MUNDAKOPANISHAD 3

                                                                  

After describing the nature of the Brahman, the self, and the path to know the Brahman, Sage Angirasa dwells on the advantages of knowing or realizing the Brahman. The third Mundaka expands the idea in the second.The two birds referred here are JIVA and Iswara. The tree is the body. Brahman is the life shining through all beings. When once he realizes the Brahman, all talk ceases. How to gain the Self?  It is by truthfulness, austerities, by right knowledge and by continuous abstinence says the sage Angirasa!  It is truth that succeeds eventually, not falsehood. It is the path, right royal road to reach the highest truth! Smaller than the small, farther than the far it is hidden in the hearts! He transcends all the senses. With pure meditation alone one can have the vision of Him who is formless! It is through the purification of the senses that the self shines forth

       Sage Angiras points out that self realization leads one to the abode of the Brahman The wise, by worshipping the PURUSHA are freed from the cycle of birth and death. Desires lead to rebirth while the realized person is not touched by any desire in the world! It is not as if you  can realize the Self by knowledge of scriptures, intellect or hearing. The person is chosen by the Self to whom it reveals itself. Strength, earnestness and austerity are the principal requisites for the attainment of self. When the Brahman is reached,the souls become perfect, tranquil, and free from passion. By understanding the object of Vedanta, purifying their minds through renunciation, the ascetics become immortal and free at the time of death.

         All the organs of the body and their senses retire to their respective deities and merge into the supreme Imperishable. The knower loses his name and form and merges into the Purusha like the flowing rivers 

disappearing in the ocean. One who knows the Brahman becomes Brahman himself! His   family will have none who does not know the Brahman! He rises above grief and sin and desire and becomes immortal! Finally Sage Angirasa declares that the knowledge of the Brahman should be imparted to only those who have performed all rites and are well versed in the Vedas. They must be intent on Brahman and must have offered oblations with faith’ in Ekarshi fire’ and observed the ‘vow of the head!’