Chandogya, Upanishads: Verse 1.9.1

Wherefrom do all these worlds come?  They come from space [monad].  All beings arise from space, and into space they return: space is indeed their beginning, and space is their final end.

Commentary on Verse 1.9.1

  1. ambrose_mnemopolous Post author

    Compare the above passage to the Buddhist doctrine, expressed in the Pali Dhammapada, verses I.1-2:

    All the phenomena of existence have mind as their precursor, mind as their supreme leader, and of mind are they made. If with an impure mind one speaks or acts, suffering follows him in the same way as the wheel follows the foot of the drawer (of the chariot).

    All the phenomena of existence have mind as their precursor, mind as their supreme leader, and of mind are they made. If with a pure mind one speaks or acts, happiness follows him like his shadow that never leaves him.

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The Chandogya Upanishad is one of the "primary" (mukhya) Upanishads. Together with the Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana and the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad it ranks among the oldest Upanishads, still dating to the Brahmana period of Vedic Sanskrit (before sixth century BCE). It is associated with the Kauthuma Shakha of the Samaveda. It figures as number 9 in the Muktika canon of 108 Upanishads.