Discover the Ultimate Truth: How Everything is Born, Exists, and Dissolves in You – The Wisdom of Kaivalyopanishad

The Philosophy Of Oneness

Have you ever wondered about the true nature of reality? Why do we experience joy, sorrow, and the endless cycle of creation and destruction? The ancient wisdom of the Kaivalyopanishad, particularly Verse 19, offers a profound answer: Everything is born in you, exists in you, and dissolves back into you. And this is the fundamental principle of Advaita – nonduality philosophy.

Let’s look into this timeless teaching and uncover its transformative power.

The Essence of Verse 19

The verse begins with a powerful declaration:

मय्येव सकलं जातं मयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्।
मयि सर्वं लयं याति तद्ब्रह्माद्वयमस्यहम्॥

Mayyeva sakalam jatam, mayi sarvam pratishthitam I
Mayi sarvam layam yati, tad brahmadvayamasmyaham II 19 II

Translated, it means:
“Everything is born in me alone; everything is based on me alone; everything resolves into me alone. I am that non-dual Brahman.”

This mantra is a profound reminder of the non-dual nature of reality (Advaita). It tells us that the entire universe – its creation, existence, and dissolution – originates from and returns to the same source: Pure Infinite Consciousness.

The Three Stages of Manifestation

The verse beautifully captures the three stages of existence:

1. Born (Jatam):
Everything in creation emerges from the Pure Infinite Consciousness. Just as a dream is born from the dreamer, the universe is born from you – your true Self.

2. Based (Pratishthitam):
Everything that exists finds its foundation in this Consciousness. The world you see, the experiences you have, all rest within you.

3. Resolves (Layam Yati):
Ultimately, everything dissolves back into the same source. Like waves returning to the ocean, all forms and experiences merge back into the Infinite.

The Dream Analogy: Awakening to Reality

To understand this teaching, think of a dream. When you’re dreaming, the dream world feels real. You experience joy, fear, and all kinds of emotions within it. But when you wake up, you realize that the dream world was born from you, existed within you, and dissolved back into you.

Similarly, the waking world we experience is like a grand dream. It feels real, but it’s ultimately a play of the mind – Maya. Only when we awaken to our true Self, the non-dual Brahman, do we realize that the world is an illusion.

The Unreal Nature of the World

The essence of this teaching is that the world we perceive – with its joys, sorrows, and objects – is unreal. It’s a projection of the mind, a temporary play of consciousness. When we recognize our Real Self (Atman) and its identity with the Supreme Brahman, the illusion dissolves.

– You are the Creator, Sustainer, and Dissolver:
Just as the dreamer is the source of the dream, you are the source of this universe. You are the srishti-sthithi-laya karanam – the cause of creation, existence, and dissolution.

– Living in an Unreal World:
The joys and sorrows we experience are part of this unreal world. They lose their grip on us when we realize our true nature.

How to Meditate on This Truth

This mantra isn’t just for intellectual understanding – it’s a tool for deep meditation. Here’s how you can practice:

1. Sit in Silence:
Find a quiet place and sit comfortably. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.

2. Repeat the Mantra:
Silently or aloud, repeat the mantra:
“Mayyeva sakalam jatam, mayi sarvam pratishthitam; Mayi sarvam layam yati, tad brahmadvayamasmyaham.”

3. Reflect on Its Meaning:
As you repeat the mantra, reflect on its meaning. Feel that everything is born in you, exists in you, and dissolves back into you.

4. Experience Non-Duality:
Let go of the sense of separation. Feel your oneness with the Infinite.

Conclusion

The wisdom of Kaivalyopanishad’s Verse 19 is a call to awaken from the dream of duality. It reminds us that we are not separate from the universe – we are the universe. By meditating on this truth, we can transcend the illusions of Maya and realize our true nature as the non-dual Brahman.

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by the world, remember: Everything is born in you, exists in you, and dissolves back into you. You are the Infinite. You are the Truth.

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About Sanatana Dharma

ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या जीवो ब्रह्मैव नापरः।
अनेन वेद्यं सच्छास्त्रमिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः॥

Brahman alone is real; the universe is mithya – neither fully real nor unreal, but an appearance. The individual self (jiva) is none other than Brahman itself, not separate or different. This is the true teaching of the scriptures, as revealed by Vedanta. ~ Verse 20 from Brahma Jnānavali Māla