I’d had a need for something deeper than the everyday grind for years. The vivid traditions, old tales, and rich tapestries of Hinduism drew me in. But there was a fundamental thing I still didn’t completely get: who am I, really?
One day, while perusing the literature, I came into the Mundaka Upanishad. The term “Mundaka” literally translates to “razor sharp,” and this small book more than lived up to its name. It gave me a glimpse into a reality that spoke deeply to me and cut through layers of misunderstanding.
The Upanishad refers to the everlasting self as Atman. It’s not our bodies, not our ever-shifting minds and feelings. It’s the constant quality, the divine spark, that everyone of us carries inside. Though not really novel, the Upanishad gave it such clarity that it seemed like a key to opening a secret door.
The book explains this deep concept with exquisite analogies. In this analogy with the body, the senses are like the branches of a tree, and the mind is like the trunk. However, the atman, or actual self, is the root that keeps the whole tree alive. Underlying the always-shifting world is an unchanging fact.
Deeper down, the Upanishad distinguishes between the ultimate reality (Brahman) and the phenomenal world (Maya). Maya is the realm of appearances that our senses perceive. Suffering and impermanence abound. Conversely, Brahman is the unchanging, everlasting foundation of all existence. Ultimately, the Atman—our actual self—and Brahman are one.
This idea was mind-blowing. It meant that my sense of being unique and different from everything else—of separation—was a mirage. Fundamentally, I was more than just this body or this mess of ideas in my brain. I belonged to something far larger, a timeless essence woven into the very fabric of life.
The Upanishad tackles more ground than just philosophy. It provides a route—the road of wisdom, or Jnana—to understanding this reality. It underlines the need for a guru, or teacher, to lead you on this path of self-discovery. However, one eventually realises the Atman within. Finding our existence’s root requires internal focus and prolonged meditation.
This spoke to my own life experiences. During meditation, there were brief flashes of an inner quiet that went beyond the mind. Though not permanent, it provided a taste of the Atman and validated the truth that the Upanishad had disclosed.
The Mundaka Upanishad is not a manual or list of rules. It’s a signpost directing one towards a life-changing event. It is an appeal to become aware of our actual selves, to let go of ego, and to establish a relationship with the everlasting self.
The process of self-discovery is never-ending. There will be obstacles, uncertain times, and the attraction of the outside world. Still, the Upanishad lit a flame that continues to direct me. The Upanishad reminds me to connect with the eternal and see beyond the transient. It is a strength, a reminder that real contentment and tranquility are inside.
I urge you to read the Mundaka Upanishad if you’re interested in your own position in the cosmos or want life to have a deeper purpose. It can just be the key that opens a door inside you and sets you on the road to finding your own everlasting self.
