Yajnavalkya was a famous sage of ancient
India and one of the greatest scholars of
his time. The legend goes that a portion of
the Vedas was revealed to this sage
through the grace of God.
The sage had two wives—Katyayani and
Maitreyi. Katyayani was an average
housewife and did not share Yajnavalkya’
sinterest in religion and philosophy. Maitreyi,
however, tried to participate fully in theintellectual and mystic endeavours of her
famous husband.
One day Yajnavalkya said to Maitreyi, “I
want to renounce the householder’s life
,and I intend to divide our property between
you and Katyayani.”
Maitreyi was not shocked to hear this
solemn pronouncement. Ancient Indian
society expected all men of the upper caste
to embrace the monastic life in their old
age. But she was sad that Yajnavalkya was
offering mere wealth to her, while he
himself was about to take up a life of
contemplation. Maitreyi asked, “Can
wealth help me to attain to immortality?”
“Never,” replied the sage. “Your life will be
just like that of other rich people. There is
no hope of immortality through wealth.”
Maitreyi: “What shall I do with that which
will not make me immortal? Instead, please
allow me to have some of your wisdom.”
On hearing this, Yajnavalkya was
overwhelmed with joy. He said: “You have
been my beloved all along, and now you
have said something after my own heart. I
will teach the supreme truth to you. Please
listen carefully.”
Yajnavalkya then began to discourse on the
subtle knowledge of the Atman. He said:“We love so many persons and objects. But
that love is secondary, since they only
contribute to the pleasure of the self. It is
not for the sake of the husband that he is
loved by the wife, but it is for the sake of
her own self that he is loved. Similarly, incases of other bonds and affections our
love for the self alone is primary. There
fore
our real self, which is the Atman, is alone
worthy of realization.
“As a lump of salt dropped into water
dissolves into it, so also the individual
evolves as a separate entity from the ocean
of pure intelligence and, after attaining
oneness with the ocean again, no more has
such thoughts as, ‘I, so-and-so, am the son
or daughter of so-and-so etc."
Maitreyi asked: “You have thrown me into
confusion here. You say that Brahman is
pure intelligence, yet you say that on
attaining it one has no more consciousness.”
Yajnavalkya said: “I have not said anything
contradictory. We, through ignorance
,identify ourselves with the body, mind,
organs, etc. and imagine our individual
existence. When that identification
disappears, our individual existence also
vanishes. Meditate on this subtle truth and
then you will be able to grasp it.”
Yajnavalkya finished his exposition. A hush
fell upon the place. Maitreyi pondered over
the sage’s words. She felt that the truth
was shining forth within her heart.
Through dispassion and purity of heart,Maitreyi attained to the perfection of her
illustrious husband.
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