We are doing a scripture study together: reading along through some scriptures and discussing the passages. We are reading one of my favorite upanishads: The Katha. This is the story of a boy who chatted with the God of death.

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/awakening101/upani_katha.html

8

He, the Purusha, who remains awake while the sense-organs are asleep, shaping one lovely form after another, that indeed is the Pure, that is Brahman and that alone is called the Immortal. All worlds are contained in Him and none can pass beyond. This, verily, is That.

9

As the same non-dual fire, after it has entered the world, becomes different according to whatever it burns, so also the same non-dual Atman, dwelling in all beings, becomes different according to whatever It enters. And It exists also without.

10

As the same non-dual air, after it has entered the world, becomes different according to whatever it enters, so also the same non-dual Atman, dwelling in all beings, becomes different according to whatever It enters. And It exists also without.

11

As the sun, which helps all eyes to see, is not affected by the blemishes of the eyes or of the external things revealed by it, so also the one Atman, dwelling in all beings, is never contaminated by the misery of the world, being outside it.

12

There is one Supreme Ruler, the inmost Self of all beings, who makes His one form manifold. Eternal happiness belongs to the wise, who perceive Him within themselves—not to others.

13

There is One who is the eternal Reality among non—eternal objects, the one truly conscious Entity among conscious objects and who, though non—dual, fulfils the desires of many. Eternal peace belongs to the wise, who perceive Him within themselves—not to others.

14

The sages realise that indescribable Supreme Joy as “This is That.” How can I realise It? Is It self-luminous? Does It shine brightly, or not?

15

The sun does not shine there, nor the moon and the stars, nor these lightnings—not to speak of this fire. He shining, everything shines after Him. By His light all this is lighted.

http://www.vedarahasya.net/katha-5.htm Chapter-V

Some of those who have born with bodies (the human beings), requiring other bodies reach the entry point again (the womb). Some others reach the state of plants (or other stationary objects). All these happen according to their actions, thoughts and knowledge. 

The Purusha who is awake even in the one sleeping and who is continuously engaged in shaping one desire after another, He is the pure one; He is the Brahman; He is called as the eternal and immortal. In Him reside all the worlds. On him do they rest. No one crosses Him. This is that (thing that we are contemplating about). 

As one fire entering various forms of worldly objects assuming the shapes of such objects, so does the Atma, which, on entering various bodies, takes on various forms, although it remains as one and the same thing and it exists even beyond all such objects within which it is present. 

As one air entering various forms of worldly objects assuming the shapes of such objects, so does the Atma, which, on entering various bodies, takes on various forms, although it remains as one and the same thing and it exists even beyond all such objects within which it is present. 

As the Sun, the eye of the entire world, is not attacked by the external faults of the eye, so is the Atma, the Atma of the entire world (all the beings), which remains unaffected by any of the worldly sorrows. It stays beyond all that. 

Those wise men who perceive the Atma, which is the only Atma for all that is created and which is the Supreme Divine and which multiplies its single form into various, to be residing in themselves – only they are entitled to the limitless joy (arising out of such knowledge of the Self). Not the others. 

Those wise men who perceive the Atma, which is the only stable thing in this transient world and which is the knowledge of the beings that possess knowledge and which, standing as one, grants the desires of all, to be residing in themselves – only they are entitled to the eternal peace (arising out of such knowledge of the Self). Not the others. 

Although the pure ineffable supreme joy referred to as ‘that’ cannot be defined or explained about clearly, it is regarded as ‘this’ (that is clearly understandable and enjoyable here in this life) by the wise men. Is it self-shining or does it shine by reflecting the light of another? How will we understand that by our intellect? 

The sun does not shine there; nor do the moon and the stars. Not even the lightning and certainly not this fire. All these shine only by depending on Him (the Atma) who is self-shining and self-illuminating. It is only because of His light that other things are seen and understood.

Commentary (Swami Krishnananda)

“…the Atman is described as not only the pervasive principle in all creation, but also the contents which He pervades. This will suffice to remove many misconceptions in regard to Him. That which is the Self of all beings is regarded by people as limited. They imagine the Atman to be inside the body. It is wrong to so think, because He is that which is Universal and Absolute. The ideas of inside and outside are created by the process of psychological and intellectual thinking. Hence, it would be like putting the cart before the horse if we think that the Atman is located inside the body. He is neither inside nor outside. He is the pervasive Principle and the Substance through which He circulates. He does not pervade the universe like water pervading a cloth; He is not one thing entering another.”

“…People look within the body or physical frame to see the Atman. He is within in a different sense altogether.”

“…It is the habit of the eyes to look within in a physical sense, and they want to see the Atman in this way alone. He is internal not only to the eyes, but also to the mind. Hence, even a psychological introversion is not enough, because the mind also introverts in space. Just as the eyes can see objects only in space and time, so is the case with the mind, too. The supreme Spirit is subtler than even the mind in the sense that He does not think as the mind thinks. To think is to separate the objects from Him.”

“…The mind is habituated to think in terms of space, time and causality, and thus we try to do the same thing with the Atman.”

“…He is not merely the Pervader, but also the Material of which the universe is made, as well as its material Cause.”

My Thoughts

The swami brings up a good point that  sometimes we think of the “God within” as meaning God is hiding in some tiny corner of our heart. But it is not like that. God is not inside us. God is everywhere, both within and without. The distinction between inside and outside is part of our limited minds.

I love some of these descriptions of the nature of the Self. “By His light all this is lighted.” and “As one air entering various forms of worldly objects assuming the shapes of such objects, so does the Atma, which, on entering various bodies, takes on various forms, although it remains as one and the same thing and it exists even beyond all such objects within which it is present.”