The Upanishadic Rishis did that through allegories. One of them is from Mundaka Upanishad - "The allegory of two birds sitting on a tree!"

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Two birds, bosom, inseparable friends, live on a tree. One sits on the lower branches, while the other, a dazzling golden bird, sits higher up at the very top of the tree.

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The lower bird is busy all day long, hopping from branch to branch and eating the fruits of the tree - sweet ones and sour ones. The higher bird silently observes the lower bird, without judgment.

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Once, the lower bird tastes a bitter fruit. Disgusted, it looks up and sees the peaceful higher bird. Attracted by its calm, it begins to hop up towards it but is distracted by another tasty-looking fruit and stops to enjoy it. “The higher bird can wait,” it thinks and continues chasing other fruits.

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Every once in a while, it looks upwards at the higher bird, admiring its stillness and peace, but continues to chase fruits.

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One day, it eats a particularly nasty fruit. Disillusioned, and tired of chasing fruits, it becomes determined to reach the higher bird. It hops up the tree, staying focused, and carefully avoids all other temptations.

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Soon, to its utter surprise, the lower bird begins to take on the qualities of the brilliant higher bird and finally merges with it. That's when it realizes that it was never separate from the higher bird at all!

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This beautiful allegory from the Mundaka Upanishad makes the following points:

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1. The first bird is the Jiva (Individual Self). The second bird is Isvara (Universal Self).

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2. Jiva & Iswara exist together but manifest differently. Jiva manifests as the doer. Isvara manifests as the observer.

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3. The body is like the tree, the field of manifestation (Kshetra) of the Kshetrajna - the knower (observer) of the field.

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4. The objective of human life is to become one with this knower within us!

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How beautiful! Isn't it?

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Rediscovering Bharat aspires to connect Indians with the glory & essence of Bharat!

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