The Supreme Self

 

The Supreme Self

**Yājñavalkya has already decided in his mind** that the time has come to renounce his household life

and set out in search of the final attainment of Self-knowledge.

He calls both his wives — **Kātyāyanī and Maitreyī**.

Yājñavalkya says: “**Maitreyī, Kātyāyanī — I have resolved to retire from this householder’s life and go to the forest.

Therefore, whatever wealth and property I possess, I shall divide between the two of you.**”

Kātyāyanī silently becomes happy —but… the moment Maitreyī hears about wealth, she becomes restless.

Stopping Yājñavalkya, Maitreyī asks:

“**Swami, if this whole world — all the wealth on earth — were to become mine…would I attain immortality through it?

Would I become immortal?Would I gain supreme peace?**”

Yājñavalkya smiles gently and says:

“**No, Maitreyī. Wealth can give comfort, but never immortality .Money can only increase certain conveniences in life…but that which is itself perishable —how can it grant you imperishable bliss?**”

Maitreyī immediately says:

“**If wealth does not give immortality…then I do not want any of that wealth. Give me that knowledge which truly grants *immortality*.**”

Yājñavalkya is pleased with her words. He says:

“**Maitreyī, you have grasped the essence of the world. Come, I shall give you the knowledge of Brahman.**”

Yājñavalkya continues:

“**Maitreyī, listen —A person does not love an object or a personbecause the object is an object or the person is a person. They are loved because the soul finds them dear;they satisfy the soul.**”

He gives examples:

“**A wife does not love her husband because he is a husband…The husband is dear because the soul finds him dear.

The wife is dear because the soul finds her dear. Son, daughter, wealth, kingdom, animals —all these are dear only because behind them lies the reflection of the Self. If the Self were not dear, nothing in the world would appear lovable to anyone.**”

Maitreyī listens attentively. She asks:

“**If the Self is the root of all affection, then by knowing the Self, is everything known?**”

Yājñavalkya replies:

“**Yes, Maitreyī. This is the truth. One who has known the Self has known everything.**”

Yājñavalkya further says:

“**Maitreyī, behold the Self —It is never born, never dies. It cannot be cut, cannot be burned. It neither diminishes nor grows.

It is everywhere, one in all, and on it the entire universe rests.**”

“When one does not know the Self, the joys and sorrows of the world bind him. When one knows the Self, the world can no longer bind him.”

Maitreyī asks:

“**Swami, if the Self is everything…then what are this world, these pleasures, and these relationships?**”

Yājñavalkya replies solemnly:

“**These are merely shadows of the Self. Just as smoke depends on fire for its existence, so this world depends on the Self.

As long as a person seeks happiness in external things, he becomes bound.

But when he seeks joy in the Self, he becomes free.**”

Finally Yājñavalkya says:

“**Maitreyī, there is nothing greater than the Self —no joy, no knowledge.

One who has known the Self has found the home of true bliss —and that alone is *immortality*.**”

A radiance appears in Maitreyī’s eyes.

She says:

“**Swami, now I understand. Immortality comes not from wealth, but from knowledge.Now the pleasures of the world give me no delight.”**

Yājñavalkya becomes pleased.

*(Note: In the Upaniṣads, the Self is referred to in many places as the Supreme Self means God.)*

Reproduced by Dr. Vivek Arya

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