The Isha Upanishad

The Upanishads, Transl. Alistair Shearer and Peter Russell

At the heart of this phenomenal world, within all its changing forms, dwells the unchanging Lord.

So, go beyond the changing, and, enjoying the inner, cease to take for your self what to others are riches.

Continuing to act in the world, one may aspire to be one hundred.

Thus, and only thus, can a person be free from the binding influence of action.

Unillumined in deed are those worlds clouded by the blinding darkness of ignorance.

Into this death sink all those whose dullness denies the Self.

The one Self never moves, yet is too swift for the mind.

The senses cannot reach It; It is ever beyond their grasp.

Remaining still, It outstrips all activity, yet in It rests the breath of all that moves.

It moves, yet moves not.

It is far, yet It is near.

It is within all this, and yet without all this.

He who sees everything as nothing but the Self, and the Self in everything he sees, such a seer withdraws from nothing.

For the enlightened, all that exists is nothing but the Self, so how could any suffering or delusion continue for those who know this Oneness?

He who pervades all is radiant, unbounded, and untainted.

He is the Knower, the one Mind, omnipresent and self-sufficient.

He has harmonized diversity throughout eternal time.

Into a blinding darkness go they who worship action alone.

Into an even greater darkness go they who worship meditation.

For It is other than meditation; It is other than action.

This we have heard from the enlightened ones who teach us.

Meditation and action–he who knows these two together, through action leaves death behind and through meditation gains immortality.

Into a blinding darkness go they who idolize the Absolute.

Into an even greater darkness go they who idolize the relative.

For It is other than the relative; It is other than the Absolute.

This we have heard from the enlightened ones who teach us.

Absolute and relative–he who knows these two together, through the relative leaves death behind and through the Absolute gains immortality.

The threshold of Reality is veiled by golden light.

Reveal It, O Lord, for the guiding purpose of my life is to know the truth.

O Lord of Light, the knowing one, the golden guardian, giver of life to all, spread apart your rays, gather up your brilliance, so I may perceive your finest and most splendorous nature, the cosmic spirit that lies at your heart.

For I myself am That!

Let my breath merge with the cosmic breath; may my body be as dust.

Remember, O mind, remember what has been done.

Yes, remember, O mind, remember what has been done!

O Agni, show us the right path, lead us to eternal freedom, You who know everything.

May we not be diverted from our goal, for with all Devotion we submit ourselves to You.