Untitled - the Divine Life Society

I*cture XVIIWISDOM OF THE UPANISHADSIIcNonavr people identify themselves with the body, mind,Prana and the senses on account of nescience or Avidya. Theymistake these false perishable limiting adjuncts or vehicles forthe pure immortal Atman and so they are caught in the roundof births and deaths. But some wise people abandon this falseidentification, separate themselves from these limitingadjuncts through enquiry, discrimination, AnvayavyatirekaYukti and practice of 'Neti-Neti'doctrine (I am not this body,I am not this Prana, I am not this mind, I am not the senses),identify themselves with the all-pervading, immortal, pureBrahman, obtain knowledge of Brahman and attainimmortality.'One becomes immortal by renouncing all desires. In thisworld man always talks of 'my son', 'my wife', 'my house',etc. The wise abandon all such worldly talks and worldlydesires and attain immortality by meditation on Brahman whois the ear of the ear, the mind of the mind, etc. The Sruti says,"Not by works, not by offspring, not by wealth, but byrenunciation alone is immortality attained." "When all desiresare abandoned here they attain the Brahman." "Having turnedhis senses inward for desire of immortality, the wise manattains Brahman."Just as water in a cup borrows its heat from sun or fire, soalso the mind, Prana and senses borrow their light and powerfrom Atman. Atman is the source for all these organs. The earhears through the light of the Atman, the tongue speaksthrough the power of Atman, the mind thinks through theWISDOM OF THE UPANISHADS 159