Chandogya, Upanishads: Chapter 8.4.1

There is a bridge between time and Eternity; and this bridge is Atman, the Spirit of Man.  Neither day nor night cross that bridge, nor old age, nor death nor sorrow.

Evil or sin cannot cross that bridge, because the world of Sprit is pure.  This is why then this bridge has been crossed, the eyes of the blind can see, the wounds of the wounded are healed, and the sick man becomes whole from his sickness.

To one who goes over that bridge, the night becomes like unto day; because in the worlds of the Spirit there is a light which is everlasting.

Commentary on Chapter 8.4.1

  1. ambrose_mnemopolous Post author

    The phrase, “the night becomes like unto day” echoes the Jodeo-Christian formula, “nox sicut dies illuminabitur,” or, “the night shines like the day for you.”

    Similar formulations are found elsewhere in the Upanishads, in the Psalms, and in Isaiah.

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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.