Ever wondered why different people are drawn to do different things?
Reading Chandogya Upanishad Chapter VIII, section 1, I came across a very interesting and revealing answer. It inspired me to write my thoughts as I am trying to understand these ancient writings.
In short, Chapter VIII builds up the background and the existence of eternal Desire and eternal Will in us, something like this….
In this small lotus like dwelling ( lotus like dwelling often refers to heart area) that is within the city of Brahman, there is a small space (In Sanskrit it is called Aakash). This space within the heart is as vast as the space outside.
Here Upanishad makes no difference between Brahman itself and the city of Brahman.
In this true city which is Brahman itself Desires are located.
In this city of Brahman or (Brahman itself) exists True Desire and True Will. SatyaKamah and SatyaSankalpa.
As people in outside world follow the command of a ruler and within his rule they choose the area that they live in and go about their lives. Same way the desires existing in this space ( here the Upanishad uses the word Atma for this space) are sought out by that soul. The Divine will or SatyaSankalpa that exists in an individual soul guides us to fulfill those desires. Our desires in outside world seem to reflect this innate Desire and Will of our soul. Accordingly we are drawn to seek different interest and activities.
Bhagavad Geeta attributes seeking of desires and actions to our Swabhava ie our innate nature. Our Swabhava is made up of three guna- Satya, rajas, and tamas. We act under the influence of one of these guna. Sometime these guna overlap in different quantity, hence we work simultaneously according to their presence.
Two different ways of explaining one very complex yet very fundamental principle of life. Why we drawn to do something that we like and derive enjoyment from it. In its own mystical way Upanishad sheds a light on it while leaving much to be questioned, pondered and to be contemplated.
In today’s scientific world I wonder if these things are explained through genetics! As we often hear! All is in our Genes!
Savita Tyagi
Note: I find Chandogya Upanishad very interesting. I like the word eternal better than True while translating SatyaKamah and SatyaSankalpa.
