More ways to sink in the fundamental truth

In the previous posts we saw the origin and final destiny of the universe that we see around. But Swetaketu was still not convinced in spite of his father reasoning it out the way we did in previous posts. So, father gives more analogies to sink in the truth.

 

He asks the son to bring a seed of a huge Banyan tree. The tree is huge, diverse but it is a fact that such a huge and diverse tree sprang out from a tiny seed. But, if one breaks open the seed, one can never see the tree inside, however much one magnifies it. But the tree did emerge from a tiny seed. So it is possible for a vast, diverse world to emerge from a subtle cause like Sath.

How is it that we don’t see this prime cause operating? The next illustration that the father gives is as follows. The father asks Swetaketu to dissolve some salt into water. Once dissolved, the salt is not visible, but its existence can be inferred by tasting the water taken from any part of the solution. So also, the Sath pervades all that that emerged from it, but still remains imperceptible to casual observation.

But how is it that all these things finally return back to the Sath at the end of the ‘creation-re absorption’ cycle? Swetaketu’s father gives the simile of the rivers that finally merge with the sea and become one with it. Before merger, each river was different, had its own name and form. But post merger, they all lose their separate name and form and become one with the sea. They came from the sea, and finally merged into the sea.

So what is ‘that’ truth we started with in the beginning?

We will see that in the next post.

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This is a series of posts based on the well known discussion in Chändogya Upanishad (part of Säma Veda, believed to have been recorded more than 3000 years ago) regarding ultimate truths.