7/27/2019 Quotes on Prana From Upanishads
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Quotes on prana from upanishads
Prana ('vital breath', 'life force')
Next follows the edifying repetition (abhyaroha) only of the
hymns called pavamanas. The priestcalled prastotri indeed chants
the saman. While he chants it, let the sacrificer recite these
[Yajurverses]:
"Lead me from the unreal to the real. From darkness lead me to
light. From death lead meto immortality."
[saman: one of five vital currents.]
When the mantra (verse) says: "Lead me from the unreal to the
real," "the unreal" means death,and the "real," immortality; so it
says, "From death lead me to immortality," that is to say, "Makeme
immortal."
When it says: "From darkness lead me to light," "darkness" means
death, and "light,"immortality; so it says: "From death lead me to
immortality," that is to say, "Make me immortal."
In the verse: "From death lead me to immortality," there is
nothing that is hidden.
Then come the remaining hymns, with which, by singing them, [the
chanter] should obtain foodfor himself. Therefore while they are
being chanted let the sacrificer ask for a boonanythingthat he
desires. Whatever objects this chanter, endowed with such
knowledge, desires forhimself or for the sacrificer, he obtains by
his chanting. This [meditation] by itself wins the
world(Hiranyagarbha). He who thus knows the saman (the prana, or
vital breath)for him there is nofear of not being admitted into
that world. (1.3.28)
In the beginning, this [universe] was the self (Viraj) alone, in
the shape of a person. He reflectedand saw nothing else but His
self. He first said: "I am He." Therefore He came to be known bythe
name I (Aham). Hence, even now, when a person is addressed, he
first says: "It is I," andthen says whatever other name he may
have. And because He, before (purva) the whole group[of aspirants],
burnt (aushat) all evils, therefore He is called Purusha. He who
knows this verilyburns up him who wishes to be [Viraj] in advance
of him. (1.4.1)
Now, all this [universe] was then undifferentiated. It became
differentiated by name and form: itwas known by such and such a
name, and such and such a form. Thus to this day this[universe] is
differentiated by name and form; [so it is said:] "He has such a
name and such aform."
This Self has entered into these bodies up to the very tips of
the nails, as a razor lies [hidden] inits case, or as fire, which
sustains the world, [lies hidden] in its source. People do not see
theSelf, for [when viewed in parts] It is incomplete: when
breathing, It is called the vital breath(prana); when speaking, the
organ of speech; when seeing, the eye; when hearing, the ear;when
thinking, the mind. These are merely Its names according to Its
functions. He whomeditates on one or another of Its aspects does
not know, for It is then incomplete: the Self isseparated from Its
totality by being associated with a single characteristic.
7/27/2019 Quotes on Prana From Upanishads
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The Self alone is to be meditated upon, for in It all these
become unified. Of all these, this Selfalone should be known, for
one knows all these through It, just as one may find [an
animalwhich is lost] through its footprints. He who thus knows the
Self obtains fame and association[with dear ones]. (1.4.7)
This [Self] is dearer than a son, dearer than wealth, dearer
than everything else, [because] It is
innermost. If one [holding the Self dear] were to say to a
person who speaks of anything otherthan the Self as dear, that he,
the latter, will lose what he holds dearand the former iscertainly
competent to do soit will indeed come true.
One should meditate upon the Self alone as dear. He who
meditates upon the Self alone asdearwhat he holds dear will not
perish. (1.4.8)
