This time, the teacher decides to do an experiment to make Svetaketu understand. He explains to Svetaketu that there are sixteen parts in the body. These parts are: life, faith, space, air, light, water, earth, sense organs, mind, food, vitality, austerity, incantations, action, fields of experience, and name. Uddalaka Muni then tells Svetaketu not to eat anything for fifteen days, and to drink as much water as needed, since he needs water to preserve his Prana and sustain his life. As a devout student, Svetaketu fasts for 15 days. When he approaches the teacher again, Uddalaka Muni asks him to recite the parts of the Vedas that he knew very well. However, Svetaketu could not remember anything. He asks why. The teacher replies ” When food is eaten, the mind is well nourished, now that your mind is not nourished, you are unable to remember. Like a firefly with a tiny light, you could not remember because out of your 16 parts, only one part (life) is remaining. Nourish your mind. Then you will be able to remember.” Later, Svetaketu, now nourished, goes back to the teacher. This time, he can recite the Vedas well. The teacher says ” Therefore, food is the mind, Prana is made up of water, and speech is made of fire. “This time, Svetaketu understands. ~ Chandogya Upanishad Chapter 6: Tat Tvam Asi
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 13:20:14 +0000
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