| The Isavasya
Upanishad begins with two mantras, which say: Everything
in the universe abides in the Supreme Being. Cast off the desires that arise in the heart,
the thought of possessing what is possessed by anotheror is a source of pleasure to
another. True joy comes by such renunciation. Do your duties and go through you, span of
life. In detachment and dedication lies the way for man to live a full life yet keeping
the spirit within uncontaminated by worldly affairs. You cannot achieve it otherwise.
-Isavasyopanishad 1, 2
These two verses of the Upanishad put in brief compass the
way of life that is more fully expanded and explained with reiterated emphasis in the
Bhagavad Gita. The teaching of the Oita may be summarized here although it involves some
repetition of what has been already said. |
