Episode 15- "Tat Tvam Asi" - Story of Uddalaka Aaruni and Shwetaketu

Stories from Upanishads

Podcast Credits -

The Concept, Script, Narration and Audio Design: Arghya Goswami

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Credits, Acknowledgements and Source Contents

Source content collected from various books on Upanishads such as “Messages of the Upanishads” by Swami Ranganathanada, “The Brhadaaranyaka Upanishad” by Swami Madhavananda, “Eight Upanishads” from Advaita Ashrama, Upanishads.org, “Vedas and Upanishads for Children” by Roopa Pai and several other write-ups and thoughts on Upanishads.

Background Music is sourced from various royalty-free music sources, Apple Loops and Internet Archives with a Non-Commercial 4.0 International license. Aum Shantih chants are from Youtube - source - Gaiea Sanskrit.

Music -

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Transcript of the Podcast

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Tat Tvam Asi - That Art Thou - Story of Uddalaka and Shwetaketu

Dear friends and listeners, today’s episode is very important as it talks about the one of the four Mahavaakya’s mentioned in the Upanishads. Tat Tvam Asi - which means “That Art Thou” or “That is you!” Today’s story is about the great Vedic sage Uddalaka Aaruni and his son Shwetaketu. This story is mentioned in Chaandogya Upanishad, 6th Prapathaka or section. Before we start today’s story a bit about both the principle characters.

Sage Uddalaka is mentioned in many philosophical discussions mentioned in both Chaandogya and Brihaadaaranyaka upanishad, which are two of the oldest Upanishads. He lived few centuries before Gautama Buddha and was one of the most well known Vedic teacher and guru. It is believed that he lived around 7th Centuary BCE.

According to Ben-Ami Scharfstein, a professor emeritus of Philosophy at Tel Aviv University, Uddalaka Aruni was one of the first philosophers in recorded history. Debiprasad Chattopadhyay, the famous marxist philosopher established him as the first “Natural Scientist” in the intellectual history of the world.

He was the first ever sage to find out that the world, including human beings, is fundamentally made up of three elements, food, water and heat, in fact today we’ll learn about it in much detail.

Uddalaka Aaruni was a descendant of Gautama lineage from Kuru-Panchala region. He was pupil of his father Sage Aruna and Patanchala Kaapya. He defeated Prāaciīnayogya Śauceya and likely Bhadrasena Ājātaśatrava in debate. Friends, please dont get confused with Ajatashatru here, Bhadrasena Ajaatasatrava was a brahmin priest at the time of Uddalaka Aruni and Yaagnavalkya, much earlier than the king Ajaatashatru. You may remember that in my earlier episode in which I talked about the debate between Yaagnavalkya and Gargi Vachaknavi, I briefly spoke about Uddalaka Aaruni and how he was defeated by Yaagnavalkya in King Janaka’s symposium. Ironically sage Uddalaka Aaruni was the teacher or guru of Yaagnavalkya. Sometimes in many scriptures he was called Vajashravas.

Now let me bring some controversy before I being today’s story! As per the various Puranas and scriptures it is not very clear that Vajasravas was Uddalaka Aaruni as there may be some differences between the names Auddalaki Aaruni and Uddalaki Aaruni. As per Max Muller, the renowned indologist at Oxford, claims them to be different person! However, as per him,… Adi Shankaracharya considered them to be same Aaruni in his bhasya or commentries on Upanishads. If we believe in Adi Shankaracharya’s commentary then, Sage Uddalaka Aaruni is Sage Vajasravas and he had 3 children named Nachiketa, Shwetaketu and Sujata. We all know Nachiketa’s story from Katha Upanishad. If not, please do listen to my retelling of the famous story in this podcast series. If we believe in Max Muller’s theory, then Uddalaka Aaruni was a different sage from the same lineage of Sage Vajasravas who was father of Nachiketa.

Another controversy, it is also believed that Shwetaketu was not a biological child of Sage Uddalaka Aaruni. It is believed that the Sage practiced Niyoga, in which a woman has a man other than her husband father a child with her, either because her husband is unable to father a child or because he’s dead. This story is kind of touched in Adi Parva of Mahabharata during a conversation between Kunti and Pandu before the divine births of their children through Niyoga with Lord Dharma, Vaayu, Indra, and the Ashvinikumars.

There are many confusion in such off-shoot stories in various scriptures as we also know that Uddalaka Aaruni’s daughter was Sujata, who was married to Sage Kahoda and the famous deformed sage Ashtavaakra was the son of Sujata and Kahoda.

Let me now talk about a bit about Shwetaketu, son of Sage Uddalaka Aaruni and he is known for many things. He was the one who abolished polyandry, the practice of a wife having multiple husbands, as described in the Aadi Parva of the Mahabharata. (A husband having multiple wives, on the other hand, is a well-established practice). And he was the uncle of the famous sage Ashtavaakra, the purported author of the Ashtavaakra Gita. And he is said to have written a text which formed the basis of a certain work of Vatsayaana. Shwetaketu has been referenced across several Upanishads, He is referenced in Brihaadaaranya Upanishad, Chaandogya Upanishd and also in Kausitaki Upanishad.

So, my dear friends let’s concentrate on today’s story. Today’s episode is an ode to the great sage Uddalaka and his Mahavakya “Tat Tvam Asi”.

Sage Uddalaka had a son name Shwetaketu. Until the age of 12 he was like a normal child, spending his time playing with his friends, playing pranks on others and was having a gala time of his life. The great sage thought that it was time when Shwetaketu must be initiated into Brahminhood and must be sent to a gurukul for learning and understanding Vedic scriptures.

One day, the sage called upon young Shwetaketu and told -

“Soumya, there has never being one in our family who is a Brahmin by birth. All of our ancestors were well versed in Vedic scriptures and I think so you should be!”

Shwetaketu like an obedient son, agreed and went away to a gurukul of Sandeepan Muni. He spent 12 long years learning Vedas and other Vedic scriptures which was an achievement in itself. It was a popular belief then, that one can learn all four vedas and other Vedic scriptures in 48 years however, Shwetaketu was able to learn them in just 12 years. He had grown into a handsome man with somewhat arrogant with his supreme achievement, self-assured and bit of swagger. He considered himself to be the master of vedas.

When he returned home from the his tutelage, he touched the feet of his mother and father. The Sage now asked his son - “Soumya, what will you do next?”

Shwetaketu grinned and said -“Next…I want to win the symposiums and debates in King Janaka of Videha’s courtroom.”

As soon as he said that, the Sage understood that his son was sinking into the quicksand of amour propre.

So he wanted to bring him back into the paths of humility and non-arrogance. He was aware that Brahmagyaana and pride were highly incompatible. A person stricken with egoism and pride cannot realise the Self or Brahman! So the sage decided to teach his son.

He asked him -“Soumya, I believe you are now familiar with that wisdom, by which you can hear the unheard, think the unthought and know the unknown?”

On hearing such a question from his dad, Shwetaketu was taken aback. It seemed that his knowledge of scriptures was superficial and couldn’t grasp the import of his father’s question. He wondered how it was possible that the unknown, unheard, and unthinkable could come within the reach of thought and mind!

Puzzled and shaken, he asked his father - “O my revered father, I thought I had learnt and discovered a lot in the past 12 years. But…I am afraid that I am not familiar with the wisdom you are asking? Perhaps my acharyas and gurus in the gurukul never taught me this! I believe it will be best if you tell me about that!”

Saying that Shwetaketu sat at his father’s feet with folded hands and looked at him eagerly.

Uddalaka was happy to see his son, so eager to learn. He understood that his hunger for knowledge is still there and not crushed under the weight of his arrogance.

Uddalaka said - “I will tell you my son! Follow me please.”

Then the sage took his son outside his house into the lush green fields and sat down at a spot where a lump of clay was lying.

He smiled and said to his son -“It is like this, son, if you know well the essence of something , you will. “Know” everything that carries that essence. Even if it takes on hundreds of forms and shapes or may bear thousands of different names.”

Then he picked up a lump of clay in his hands and said -“ Soumya, for instance, by knowing the lump of clay, its texture, its feel, how it moves on a wheel of the potter or how it forms shapes with your hand, you can create thousands of articles from it. You may not know all of their names or even know them but in essence, what you must always know that it is always made of clay! It is clay. So clay is the cause where as articles made from clay such as a clay pot is the effect.”

Uddalaka paused a while, Shwetaketu nodded and looked still bit confused.

Uddalaka continued -

“Okay, let me give you another example. By knowing just one trinket made of copper, one knows and understands everything else made of copper. Everything else has different names, just a name, have different forms, which is just a form, but in reality the truth is it is copper.

Similarly Saumya, if you observe any object made of iron, one understands everything else made of iron. It may have different names and forms but in reality it is only iron.

If you take a lump of gold, and melt it to make beautiful ornaments. Then if we melt it again, they would reduce to their original form that is a lump of gold. Thus gold is the cause where as whatever the goldsmith makes are its effects.

It is like this, Soumya, by understanding the one true reality of the universe, you understand every other thing in the universe. Never mind that it is present in millions of forms and names.”

Shwetaketu sat up straight, looking very inquisitive and eager to understand further. He said - “That makes a lot of sense Bhagwaan. But all those wise men and acharyas never told me or taught me about this one supreme reality, the one universal essence, that is by understanding which everything in the universe may be understood. Please tell me more father. I am eager to know about it!”

Friends just a small break here, doesn’t it feel you warm and fuzzy, that Uddalaka the teacher in this case addresses Shwetaketu as Soumya that means - dear one! In Upanishads, most of the times the teacher address their students as “Soumya” and the student addresses the teacher as “Bhagwaan” - powerful, respected, worshipped and blessed. This indicates the mutual relationship between a student and the teacher.

Now coming back to the story….

Uddalaka stood up, smiled and patted his son and said -“Very well my son, now listen carefully!”

Uddalaka went near a huge banyan tree, and sat under its cool shade. He asked his son to sit down beside him. Shwetaketu obediently followed his father and sat down beside him.

Uddalaka continued -“In the very beginning, there was only Being or One, and only that without a second. Now many people may tell you that in the beginning there was only non-being and only that without a second. But in my opinion that is incorrect and flawed. How can all Being emerge from a Non-Being? So I will say that in the beginning there was only Being without a second.”

Shwetaketu nodded and said - “I agree father!”

Uddalaka continued - “ then this Being wished to become many. So he started to emit heat, which is essential for any life form. Now without outdoing any further, heat propagated further. The heat produced Water, which is again essential for life. Perhaps, Shwetaketu, when a man feels hot, he sweats and when he feels stressed out, he weeps so heat emits water. Now, water also started to propagate further and from it came out food! That’s why perhaps when it rains, there is no shortage of food, we have plentiful of crops all around! Then the life manifested itself as plants, animals and human beings.”

After this Uddalaka looked at the fields where cattle were grazing, the farmers were busy working on the crops. Shwetaketu too looked at the same direction.

“Now look around son, at all the creatures in the universe. All of them are only born in three ways. Either from sprouts, from eggs and from creatures. That life essence Soumya, combined with heat, water and food in a million of different ways to produce a million different manifestations of the original Being.

Now that Being entered everything as the Self and manifested Himself under many forms. In other words, the Being or the One, permeated in every thing that existed in this world.

There is nothing in this universe that is not a mix of these!

As the ancient sages say however new and different something may look, or may surprise us, but we know it is made only of these three - heat, water and food. Therefore, it is clear that the knowledge of Being or One implies knowledge of everything else. We know that its life -essence is the essence of the one original Being. Truly, there is nothing else.”

On hearing this from his father, Shwetaketu was quite baffled. He could not understand how the Being could become many and the Being remains unaffected. So he asked his father -“Taat, then tell me how do these three divinities - heat, water and food - manifest in my body and in yours? Which part of my body is heat, which part is water and which part is food? Tell me Taat, please I must understand it!”

Uddalaka took a deep breath and said - “Soumya, all the food that you eat splits into three parts. The densest part passes out of the body, the not-so dense part becomes the flesh and lightest part becomes the mind.

All the water you drink, splits into three parts. The most viscous part passes out of the body, less viscous part becomes the blood and the least viscous part rises in the body and becomes the breath.

All the heat that you eat, spilts into three - the coarsest become bone, the not-so-coarse portion becomes marrow and the least coarse portion becomes speech.

Friends you may be wondering what is meant by “hear that you eat”. It means, the fat such as oil, ghee, and butter which are produced by application of heat. For example oilseeds give out oil. It also means the heat of the sun. In modern day doctors often say that you must stay in the sun so that you have enough vitamin D in your body and friends, Vitamin D is very important for building the bones! So that what exactly Upanishad talks about! Amazing isn’t it?

Uddalaka continued -

“So Soumya, every elements consist of three parts. Thus mind is made of food, breath of water and speech of heat.”

Shwetaketu after listening to this explanation counter questioned his father -

“Taat, how can you be so sure of this? It is quite fascinating to think about that the mind is made of food, breath is made of water and speech is made of heat !”

Uddalaka smiled and stood up and asked Shwetaketu to stand up.

“Soumya, I would want you to fast for fifteen days and drink only and only water for breath is made of water or else it will cut off if you dont drink! Make sure you do not eat any food in next fifteen days!”

As an obedient son, Shwetaketu greeted his father with folded hands and went away for fifteen days and observed fast. During the next fifteen days drank only water.

After fifteen days, he came back home. He was looking pale, thin and weak but was very much alive.

Seeing his son after fifteen days, Uddalaka welcomed him and said - “Welcome my son, welcome back! Now recite to me the verses of Rig Veda, Verses of Yajur and chants of Sama Veda.”

Shwetaketu, sat down, and tried to remember the verses. He tried for some time and finally gave up! He weakly said - “I don’t recall them, Taat! I studied them for twelve years but somehow I dont recall them at all.”

Uddalaka smiled and said - “I know, I know my son. For the mind is made of food and since you have not eat anything for last 15 days, your mind is not working! That’s why you cannot recall your verses! Just like a small spark of fire that set ablaze a huge heap of straw and hay, similarly your mind will revive when you eat your food. The heat the food produces will revive your tongue and allow your speech to flow. So go and immediately ask your mother for some food. Eat to your heart’s content and come back to me!”

Shwetaketu went to his mother, and she was eager to feed her son as she too knew he was going through a very difficult fast for the last fifteen days. She was very happy to get her son back! She immediately served him delicious meal. Shwetaketu ate to his heart’s content and when done, went back to his father.

Uddalaka now asked him if he can recall any of the rig veda verses. After nourishment through food, his memory came back! He could recite verses from Rig Veda and Yajur Veda and also chant verses from Sama Veda without any difficulty. Shwetaketu realised that mind belonged to the matter. Moreover, whatever is derived from something else cannot have its own independent existence. Thus he felt that he was on the border of a great discovery. He understood that mind is indeed made of food, breath indeed made of water and speech of heat.

His father’s teachings made him realise that what was needed is a change in outlook towards the Reality i.e. Dhristibheda. He now clearly understood that so long as one depends on the senses as tools of knowledge, one is on the material side of things only. Thus the Absolute cannot be grasped. However, he realised another fact - The Absolute cannot be outside us because, if it is outside, we might go on seeking and searching but never realise it.

Shwetaketu rejuvenated after his meals, wanted to know more from his father. He asked - “Father, please tell me more!”

Uddalaka asked him- “Soumya, do you know what really happens in sleep?”

Shwetaketu said -“No Taat, I dont know!”

Uddalaka continued - “Listen Soumya, in the waking state, the mind is like a tethered bird, flying hither and thither in a rare frenzy, and never finding rest. When sleep comes, just as the fettered bird returns to its perch, the mind -bird, exhausted by all the frenetic activities, return to its true resting place, to its purest state, to breath itself, for the mind is bound to the breath and that’s why, when a man is in deep slumber, they say he has returned unto himself.

Friends I dont know, if you feel the same, sometimes I feel when I am in deep sleep, I get a feeling that I am falling down somewhere for a fraction of second! Is that the state when my mind comes back to its resting place! To it’s purest state? I will be glad if you can share your similar experience. Please do write to me.

Soumya, do you know what it means when they say a man is hungry?

Shwetaketu nodded

Uddalaka continued -

Soumya, it means that water has led away all the food he has previously eaten to various parts of his body. When a man is thirsty, it means heat has led away all the water he has earlier drunk! Thus we know that the root of the body is food, the root of the food is water, and the root of the water is heat. And root of the heat is of course that original Being from where the heat first emitted.

Now soumya, what it means when they say a man is dead! It is Speech that goes first, merging into the mind, so that even when his voice is weak, a man is still able to think, and remember. Then the mind goes, merging into the life breath or Praana, so that even when a man does not understand any more, he is able to breathe and thus stay alive! Then the life breath or Praana goes away, merging into the heat. Very soon after the heat leaves, merging into the same Pure Being from where it had emitted. And that Pure Being is the root, the finest essence of all. That is the Truth of the Universe, that is the Reality and that, the very same “That” Shwetaketu, is your essence too. That dear one, who you are!

Tat Tvam Asi, Shwetaketu, That Art Thou!”

As he heard the mahavaakya from his father, Shwetaketu’s hair stood up on its end.

His realisation of the essence of his being, the thing that made him “him” was no different, apparently, from the essence of the universe. The same energy that allowed him to think and understand, remember, and speak also caused the sun and stars to shine and seas to rise and rain to fall. Shwetaketu contained with him the power of the Cosmos. It was a tremendous revelation crashed into his consciousness just like a storm crashes into the coast. Since consciousness or Chaitanya is one and indivisible, the same consciousness animates both the individual and entire Cosmos or Space. It abides in all that is.

Mesmerised Shwetaketu with folded hands asked his Father - Father please tell me more!

Uddalaka continued - come on Soumya follow me!

They went to a nearby garden which was in full bloom. Flowers of different colors and shapes danced quietly in the cool breeze. There he showed Shwetaketu the honey bees humming around the flowers busy collecting nectar.

Uddalaka said to him - “Soumya, do you see those honey bees buzzing around the flowers?”

Shwetaketu said -“Yes Taat, I can see them. I guess they are collecting nectar from different flowers.”

Uddalaka said -“Yes, dear child, now consider that bees that collect nectar from different flowers and store them into honey combs of a bee hive. Once the golden honey is ready, the different nectars are no longer able to say “I am nectar of this flower or I am nectar of that flower” their individual sweetnesses have now merged into a homogenous, delicious whole golden honey. In the same way, Soumya, all the individual, separate, different existences you see around you - be it honey bees, flowers, dog, worm, moth, tiger or wolf - merge into the pure Being. That is what they all become, when they pass from their physical bodies, with no memory of ever having been separate or different from each other.

That is the Self or Aatman of the world. That is the finest, most subtle essence of everything, the soul of everything, the root of everything, the scaffolding on which everything else stands. That is the truth. That is the Real and That is your Self Your Aatman too.

Tat Tvam Asi, Shwetaketu, That Art Thou!

Completely bedazzled Shwetaketu was hungry for more! He pleaded again

“Tell me more Father! Please tell me more!”

Then Uddalaka took Shwetaketu to the nearby river which was flowing with its full might. He pointed out at the river and said - “Soumya, the rivers flows into the sea, some flow eastwards into the eastern sea and some flow westward into the western sea. But all seas and oceans flow into each other. Once the river have become the sea, they are no longer able to say that “I am water of this river or that river!” As their individual waters have now merged into the ocean. It is from this very ocean that the rivers were born, although they do not know it and it is into this ocean they eventually return!

If one hugs one’s individuality, and thus cuts himself off from the universal existence, one lives in the world of isolation of relative values. It is only when one experiences the Truth that “I am one with all existence” that one realises the Absolute as one’s own Self. In this way, what appears a block or a hinderance becomes a help. Name and form turn out to be modes of sadhana, a means of realization of truth of all existence as interconnected and interdependent.

That is the Self or Aatman of the world. That is the finest, most subtle essence of everything, the soul of everything, the root of everything, the scaffolding on which everything else stands. That is the truth. That is the Real and That is your Self Your Aatman too.

Tat Tvam Asi, Shwetaketu, That Art Thou!

After this Uddalaka took Shwetaketu back to the huge banyan tree. He showed him the tree and said - “This huge tree here, if someone cut at its bottom, living sap would flow out of it. If someone cut it at its middle, the living sap would flow out of it. If someone cut it at the top once again the living sap would flow from it. The life-essence or Jivha pervades the entire tree. That’s why even though the tree was hacked from various parts, the living sap flows out of it but the tree itself does not die, it still stands tall and thriving in the soil, nourishing itself with water. But if someone tear off a single leaf, that life essence will withdraw from it and the leaf will die. It will wither and fall and will cease to exist. Similarly if that life-essence leave a tree branch that branch will wither and fall off. And if the Self leave the entire tree, this huge tree which is vibrantly alive will instantly begin to wither away and eventually die.

So as it works for a tree similarly it is for us. The body dies when the living Self leaves it but certainly the Self does not die!

It is that living Self, the life essence that is the Self, Aatman of the world. That is the finest, subtle essence of everything, the soul of everything, the root of everything, the scafolding on which everything stands. That is the true and real and that is your Self, your Aatman too.

Tat Tvam Asi, Shwetaketu, ,That Art Thou!

Next Uddalaka asked Shwetaketu to bring a fruit of a Banyan tree. Shwetaketu leaped up in the air and easily reached one of the branches which had many fruits attached to it. He pluck one of the fruit and gave it to his father.

“Here it is father! I have got the fruit!”

Uddalaka told him to break it open!

Shwetaketu broke it open and showed it to his father.

Uddalaka asked - “Soumya what do you see in it?”

“I see only tiny seeds, father!” Said Shwetaketu

“Very well, then open up one of the seed!” Said Uddalaka

Shwetaketu applied some force to break one seed open.

Uddalaka asked “What do you see my son?”

Shwetaketu replied -“I see nothing Taat!”

Then Uddalaka said with a grin- “Know this Soumya, that ‘nothing’ which you cannot see, it is from that “nothing” that giant Banyan grows, it is because of this “nothing” that it all exist.

It is that “nothing” believe me, that is the Self, Aatman of the world. That is the finest, subtle essence of everything, the soul of everything, the root of everything, the scaffolding on which everything stands. That is the true and real and that is your Self, your Aatman too.

Tat Tvam Asi, Shwetaketu, ,That Art Thou!

Mesmerised Shwetaketu, asked for more!

“Okay, then bring me some salt and a pot of water.” Asked Uddalaka.

Shwetaketu went to his home, and asked his mother for some salt and a potful of water.

Once he got them, came back to his father.

“Very well Shwetaketu, can you please mix this salt in the potful of water?”

Shwetaketu immediately put the salt into the potful of water and slowly mixed it.

After a while, the salt had dissolved into the water.

Uddalaka suddenly stopped Shwetaketu and asked - “Can you please give me that chunk of salt?”

Shwetaketu with a puzzled look, said - “Father it has dissolved completely into the potful of water.”

“Okay then take a sip from the top layer of the water.” Asked Uddalaka.

Shwetaketu sipped from top layer of the water

“How does it tastes?”

“Salty, it is salty!” Said Shwetaketu

Now take a sip from the middle portion of the water.

Shwetaketu did as directed by his father. He poured out a little of water into another vessel and drank from the middle portion.

“Its salty too!” Exclaimed Shwetaketu

Now try to drink from the bottom portion of the water.

Shwetaketu did as told. He poured out little more of the water into another vessel and drank from the bottom layer of the water.

And said - “This is salty too father”

“Yes…you see Shwetaketu… the salt is everywhere, but you cannot see it! And so it is with the Supreme Self. It is everywhere, pervades everything, only we do not see it.

It is that Supreme Self - Brahman, that is the Self, Aatman of the world. That is the finest, subtle essence of everything, the soul of everything, the root of everything, the scaffolding on which everything stands. That is the true and real and that is your Self, your Aatman too.

Tat Tvam Asi, Shwetaketu, ,That Art Thou!

Then Uddalaka took another example.

“Shwetaketu, imagine a man from Gandhar, who is a complete stranger in Panchala and has been blindfolded by someone. He is left to fend for himself. The poor blindfolded man will go in all direction trying to figure out the direction towards his native. Maybe he will be crying out for help. Until some kind person, removes his blindfold and shows him the way to Gandhar. Now if he is a sensible enough, the stranger will eventually find his way back, by making sure to check in the villages and other landmarks along the way and will ensure that he is in the correct track to his native.

Exactly the same way, a man in this world is lost, floundering in every direction, not knowing where he is headed, until he finds a teacher to show him the way. He knows that now he will find his way back home with the help of his teacher, that is back to his own Self.

It is that Self, whose home lies within you, that is Self, Aatman of the world. That is the finest, subtle essence of everything, the soul of everything, the root of everything, the scaffolding on which everything stands. That is the true and real and that is your Self, your Aatman too.

Tat Tvam Asi, Shwetaketu, ,That Art Thou!

After this Uddalaka took another example.

“Soumya, imagine a man who is gravely ill. His family members gathers around him and one of them asks the sick man - “Do you recognise me?” Another family member asks him the same question - “No, do you recognise me?” As long as his speech has not merged into his mind, and his mind into his breath, and his breath into heat and the heat into the original Being, he recognises them. But once the speech merges into his mind, mind into breath, breath into heat and heat into Pure Being, there is no recognising any more.

It is that Pure Being, into which we all will eventually merge. That is the finest, subtle essence of everything, the soul of everything, the root of everything, the scaffolding on which everything stands. That is the true and real and that is your Self, your Aatman too.

Tat Tvam Asi, Shwetaketu, ,That Art Thou!

Uddalaka did’nt stop his explanation, he continued -

“Imagine a man who was a thief is caught. He is tied and being dragged to the public square. The mob shouting and cursing him - “Thief! He stole other’s possessions! Heat the axe for him. If he is indeed a thief, and protests his innocence, and takes hold of the hot axe, his hands will burn and everyone will know him for a liar. But if he is innocent, and protests his innocence, then the axe will not burn him, for the truth will protect him like a shield.

It is that shinning Truth, that ultimate Truth, that Truth that shields and protects, that is Self, Aatman of the world. That is the finest, subtle essence of everything, the soul of everything, the root of everything, the scaffolding on which everything stands. That is the true and real and that is your Self, your Aatman too.

Tat Tvam Asi, Shwetaketu, ,That Art Thou!

Shwetaketu now realised that spiritual life and the experience it embodies are not creeds or dogmas. It is not a case of believing something which cannot be proved. In this way, Faith, by itself, would be nothing other than mere opinions. Rational and reasoned belief makes faith a conviction, since it is based on experience. This is the reason why this conviction is called ‘Aparok shanu bhuti’, the direct perception of the Truth. We cannot perceive it with the eyes of others - for such seeing lacks individual basis. Absolute Brahman is the reality that radiates in and through everything in the universe and this fact is not a matter of opinion or faith, rather it is a direct experience.

Friends, that was the story of Uddalaka Aaruni and his son Shwetaketu. The significance of this episode is clear - one should experience the truths of life oneself. This is done by observation and analytical understanding of what is observed. But what is observed and analysed has to be an inseperable part of one’s consciousness or Chetana. This consciousness includes the analytical dimension, but goes beyond to be part of the holistic awareness. In short the spiritual dimension includes the scientific but gives awareness of the Cosmic Reality.

Wasnt it a beautiful story? Uddalaka gave so many examples from daily life, so many metaphors and explain the concepts that Shwetaketu can grasp the concept. He explained Shwetaketu the concept of the mahavaakya - “Tat Tvam Asi” which enunciated the oneness of the Self and the supreme Truth nine times. It is also known as “Upadesh Vaakya” as Uddalaka who gives updesha to his son Shwetaketu. The other mahavaakyas from Upanishads are “Pragyanam Brahma” which is known as “Lakshana Vaakya” which is described in Aitareya Upanishad, it indicates the characteristic of the Supreme as Consciousness. The third mahavaakya is “Ayam Aatmaa Brahmaa” which is also known as “Anusandhaana Vaakya” because a seeker has to keep investigating through it. This mahavaakya was featured in Maandukya Upanishad. The last mahavaakya is perhaps the most famous one and is “Aham Brahmaasmi” which is a “Anubhava Vaakya” as it reveals your experience of being one with Brahman. This mahavaakya was featured in Brihaadaaranyaka Upanishad.

Doesn't the story send a thrill down your spine for the each time the tremendous declaration - Tat Tvam Asi, That Art Thou is revealed!

Is’nt it amazing to think about the sages who composed vedas and Upanishads where the first to even engage with the kind of fundamental questions that Chaandogya Upanishad concerns itself with - Where did the universe come from? What is it made of? What makes it work? Who are we really? What is that allows a physical system like the body, which you can touch, see, smell, taste and hear, to produce a mental system like the mind and intellect, which you are aware of and can locate in the region of the brain, but cannot see? What is that allows a mental system to produce an emotional system that you are aware of but cannot locate in the body? Does the emotions emerge from the brain or from the heart or from somewhere else? What is it? Who is it, inside each of us that allows us to experience our feelings, thoughts, ideas and memories? What is the nature of the reality, how can we call this moment, this present, current moment at which we are listening to this podcast - real, if this has receded into the past, into dreamlike memory, by the time we are done listening to this podcast!

Vedas and Upanishads answer all these questions as “Brahman” which in other words means Consciousness or the Absolute or Supreme Self.

Friends, do you think Brahman to be God? What is consciousness or Chetana? I would love hear more from you. Please email your thoughts to my email address.

Interestingly few of the questions which Upanishads concerned so deeply roughly 2500 -3000 year back such as What is the universe made up of? What is consciousness? How and where did life start on earth? What is the meaning of life? How vast is the universe? Where did everything come from? What happens after we die? Does God exist? And these are still among the most unanswered questions in science today. You can google them if you like!

Another food for thought, perhaps many of us have seen the movie “Matrix”! Dont you feel that it has been completely inspired from the concepts which we discussed in today’s story? Especially when Keanue Reeves becomes the One! Isn’t it Tat Tvam Asi? You are the One, it is indivisible part of the Supreme Being or One!

Also you may have seen a movie called “Lucy” in which Scarlet Johannson ultimately merges into a USB drive which is filled with information of the universe. It is ultimate knowledge, ultimate truth and reality. It is actually Tat Tvam Asi!

Vedas and Upanishads believe that both Space and Time are both illusions. We try to use these two concepts to understand the reality. Isn’t it an inspiration to Quantum Physics? Created by our Chetana or consciousness it is boundless, and timeless, it has simply always been and will always pervade everything. In fact the ancient sages said -“there is nothing else beside it” - this entire universe, and everything in it. It is simply a projection of that Consciousness.

From today’s story, we know that the sages who penned the Upanishads believed that there is absolutely no difference the original consciousness that created us and our own consciousness, which allows us to feel, think and experience the world in very different way from how everyone else experiences it. If you really believe this implicitly then sorrow cannot hurt you, death cannot scare you! Life becomes a wonderful experience.

Friends today’s episode was quite heavy, too many things to absorb and understand. Today’s three questions are -

1. Why do you think Shwetaketu was arrogant after coming back from Gurukul
2. What are the 4 Mahavaakyas mentioned in the Upanishads

3) Can you explain what does “Tat Tvam Asi” mean?

So please write me back at [e-mail],

I will be waiting for your email.

Untill then….