Discovering the Absolute

A simplified and modernized version of the Isha Upanishad, based on the elaborately commented translation of Bhaktivedanta Swami.

The oldest of the 108 Upanishads, this text clearly presents the personal aspect of the Absolute, and was chosen to serve as an introduction to the philosophical and spiritual tradition of the Vedas.

Excerpt

During their stay in the material universe, living entities—tiny particles of the Complete Whole—have every occasion to realize the Absolute Truth, and if they feel dissatisfied in any way, it is only because they do not have perfect knowledge of the Perfect One.

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Because we are unaware that nature is designed to meet all our needs, we try to use its resources to enjoy worldly pleasures as much as we can. A life thus centered on the satisfaction of the senses is misleading and illusory, as no living being is able to fully enjoy life without being in communion with the Complete Whole.

The hand, for example, is complete in itself, but only for as long as it is attached to the body. If we cut it off, though it may still look like a hand, it will no longer be able to perform its natural functions. The same applies to living beings: they are tiny portions of the Complete Whole, and as soon as they are separated from Him, all their efforts at finding fulfillment remain insufficient.

Human life is fulfilled only when it is placed in the service of the Absolute. Any form of service, whether to family, community, nation, the planet, or even other planets, remains disappointing and incomplete for as long as it is not in accordance with the will of the Complete Whole, the Supreme Being. But as soon as the tiny parcels of the Absolute One act in harmony with Him, they become equally complete and fulfilled in themselves.