WHAT LIES WITHIN US
Ralph Waldo Emerson to be reminded that, “What lies behind us and what
lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” "What
lies behind us": This refers to our past experiences, actions, and
memories. It suggests that whatever has happened in our past, whether it be
successes, failures, joys, or sorrows, is insignificant compared to
something else. Looking Forward. Emerson emphasizes that our inner
qualities, such as our character, values, beliefs, and potential, are of
greater importance than our past or future. Our inner resources are what
truly define us and shape our lives. These things shouldn’t be taken as
irrefutable truth. The most valuable aspect lies in how we use these
limitations to move forward in our life. Everything else acts as a data
point. It is up to us to decide and define our future paths. The meaning of
this quote — What lies behind us and what lies before us is to encourage us
to think beyond our past and inhibitions. We have to let go of our past to
embrace what our future can be about.
The Metaphor:
The story depicts two birds, inseparable companions, perched on the same
tree (representing the body). One bird, the Jiva (individual self), is busy
eating the fruits of the tree (experiences of life), while the other, the
Atman (Supreme Self), observes without participating.
Symbolism:
The Tree: Represents the body, the realm of experience, and the material
world.
The Jiva (One Bird): Represents the individual self, bound by ego, desires,
and the cycle of karma, experiencing both pleasure and pain.
The Atman (The Other Bird): Represents the Supreme Self, the witness
consciousness, pure awareness, and the ultimate reality.
Significance:
The metaphor highlights the duality of existence: the experiencer and the
witness, the individual and the universal self.
It suggests that true liberation comes from recognizing the unity of the
individual and the universal self, transcending the limitations of the ego
and identifying with the higher self.
It emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and detachment from the
fruits of our actions, allowing us to experience life with equanimity and
find inner peace.
Other Interpretations:
Some interpretations also relate the two birds to the relationship between
the individual soul (Jiva) and the Supreme Soul (Paramatman).
The tree can also be seen as a symbol of the material world, and the fruits
as the experiences and karmas of the individual soul.
Relevant Texts:
Mundaka Upanishad: This ancient Indian text is a primary source for the
"Two Birds" metaphor.
Rig Veda: Also mentions the two birds in a similar context.
Svetasvatara Upanishad: Another Upanishad that explores the relationship
between the individual and the universal self.
Earliest thought what lies within us were in Rigvedam.
Bhagavad-Gita 2.22 The bird on the left is captivated by the fruits of the
tree, while the friendly bird on the right acts as witness and waits for
His friend to turn to Him.
The Vedas, like the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣads, as well as the Svetasvatara
Upaniṣads, compare the soul and the Supersoul to two friendly birds sitting
on the same tree. One of the birds (the individual atomic soul) is eating
the fruit of the tree, and the other bird (Kṛṣṇa) is simply watching His
friend. Of these two birds – although they are the same in quality – one is
captivated by the fruits of the material tree, while the other is simply
witnessing the activities of His friend. Kṛṣṇa is the witnessing bird, and
Arjuna is the eating bird. Although they are friends, one is still the
master and the other is the servant. Forgetfulness of this relationship by
the atomic soul is the cause of one’s changing his position from one tree
to another, or from one body to another. The jīva soul is struggling very
hard on the tree of the material body, but as soon as he agrees to accept
the other bird as the supreme spiritual master – as Arjuna agreed to do by
voluntary surrender unto Kṛṣṇa for instruction – the subordinate bird
immediately becomes free from all lamentations. Both the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad
(3.1.2) and Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (4.7) confirm this:
samāne vṛkṣe puruṣo nimagno
’nīśayā śocati muhyamānaḥ
juṣṭaṁ yadā paśyaty anyam īśam
asya mahimānam iti vīta-śokaḥ
“Although the two birds are in the same tree, the eating bird is fully
engrossed with anxiety and moroseness as the enjoyer of the fruits of the
tree. But if in some way or other he turns his face to his friend the Lord
and knows His glories – at once the suffering bird becomes free from all
anxieties.” Arjuna has now turned his face towards his eternal friend,
Kṛṣṇa, and is understanding the Bhagavad-gītā from Him. And thus, hearing
from Kṛṣṇa, he can understand the supreme glories of the Lord and be free
from lamentation.
“Two birds that are always together, cling to the same tree. Of
these, one eats fruit of various tastes, and the other looks on without
eating.” Shankara’s commentary on this states that the two birds, the Jiva
and Atman, both have a common origin and both are associated with the
temporal world and body which the tree symbolizes. The individual soul or
jiva clings to the world through its lack of discernment or self-awareness.
The divine self is able to experience and master the world through the
organizing power of self-awareness, as a king is said to energize his
subjects through his mere presence and observation.
This one’s simply of
two birds in a tree:
one sits and watches;
the other eats the fruits..
this moment, frozen, framed, in time,
takes on the epic stature
of a metaphor, a myth:
what of the previous second
in our passing time? What
of the next second?
Where have those birds come from,
where may they go next?
If we cease to patronise
their ‘bird-brains’, see them
closer to their God than we
whose minds depart so far from nature…
if we think they think, in thoughts
which we may share – then,
what are they thinking? what
do they think of one another?
I look again at the photo, speculate;
the photo grows in my concern
to some great tree of primal Paradise…
the Tree of Knowledge, could it be?
Is the one bird thinking,
what a fine place this is to rest!
A place to hide, if so need be,
among its leaves; a height,
an observation post,
I still, the world about its business;
in stillness, I a little nearer to God,
just a little lower than the angels,
without beating my wings to find
a heaven above…
Is the other bird thinking,
what a fine restaurant I’ve found,
that God provided; I so hungry
on my way; how much I need to eat
to give me strength for further flight…
and have these two birds even noticed
each other, and each other’s state?
Are they two siblings from the self-same nest,
flying together through their lives;
loving one another until the last birdfall?
Two rivals, just about to fight to death?
Or, two fore-flyers of the same great flock,
about to land and strip the tree of fruit,
then rest, God-filled, to know Him in that stillness?
These thoughts; an ancient photograph;
now I wonder about the unknown photographer
who saw the world, in two birds on a tree.
Michael Shepherd ADOPTED FROM OUR Rig vedam
Thus what lies within all of us is the Jeevatma; asthadik Dasan
Gulam opening verse of the Rigvedam showing the distance as just 10 inches
from our abdomen to near the heart. Taking it to Paramatma alone is our
purpose of the birth as humans that too Brahmin if we are proud of.
K Rajaram IRS 6425
On Sun, 6 Apr 2025 at 04:16, Jambunathan Iyer <[email protected]> wrote:
> “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to
> what lies within us.”
>
> N Jambunathan Rengarajapuram-Kodambakkam-Chennai-Mob:9176159004
>
> *" What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you
> become by achieving your goals. If you want to live a happy life, tie it to
> a goal, not to people or things "*
>
>
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Thatha_Patty" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to [email protected].
To view this discussion visit
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZorPSDAuJAUQfsRmMXOtvnDDdQmHLWtmk77EN2VjWCH8vw%40mail.gmail.com.
