Reading the Upanishads: Part Five

I thought it would be nice to read along through some scriptures and discuss the passages. I have a translation of the Upanishads done by Eknath Easwaran, a teacher whom I deeply trust and love. In this book there is an introduction before each translation with some insight from Easwaran.

Here is a link to the Amazon page for the book I have:

The fifth verse of the Easwaran translation of the Isha Upanishad is…

The Self seems to move, but is ever still.

he seems far away, but is always near.

He is within all, and he transcends all.

तदेजति तन्नैजति तद्दूरे तद्वन्तिके ।
तदन्तरस्य सर्वस्य तदु सर्वस्यास्य बाह्यतः ॥

What a beautiful verse! I love how it describes God as everywhere. It uses these almost contradictory statements to cover the breadth of God.

Being still even while moving is kind of a zen idea. I think one can be still at the center even while the body and mind act and behave in the world. It is a goal for me to always have my core be at peace no matter what else is going on around me.

There are times when it can feel like God is far away, where you don’t feel tuned in to the divine energy, but God is actually always there, beating within your heart.

He is within all and he transcends all. This is something that I’ve been talking about recently. God is everything. At the same time he is inside everything but also outside everything. He permeates absolutely everything in the universe.

Goal from Last Week

My goal last week was to spend time in my home altar every day and I did not make it! Somehow just knowing that it is there gives me a sense of spiritual energy pulsing through my apartment at all times, but I do want to spend time in repose there.

My goal this week is to try this one again!