We are 'that'!

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For the past several episodes, we were discussing how father Uddalaka tries to explain the unity of whole existence to his son Swetaketu.

Uddalaka arrives at his conclusion by systematically following the modern scientific approach – observation, experimentation and reasoning.

He says that we all came from the same source and finally reach the same source from which we came from.

The conclusion of this Upanishadic story is that each one of us is nothing but ‘that’ in reality even though we may appear to be different from each other. Or in other words, the Upanishad declares

“Whatever subtle thing that is the root cause of all this existence, has also brought this into life. That is the ultimate truth. That is the self of all. And You are That” (Tat tvam asi)”

This is considered to be the ultimate declaration (Maha Vakya) of all the Upanishads and the basis of the Advaitic thought.

All of us are one in the ultimate sense.

That is the peak of spirituality – unifying everything rather than seeing them as different.

Though there are later Indian philosophers who differed, who did not accept this monistic view point, I personally like to go by this view. The reasons being

• This seems to be the obvious import of most Upanishads.
• This is what one experiences in deep state of meditation when the Mind stops working.
• Such a concept of unity has far reaching effect in bringing together the whole world – not just the humanity but also the entire animate as well as inanimate world.

What is also very interesting to note is that this Upanishad tries to arrive at a highly spiritual truth by systematically employing the tools of modern science namely – observation, experimentation and reasoning.

Let me now conclude by chanting a well known Upanishadic prayer

hiraNmayEna paatrENa satyasya apihitam mukham

tatvam pooshan apaavrNu

satyadharmaaya dhrShtayE

yat te roopam pashyaami

yah sah asau, puruShah sOham asmi



Oh Lord! Please uncover the dazzling lid that hides the truth

So that, I who is truthful and none other than you, can see your true form.

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A story of Uddalaka and Swetaketu from Chandogya Upanishad, which is part of Sama Veda. Upanishads are concluding parts of ancient Indian Vedic scriptures believed to be at least 5000 years old. The interpretation is by Dr.King (Copyright © 2019 Dr. King).