The Subala Upanishad (The Depths of Wisdom)

 The Subala Upanishad  (The Depths of Wisdom)

The undaunted man never grieves, as he knows Atma to be great, all-pervading and unborn. 
(...) Some attain this Atma by the six means: of Truth, Charity, Austerity, of Non-injuryto any creature, of Brahmacharya, of indifference to worldly objects; And there are no other means.

The Subala Upanishad, one of the 21 Samanya Upanishads attached to the Shukla Yajurveda, explores the depths of spiritual wisdom and philosophy. Its exact origins and dating remain uncertain but it is believed to have been composed somewhere between the 13th and 16th centuries AD. The Upanishad is structured into sixteen chapters and deals a range of topics, including cosmology, physiology, psychology, and metaphysics. The text opens as a conversation between Vedic sage Raikva (Subala) and Prajapati. Subala asks about the origin of the universe, with the question "What was at first?" Prajapati replies that there was neither Sat (Be-ness), nor Asat (not-Be-ness), nor Sat-asat (co-mingling of both Sat and Asat).

The Upanishad asserts that in this nothingness existed the absolute Para-brahman, from which darkness emerged. The text states that from the darkness emerged ether (or space). In turn, air emerged from the ether, fire emerged from the air, water emerged from the fire, and earth emerged from the water. From earth emerged the egg, which split to create atmosphere and land. Between atmosphere and land emerged the divine person (Purusha) with one thousand heads, one thousand eyes, one thousand arms, and one thousand feet, who created death. The Brahman then created seven sons filled with truth, called Prajapatis. Out of the divine Purusha's mind emerged the moon, from the eyes came the sun, from his heart came the life force (prana). Prana is the life force that is believed to be originated from Sun and connects all elements. Atma (soul) emerged as divine light-absorbing everything in the universe. He divided himself (Atman of Purusha) into two, thus creating woman and man. The text asserts that along with the cycle of creation is a competing cycle of destruction, wherein Vaishvanara destroys and returns everything back to darkness, where there is "neither Sat, nor Asat, nor Sat-asat.

The Upanishad explores the nature of the ultimate reality, the nature of the self, and the path to liberation (moksha). It delves into the concept of Brahman, the supreme reality that underlies and permeates all existence. It emphasizes the unity of the individual self (Atman) with the universal self (Brahman). Various metaphors, analogies and teachings to convey its philosophical insights are presented. It discusses the impermanence of the body and emphasizes the importance of realizing the eternal nature of the self. It also explores the concept of Maya, the illusory nature of the phenomenal world, and the need to transcend the dualities of the material realm.

One of the key teachings of this Upanishad is the importance of self-realization and the direct experience of one’s true nature. It encourages seekers to go beyond intellectual understanding and engage in deep contemplation and meditation to realize their essential unity with Brahman. The Upanishad emphasizes that liberation comes from transcending the limitations of the ego and identifying oneself with the eternal and infinite. Its teachings invite individuals to question their identity, transcend the limitations of the material world, and experience the eternal essence within themselves.