Category:Described in the Upanisads
Theme Analysis
The Upaniṣads constitute the deep philosophical essence of the Vedic literatures. Often, scholars misinterpret these texts as exclusively supporting an impersonal, formless conception of God. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that when the Upaniṣads describe the Absolute Truth through negation (such as using the word nirguṇa), they are strictly denying the Lord's possession of material qualities and physical senses, not His transcendental, spiritual form. The impersonal Brahman described throughout the Upaniṣads is factually understood to be the radiant brahmajyoti—the glowing effulgence emanating from the supreme body of Kṛṣṇa.
To prevent philosophical misunderstanding, texts like the Īśopaniṣad explicitly feature prayers requesting the Supreme Lord to remove this blinding brahmajyoti so that the devotee may behold His actual, personal face. Furthermore, the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad vividly describes the Lord as being luminous like the sun, existing eternally beyond the darkness of material ignorance. These scriptures also contain descriptions of the Lord's superhuman activities, His spiritual potencies, and even confidential prophecies regarding the future advent of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
One of the most famous and instructive descriptions in the Upaniṣads is the metaphor of the two birds sitting on the same tree. This analogy perfectly illustrates the relationship between the individual soul and the localized Supersoul (Paramātmā). While one bird (the conditioned soul) tries to enjoy the bitter and sweet fruits of the material body, the other bird (the Supersoul) acts as the ultimate friend and impartial witness. The Upaniṣads assert that the individual soul is completely dependent on God for all functions of life. Therefore, the ultimate message of these scriptures is that human life must not be wasted in animalistic sense gratification; it must be utilized to realize the Complete Whole and return to the spiritual sky.
- Negating the Material: The impersonal descriptions in the Upaniṣads are meant to negate material conceptions of God, not to deny His eternal, spiritual form.
- The Source of Brahman: The all-pervading impersonal Brahman is clearly identified as the bodily effulgence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The Two Birds Metaphor: The Upaniṣads describe the Supersoul and the individual soul as two birds on a tree, highlighting the soul's absolute dependence on God as the ultimate friend and witness.
- The Purpose of Life: The scriptures emphatically state that human life must be utilized to understand the Absolute Truth, rather than wasted on temporary bodily maintenance.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Described in the Upaniṣads - The Supreme Absolute Truth.
Pages in category "Described in the Upanisads"
The following 18 pages are in this category, out of 18 total.
I
- In the Svetasvatara Upanisad (3.8), the Supreme is described as aditya-varnam tamasah parastat, He whose self-manifest form is luminous like the sun and transcendental to the darkness of ignorance
- In the Upanisads the description is more or less negation of the material conception of things, but this is not denial of the transcendental senses of the Supreme Lord
T
- The Absolute Truth is described in the Upanisads and Brahma-sutra, but one must understand the verses as they are. That is the supreme glory in understanding
- The form of the unlimited eternal is sometimes conceived as the universal form, and in the Vedic literatures like the Upanisads the form of the limited eternal is vividly described
- The fountainhead of everything is described in the Upanisads as the complete whole
- The Isopanisad mantra is a simple prayer to the Lord to remove the brahmajyoti so that one can see His real face. This brahmajyoti effulgence is described in detail in several mantras of the Mundaka Upanisad
- The Personality of Godhead is He who is described as the Absolute Whole in the Vedas, Bhagavatam, Upanisads and other transcendental literatures. No one is equal to Him
- The Supersoul is also living along with these ordinary living entities as friends. That is described in the Upanisad, that two birds are sitting on one tree
- The Supersoul, being seated in everyone's heart, can witness everyone's activities - past, present and future. In the Upanisads the Supersoul is described as being seated with the individual soul as friend and witness
- The Upanisads describe in different ways the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord. The Absolute Truth, the Supreme Lord, is called nirguna. That does not mean He has no qualities
- The Vedas, the Upanisads, the Brahma-sutra and the Puranas all describe the activities of the spiritual potency of the Lord. If one cannot accept the personal activities of the Lord, he jokes foolishly and gives an impersonal description
- These (Krsna killing Putana and lifting the Govardhan Hill) are some of the superhuman activities of the Lord described in the authoritative Vedic literatures like the Puranas, Itihasas (histories) and Upanisads
- This life is not meant for wasting time like cats and dog. Because after all, we have to give up this life. But before giving up this life, we must gain something. That is described in the Upanisad. Etad viditva yah prayati sa brahmanah
W
- What the Upanisads describe as the impersonal Brahman is but the effulgence of His body, and the Lord known as the Supersoul is but His localized plenary portion - CC Adi 1.3
- What the Upanisads describe as the impersonal Brahman is but the effulgence of His body, and the Lord known as the Supersoul is but His localized plenary portion - CC Adi 2.5
- When God sees, you can see. When God walks, you can walk. - These are the description in the Upanisad. Practically, that is the fact. We are completely helpless, simply dependent upon God