GLIMPSES OF SCRIPTURES

The Paths of Light and Darkness - The Bhagavad Gita

There are two paths which may be followed at the moment of death; one leads to rebirth, and the other to liberation.

There are six months of the year when the sun is growing brighter and the days are growing longer. These represent the path to liberation. There are six months when the sun is growing dimmer, and the days are growing shorter. These represent the path to rebirth.

There are two weeks in the month when the moon is growing larger and its light is increasing. These represent the path to liberation. There are two weeks when the moon is growing smaller and its light is decreasing. These represent the path to rebirth.

These two paths, the path of light and the path of darkness, have always existed. And at the moment of death some have followed the path of light towards liberation, while others have followed the path of darkness towards rebirth.

Once you know these two paths, you can never again be deluded. And you can attain this knowledge through the practice of meditation. There is merit in studying sacred texts; there is merit in selfless service; there is merit in self-mortification; and there is merit in giving to the needy. But the practice of meditation carries you beyond all these, to the place where God himself resides.

Sleeping in the Soul  - The Upanishads

Aruni spoke: ‘In the beginning there was a single soul – one soul, without any others. Out of the soul came the entire universe, and everything that exists within it. There is nothing in the universe that does not come from the soul. The soul dwells within all that exists; it is the truth of all that exists. You, my son, are the soul.’

His son said: ‘Father, tell me more about the soul.’ Aruni continued: ‘Let us start with sleep. What happens when you sleep? When you sink into dreamless sleep, you are in union with the soul – even though you are not aware of this. Think of a bird tethered with string. It flies in all directions; and finally, when it cannot find a resting-place anywhere else, it settles down on the perch to which it is tied. Similarly, the mind is tethered to the soul. It flies off in all directions during the day; and at night it settles down within the soul. The soul is the home of all living beings; and from the soul all living beings derive their strength.

‘Let us now consider death. When a person dies, speech is absorbed by the mind; the mind is absorbed by the breath; the breath is absorbed by fire; and fire is absorbed within the soul. As I say, there is nothing in the universe that does not come from the soul. The soul dwells within all that exists; it is the truth of all that exists. You, my son, are the soul.’ ‘Tell me more about the soul,’ his son said.

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