“Not That Which the Mind Can Think…” — The Kena Upanishad


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From the Kena Upanishad or kenopanishad:

Not that which the eye can see, but that whereby the eye can see: know that to be Brahman the eternal, and not what people here adore;

Not that which the ear can hear, but that whereby the ear can hear: know that to be Brahman the eternal, and not what people here adore;

Not that which speech can illuminate, but that by which speech can be illuminated: know that to be Brahman the eternal, and not what people here adore;

Not that which the mind can think, but that whereby the mind can think: know that to be Brahman the eternal, and not what people here adore.

The One Power that illumines everything and everyone is indivisible. It is the Ear behind the ears, Mind behind the mind, Speech behind speech, Vital Life behind life. The ears cannot hear it; it is what makes the ears hear. The eyes cannot see it; it is what makes the eyes see. You cannot speak about it; it is what makes you speak. The mind cannot imagine it; it is what makes the mind think. It is different from what all we know; yet it is not known either. Those who feel they know Him know Him not. Those who know that anything amenable to the senses is not Brahman, they know it best. When it is known as the innermost witness of all cognitions, whether sensation, perception or thought, then it is known. One who knows thus reaches immortality.

Kena is Sanskrit meaning “by whom”.

4 thoughts on ““Not That Which the Mind Can Think…” — The Kena Upanishad

  1. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob spoke to them, spoke also to Moses and to many many others, and then came incarnate in Jesus the Messiah. Him Isaiah heard and quoted Him to the Children of Israel and all who believe Him:

    “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

  2. Interestingly, “Brahman” is Hindi/Sanskrit for what is called Holy Spirit in Christianity. Different people, different language, same target. “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;” interestingly addresses the illusion that our bodies and this physical is all we are, our attachment to Ego and inability to know the “Holy Spirit”. There are so many cross-overs between these two religions. It’s a beautiful thing to see.

    • Mark 4
      21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
      22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
      23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
      24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
      25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

  3. The truth is that we have a Creator who desires a personal relationship with us. Our sin blocks our fellowship with Him. All men have sinned against God and fall short of His holiness. We have all lied(even a white lie, or have not been completely honest), we have all murdered(Jesus says that if you have hated in your heart then you have committed murder), we have all worshipped other things, envied others, and gossiped. God’s perfect law says that if you have broken even one of these laws, you are guilty for breaking them all. The penalty for your sin is death and eternal life in a literal place called hell(separated from God forever, tormented by Satan). The Good News is that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for your sin. He wore all of your shame and guilt on the cross and was the perfect and acceptable sacrifice for God. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. When you repent of your sins, confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God who took your place on that cross, died for you, was raised to life on the 3rd day, and receive Him as your personal Lord and Savior, you will be saved! This is the grace of God. You cannot earn salvation, nor do you deserve it. It is because of God’s great mercy and grace that you are saved through faith in what Jesus did for you on the cross. He will forgive you, wash the stain of sin away, make you white as snow, give you His Holy Spirit, and everlasting life! He will satisfy your thirst, free you from the prison and chains you are in, give you new eyes to see, and a new heart. You’ll become a child of God.

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