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Kaushitaki Upanishad Teachings

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A small collection of teachings from Kaushitaki Upanishad.

“Who art thou?” The sage asks. “I am thou,” he replies.

Being freed from good and freed from evil he, the knower of Brahman, moves towards Brahman.

Only by knowledge he sees clearly.

I am like a season, and the child of the seasons, sprung from the womb of the endless space, from the light from the luminous Brahman. The light, the origin of the year, which is the past, which is the present, which is all living beings, and all elements, is the Atman. Thou art the Atman. What thou art, that am I.

When a person is so asleep that he sees no dream whatever, then he becomes one with that vital breath. Then speech together with all names goes to it; the eye together with all forms goes to it; the ear together with all sounds goes to it; the mind together with all thoughts goes to it. When he awakes, as from a blazing fire sparks would fly in all directions, even so from this self the vital breaths proceed to their respective stations; from the vital breaths, the senses, from the gods, the worlds. The same vital breath, the self of intelligence, seizes hold of the body and raises it up. This therefore one should worship as the Uktha. This is the all-obtaining in the vital breath.

One has to win the pure knowledge of the unity of Brahman and Atman
Speech is not what one should seek to know, one should know the speaker
Smell is not what one should seek to know, one should know the smeller.
Form is not what one should seek to know, one should know the seer.
Sound is not what one should seek to know, one should know the hearer.
Taste of food is what one should seek to know, one should know the knower of the taste of food.
Deed is  not what one should seek to know, one should know the doer.
Pleasure and pain are not what one should seek to know; one should know the discerner of pleasure and pain.
Bliss, delight and procreation are not what one should seek to know, one should know the discerner of bliss, delight and procreation.
Going is not what one should seek to know, one should know the goer.
Mind is not what one should seek to know, one should know the thinker.

Kaushitaki Upanishad

Additional Explanations and Teachings:

Expanded Explanation of the Teaching: "Being freed from good and freed from evil, he, the knower of Brahman, moves towards Brahman."

Core Concept and Meaning

This teaching, drawn from the Upanishads, encapsulates a profound spiritual truth about transcending duality. The "knower of Brahman" refers to an individual who has realized the ultimate truth—the unity of existence and the formless, infinite consciousness called Brahman. To "move towards Brahman" implies a state of liberation (moksha) where one transcends all attachments to moral dualities like good and evil.

  • Freed from Good and Evil: This does not imply ignoring morality but going beyond the dualistic mindset that binds the soul. Good and evil are constructs tied to the ego and the material world. To transcend them is to rise above karmic cycles, recognizing the deeper unity of all things in Brahman.
  • Universal Teaching: This teaching holds relevance across all cultures and times, advocating liberation from judgmental dualities and encouraging inner peace and universal compassion.

Deep Symbolism

  1. Duality and Oneness: Good and evil represent the dualities that dominate human perception. Brahman represents oneness, showing that beyond the surface contradictions lies unity.
  2. Karma and Liberation: Actions labeled as "good" or "evil" often bind people to cycles of karma. Realization of Brahman frees one from this bondage.
  3. The Mirror Metaphor: Just as a mirror reflects light without attaching to the images it shows, a knower of Brahman engages with the world without clinging to outcomes of good or bad.

Importance and Relevance

  • In the Past: This teaching guided ancient sages to live balanced lives, unshackled from worldly anxieties.
  • In the Present: It offers clarity in a world polarized by ideologies and divisions.
  • In the Future: As humanity confronts increasingly complex challenges, such a perspective fosters resilience and unity.

Modern Relevance and Applications

  1. Mental Health: Detachment from dualities can help alleviate stress and anxiety, fostering equanimity.
  2. Conflict Resolution: By transcending rigid moral judgments, it becomes easier to find middle ground in disputes.
  3. Climate Change and Global Warming:
    • By transcending selfish desires (good for me vs. bad for others), this teaching inspires collective responsibility.
    • Aligning with the principle of Brahman, one sees nature not as a resource to exploit but as a part of oneself, encouraging sustainable living.

Practical Application

  1. Overcoming Personal Problems:
    • Example: A person criticized unfairly can view criticism and praise as mere labels, choosing inner peace over reaction.
    • Practice: Meditation on the unity of all things can reduce ego-driven decisions.
  2. Influencing Modern Life:
    • This teaching helps in fostering inclusivity in leadership, creativity in problem-solving, and compassionate global policies.

Stories and Quotes Supporting the Teaching

  1. The Bhagavad Gita:
    • "He who is the same to friend and foe, and also in honor and dishonor… who is the same in cold and heat, in pleasure and pain, who is free from attachment, he is dear to me." (BG 12.18-19)
    • This echoes the need to transcend dualities.
  2. Story of Janaka:
    • King Janaka, a realized soul, ruled with perfect detachment. When told his palace was burning, he remained unaffected, saying, “I own nothing.”

Simple Explanation with Example

Imagine you are watching a movie. Good and bad characters evoke different emotions, but you, the watcher, remain untouched by the story. Similarly, a knower of Brahman interacts with the world but remains detached, knowing it is all part of a greater reality.

Lesser-Known Facts

  1. Origin of the Quote: Found in the Jivanmukti teachings of the Upanishads, which elaborate on living liberation.
  2. Philosophical Depth: This concept is central to Advaita Vedanta, emphasizing non-duality.

How This Teaching Addresses Modern Problems

  • Polarization in Society: Encourages transcending ideological divisions, fostering harmony.
  • Consumerism and Greed: By realizing Brahman, individuals see the futility of materialism and adopt sustainable lifestyles.

The Upanishadic teaching to transcend good and evil is not a call for amorality but for a higher morality grounded in unity and wisdom. Its relevance extends to resolving personal, social, and global challenges, offering timeless guidance for a harmonious life.