Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The White Hindu

Home
Hindu
Reading the Upanishads: Kena Chapter Two

Reading the Upanishads: Kena Chapter Two

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:34 pm by Ambaa Choate

Reading the Upanishads: Kena Chapter Two 2015-03-13T22:34:38-04:00 Ambaa Choate

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

We are doing a scripture study together: reading along through some scriptures and discussing the passages. Today is the second post on the Kena Upanishad. The previous scripture was the Isha Upanishad (find all Scripture posts here)

Here are a few different translations of the second section of the Kena Upanishad…

Chapter II

The teacher said: If you think: “I know Brahman well,” then surely you know but little of Its form; you know only Its form as conditioned by man or by the gods. Therefore Brahman, even now, is worthy of your inquiry.

The disciple said: I think I know Brahman.

The disciple said: I do not think I know It well, nor do I think I do not know It. He among us who knows the meaning of “Neither do I not know, nor do I know”—knows Brahman.

He by whom Brahman is not known, knows It; he by whom It is known, knows It not. It is not known by those who know It; It is known by those who do not know It.

Brahman is known when It is realized in every state of mind; for by such Knowledge one attains Immortality. By Ātman one obtains strength; by Knowledge, Immortality.

If a man knows Ātman here, he then attains the true goal of life. If he does not know It here, a great destruction awaits him. Having realized the Self in every being, the wise relinquish the world and become immortal.

Chapter II

1 The teacher said: If you think: “I know Brahman well,” then surely you know but little of Its form; you know only Its form as conditioned by man or by the gods. Therefore Brahman, even now, is worthy of your inquiry.

2 The disciple said: I think I know Brahman. The disciple said: I do not think I know It well, nor do I think I do not know It. He among us who knows the meaning of “Neither do I not know, nor do I know”—knows Brahman.

3 He by whom Brahman is not known, knows It; he by whom It is known, knows It not. It is not known by those who know It; It is known by those who do not know It.

4 Brahman is known when It is realised in every state of mind; for by such Knowledge one attains Immortality. By Atman one obtains strength; by Knowledge, Immortality

5 If a man knows Atman here, he then attains the true goal of life. If he does not know It here, a great destruction awaits him. Having realised the Self in every being, the wise relinquish the world and become immortal.

The website seems to be down right now for my third source! So, you can find the Sanskrit text with individual word translation here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/59198760/Kena-Upanishad-Translated-with-notes-by-Swami-Sharvananda

***

Apparently here the teacher is becoming concerned about the ego of the disciple. Does the student think that he is the one who acts under his own power? In some ways it seems as though the student believes he already knows it all, already has the answers, and does not need to continue to strive to understand Brahman.

The commentaries speak to the idea that it is easy to confuse our ego with Atman or Brahman. They suggest that this student has not yet delved far enough to actually know Brahman. They also point out that “knowing” can be an intellectual exercise, but knowing Brahman in an intellectual way is only a part of actually knowing Him. In many ways, Brahman is unknowable by the mind.

This section reminds me of hearing that Socrates said that the wise man knows that he knows nothing.

On the other hand, the student does make the point that we cannot say we do not know Brahman at all: He is within our very soul.

What is the Kena Upanishad? There are hundreds of Upanishads, but ten are considered principle texts, the most important ones. These were written approximately 1000 years BCE. The word translates to “by whom,” which refers to the opening question of the text.

reading the upanishads

scripture

studying the upanishads

upanishad

Previous Post

December 9, 2013

The "Happy Holidays" Fight

Next Post

December 11, 2013 This 3 Second Trick Will Bring You More Peace Instantly

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Club Hindu Holiday How Am I Being a Hindu This Week? Inside the Life Meet a God Meet a Guru Movie Club Philosophy Corner Resources Scripture Uncategorized Wild Card

Select a Month February 2020 September 2019 May 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Gideon" mean in Hebrew?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Redeemer God is my Strength Hewer Warrior