like two golden birds

Like two golden birds perched on the selfsame tree,

Intimate friends, the ego and the Self

Dwell in the same body.  The former eats 

The sweet and sour fruits of the tree of life

While the other looks on in detachment.

As long as we think we are the ego,

We feel attached and fall into sorrow.

But realize that you are the Self, the Lord

Of life, and you will be freed from sorrow.

When you realize that you are the Self,

Supreme source of light, supreme source of love,

You transcend the duality of life

And enter into the unitive state. 

The Lord of Love shines in the hearts of all.

Seeing him in all creatures, the wise

Forget themselves in the service of all.

The Lord is their joy, the Lord is their rest;

Such as they are the lovers of the Lord.

~ Mundaka Upanishad

Modes of Knowing 

translation by Eknath Easwaran

art by Jane Rosen

known through love but not through thought

Bright but hidden, the Self dwells in the heart.

Everything that moves, breathes, opens, and closes

Lives in the Self.  He is the source of love

And may be known through love but not through thought.

He is the goal of life.  Attain this goal!

...

In his robe are woven heaven and earth,

Mind and body.  Realize him as the One

Behind the many and stop all vain talk.

He is the bridge from death to deathless life.

Where all the nerves meet like spokes in a wheel,

There he dwells, the One behind the many.

Meditate upon him in the mantram.

May he guide us from death to deathless life!

...

The Lord of Love is before and behind.

He extends to the right and to the left.

He extends above; he extends below.

There is no one here but the Lord of Love.

He alone is; in truth, he alone is.

~ excerpt from The Mundaka Upanishad

translated by Eknath Easwaran

art by Jeff Metal

as the web issues out of the spider

.

As the web issues out of the spider

And is withdrawn, as plants sprout

from the earth,

As hair grows from the body, even so,

The sages say, this universe springs from

The deathless Self, the source of life.

~ Mundaka Upanishad

bright but hidden

Bright but hidden, the Self dwells in the heart.

Everything that moves, breathes, opens, and closes

Lives in the Self.  He is the source of love

And may be known through love but not through

thought.

He is the goal of life.  Attain this goal!

The shining Self dwells hidden in the heart.

Everything in the cosmos, great and small,

Lives in the Self.  He is the source of life,

Truth beyond the transience of this world.

He is the goal of life.  Attain this goal!

~ The Mundaka Upanishad

Modes of knowing

translation by Eknath Easwaran