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Subala Upanishad Teachings

A collection of teachings from Subala Upanishad

There is neither Sat or Asat, nor Sat-asat.

He who knows this as seedless in this manner becomes himself seedless. He is neither born, nor dies, nor is deluded, nor split, nor burnt, nor cut – he does not feel angry, and hence he is said to be Atma, capable of  burning all.

One attains to this Atma by the six means of satya (truth), dana (Charity), tapas (religious austerities), non-injury to any creature, celibacy and complete indifference to worldly objects.

Whoever feels happy with the thought ‘I Know That,’ that learned person’s prana will never get out of his body at the moment of death, but will become absorbed in Brahman; and being absorbed in Brahman, he attains the state the State of Brahman Itself as he who knows this.

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The passage 'he who knows this as seedless in this manner ....capable of burning all' is a Hindu philosophical or spiritual statement that delves into the concept of transcendence and the nature of the self. Let's break it down:

"He who knows this as seedless in this manner becomes himself seedless": This suggests that understanding the nature of existence as something beyond the cycle of birth and death leads to a state of transcendence, where one becomes free from the cycle of birth and death themselves.

"He is neither born, nor dies": This further emphasizes the idea of transcending the cycle of birth and death, suggesting that one who attains this understanding exists beyond the limitations of mortal existence.

"Nor is deluded, nor split, nor burnt, nor cut": This indicates that the one who achieves this state of understanding is not subject to the illusions and limitations of the material world. They are not affected by suffering or destruction.

"He does not feel angry": This suggests that such a person is free from negative emotions like anger, indicating a state of inner peace and tranquility.

"And hence he is said to be Atma, capable of burning all": Atma refers to the true self or soul in Hindu philosophy. This implies that understanding one's true nature leads to the ability to transcend all limitations and worldly attachments.

In summary, this passage speaks to the idea of achieving a state of enlightenment or self-realization where one transcends the cycle of birth and death, attains inner peace, and realizes their true nature as the eternal soul (Atma).

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The concept "Neither Sat nor Asat, nor Sat-asat," encapsulates a fundamental principle in Hindu philosophy, particularly in the context of Advaita Vedanta, a non-dualistic school of thought. Let's break it down:

Sat (Being/Existence): This refers to the ultimate reality, the essence that is eternal, unchanging, and true. It signifies the substratum of all existence, the pure consciousness that underlies the manifest universe.

Asat (Non-Being/Non-Existence): This is the opposite of Sat, representing what is unreal, impermanent, and illusory. It refers to the transient nature of the material world, which is subject to change and ultimately unreal from the perspective of ultimate reality.

Sat-asat (Being and Non-Being): This concept transcends the duality of existence and non-existence. It suggests that ultimate reality is beyond both being and non-being, beyond all conceptualization and dualistic distinctions. It implies that the ultimate truth cannot be limited by any form of description or categorization.

In Hindu teachings, particularly in Advaita Vedanta, the aim is to realize the non-dual nature of reality, where there is no distinction between the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman). This realization leads to the understanding that all dualities, including existence and non-existence, are ultimately illusory from the perspective of absolute truth. The statement "Neither Sat nor Asat, nor Sat-asat" emphasizes the transcendence of all dualities and the ineffable nature of the ultimate reality, which is beyond conceptualization and description.