But You Must Know This

Meditate upon him and transcend physical consciousness. Thus will you reach union with the Lord of the universe. Thus will you become identified with him who is One without a second. In him all your desires will find fulfillment.

The truth is that you are always united with the Lord. But you must know this.

Hinduism
Svetasvatara Upanishad

Wilson, Andrew, editor. World Scripture - a Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts. Paragon House, 1991, p. 414 [Svetasvatara Upanishad 1.11-12]

Theme: Immanence and Transcendence

About This Svetasvatara Upanishad 1.11-12 Quotation [Brief Commentary]

The Upanishad’s statement, “The truth is that you are always united with the Lord. But you must know this,” emphasizes the constant, yet often unrecognized, union with the divine. This unity is not conditional on one’s acknowledgment; it exists inherently. However, true realization of this unity goes beyond intellectual acceptance; it requires a profound, transformative understanding that reshapes our perception of self and the cosmos.

About This Svetasvatara Upanishad 1.11-12 Quotation [More Commentary]

In the accompanying context, meditation is presented as a means to transcend physical consciousness and deepen the understanding of this divine union. Through meditation, one moves beyond mere physical awareness to experience the dissolution of the individual self into the universal. In this state, known as being “One without a second,” the notion of separateness from the divine vanishes, revealing a deeper truth of unity.

The Upanishad concludes that in this state of oneness, all desires find fulfillment. This doesn’t imply the gratification of worldly desires but rather a transformation of desire itself. In the unitive state, external yearnings are replaced by an inner longing for spiritual connection. This fulfillment is about realizing an inherent truth – a contentment that comes from understanding one’s true nature and inherent unity with the divine, which is the essence of spiritual salvation.

But You Must Know This

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