Realize The Self in the depths of meditation ~ Shvetashvatara Upanishad

meditator realize self meditation harvey

In our first poem-post based on Andrew Harvey’s anthology (that’s titled: Teachings of The Hindu Mystics – attribution at the bottom of this post) … he had said (in the Introduction): What I have wanted to do in this anthology is to honor this consistency of vision and to present it in the way most relevant to all seekers on all paths today … and most pertinent to the dangers and challenges facing our world …

In this 2nd poem-post based on the same book, Andrew continues, in the Introduction …

“… I wanted to create an anthology that would—in the spirit of the Gita and Ramakrishna—inspire all readers, whatever their religious background or lack of it, to plunge into the uncovering of their eternal nature and then enact its sacred laws in loving action in the world.

As it is written in the Svetashvatara Upanishad, “What use are the scriptures to anyone who knows not the source from which they come?” And as the Yoga Vasishtha warns us, “If you conceptualize these teachings for your intellectual entertainment and do not let them act in your life, you will stumble and fall like a blind person.”

For all its metaphysical loftiness and joy in speculation, the Hindu mystical tradition, like all true mystical traditions, is essentially practical, concerned with teaching, inspiring, and guiding authentic transformation.

Whatever path you are on, then, use these texts not as intellectual puzzles but as signs of your essential splendor; pray, meditate, and serve others so that the wordless truth behind these truths can be revealed to you in your own life …”

So, … let’s consider one of these “signs of your essential splendor” … through the verse/poem titled: The Highest Mystical Teaching (from The Upanishads) …

For the purposes of this post, we have taken literary liberty to change the title – and add some emphases:

Realize Your True Nature

ALL IS CHANGE in the world of the senses,
But changeless is the supreme Lord of Love.
Meditate on him, be absorbed in him,
Wake up from this dream of separateness.

Know God and all fetters will fall away.
No longer identifying yourself
With the body, go beyond birth and death.
All your desires will be fulfilled in him
Who is One without a second.

Know him to be enshrined in your heart always.
Truly there is nothing more in life to know.
Meditate and realize this world
Is filled with the presence of God.

countryside sunset realize world filled god harvey

Fire is not seen until one firestick rubs
Against another, though fire is still there,
Hidden in the firestick. So does the Lord
Remain hidden in the body until
He is revealed through the mystic mantram.

Let your body be the lower firestick;
Let the mantram be the upper. Rub them
Against each other in meditation
And realize the Lord.

Like oil in sesame seeds, like butter
In cream, like water in springs, like fire
In firesticks, so dwells the Lord of Love,
The Self, in the very depths of consciousness.
Realize him through truth and meditation.

forest waterfall realize water springs upanishad

The Self is hidden in the hearts of all,
As butter lies hidden in cream. Realize
The Self in the depths of meditation
The Lord of Love, supreme Reality,
Who is the goal of all knowledge.

This is the highest mystical teaching;
This is the highest mystical teaching.

~~ From the Shvetashvatara Upanishad

— — —

Above Verse/Poem and all italicized text is from Teachings of the Hindu Mystics, edited by Andrew Harvey.
Images: (edited and logo added): Featured and 1) Meditation by yanc,  2) Stunning Summer sunset with rainbow across countryside escarpment landscape by Veneratio, 3) Deep forest Waterfall in Kanchanaburi, Thailand by lkunl. All purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (these images are not permitted to be shared separate from this post).
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