The Knowledge (Jñana) about the nature of our relationship with the Supreme Being is exposed in different scriptures, from the Upanishads to the Puranas among other Vedic Shástras. The Upanishads are called shruti, "what is heard” or revealed as the Puranas are called smriti, meaning " what is remembered "or memorized after being heard. However, this isn’t any kind of knowledge, whose aim is used to satisfy the intellectual entertainment on one or more subjects. Instead, talks about what is Eternal and Unchanging in ourselves and in the Universe, our Essence, so that each one of us, each individual being (jiva), can remember about the real dimension of himself. Therefore it is considered that the scriptures are also timeless and identical to that they claim.
Thus they teach us to live better, to understand our purpose in this world, relationship with others and with the natural law of things. When we understand the nature of what we seek, that which is being seeked, and where that search takes us, that will give us the clarity needed to live more peacefully and be happy in life right now. Isn´t this the release of the conditionings, the end of the sufferings by which the human being suffers without meaning that we’ll not find obstacles in our lives?
Returning to the teachings, we find that different traditions follow different shástras, or have so many interpretations of the same sacred texts, according to the way the Reality is experienced by them. However, if we became available for reflecting and studying, we identify a lot of things in common: " the apparent diversity in unity”. Now, consider the 1st, 4th and 5th verse in the Ishopanishad and pastime (lila) of Krishna (Bhagavata Purana) in which the child let himself be tied by his mother Yasoda.
In the Ishopanishad is stated that "The Infinite Being is present in the hearts of all. / The Infinite Being is the supreme reality. / Let us rejoice in him through renunciation. / Do not desire anything, because everything belongs to Him. 1 / (...) Self is one. Always motionless / The Self is faster than thought / faster than senses. / Although still, It reaches any target. / Without the Self, life could not exist. 4 / The Self seems to move, but is always still. / Seems to be far away, but is always near. / It´s inside everything, and at the same time transcends everything. 5 "
Once mother Yasoda, unhappy with the behavior of the little Krishna, warned him that if he continued to persist like that she would have to punish him. He persisted, so she picked up a rope to tie little Krishna, but whenever the time came to tie the rope, it seemed that it was smaller. Then she took another rope, tied to the other and tried again, but still the rope's length was not enought. It always seemed insufficient... However she continued to try several times by rope splicing rope and never reached the required length so that could tie Him... until she became very tired. Seeing his mother after that effort, so tired, little Krishna felt compassion and let himself be tied. Only then Yasoda felt peace of mind and returned to her daily work. Thus, Krishna revealed His Unlimited Power!
The Self can never be reached through the mind or the senses. How many meditations were frustrated because we considered the Self as something separate from ourselves, that the mind must possess, get or "bind" as the mother Yasoda was trying to do with Krishna. Although it seems to move, the Self is One and always still. The Self seems to be far away but is always near, Is all that exists and at the same time transcends everything. Yasoda was unable to tie Krishna simply because the rope was never long enough. The rope symbolizes the three gunas (sattva, rajas and tamas), the qualities of Nature (Prakriti) responsible for the manifestation of the universe and everything in it. Yasoda’s fatigue means the total surrender to the Infinite Being, Krishna, who is within our hearts. Let us rejoice in Him through renunciation!
This example, among others (infinite!) shows that the teachings are accessible, available and exist for the good of all beings! I wish you good reading.
Hari OM Tat Sat
Gonçalo Correia