Spirit
(that is the power) in the sun I venerate as the Brahma.” But the king
interrupted him, saying that he knew that already. Then the Brahman
speaks about the Spirit in the moon, in lightning, ether, wind, fire,
water, but the king knows all that. And whatsoever the Gârgya might say,
is not new to the king. The Brahman became silent. But Ajâtashatru asked
him: “Is that all?” and Gârgya answered: “Yes, that is all.” Then the
king said: “Your little knowledge is not the Brahma;” whereupon Gârgya
declared that he should like to be one of the king’s pupils. Ajâtashatru
replied: “It is against nature, that a Brahman should learn from a
warrior and depend on him for the understanding of the Brahma, but I will
show it you nevertheless.” The king took him to a sleeping man and spoke
to the latter; but he did not get up. When the king touched him with his
hand, he arose. The king then asked the Brahman: “While this man was
sleeping where was his mind, and whence did it return now?” Gârgya could
not give an answer. Then the king explained to him, that the mind or the
Self of the sleeping man was wandering around in dream, that all places
were open to him, that he could be a great king or a great Brahman; but
that there was still a higher condition of felicity, that is, absorption
in dreamless sleep, without consciousness. In this condition the Self of
man, not affected by the outside world, reposes in his true essence and
knows no difference between Atman and Brahma.
Another story, reported in the fifth book of Chândogya Upanishad and in
the sixth book of Brihadâranyaka Upanishad, is perhaps of still greater
importance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account