The Philosophy

of the
Kaivalya Upanishad

Dedicated with love to

our Headcorn group with
Anne and John Burnett
Advaita Philosophy Ashram

Commentary by Kenneth Jaques

Advaita-Philosophy. info

email. [email protected]
 Introduction

Kaivalya, the word itself, means solitary or alone.

The ultimate meaning of Kaivalya is the full understanding of
the reality of the words “I Alone am true Existence”.
The Kaivalya Upanishad is an advanced philosophy and is in
reply to the plea of Ashvalayana, already advanced in both
years and practice. Ashvalayana askes for the full
understanding and realisation of the truth of his non-dual
identity with the Absolute Brahman or God.
It is well known that the wise see their own “self” in all
others and see all others as their own “self”, which, within
the apparent duality of creation means all are one. For many
this understanding has meaning enough.
However, the Kaivalya Upanishad means us to understand
more than just that, hence the reason for its existence.
The Sage of the Kaivalya Upanishad also knows that The
Singularity of Existence, The Absolute Itself, is not Realised
through that knowledge alone. True Realisation is of the
primal singularity of Existence which is without origination.
Divine Realisation arises from the conscious awareness that
this very awareness itself is all there is, all else is an
assumption of the senses and mind within
consciousness. Consciousness is not shared by “others”.
To turn within, away from the world and “others” needs the
refined intuitive discrimination to know that this higher truth
does lie within. Turning within is also a decision that needs
the resilient faith to pass alone through all doubt.
The Kaivalya Upanishad talks of the last stage of full
realisation, gaining the knowledge and understanding that
completes and frees the Realised to emerge Alone from
duality as One, as The Absolute.
Concerning the completion of our journey, it also seems
propitious to consider this Upanishad to help illuminate the
basic motivation and work of all students. Through grace one
may feel troubled, causing pause for thought, allowing the
insight to arise that something is missing, that this living is not
satisfying our higher purpose. In our more introspective or
intuitive moments most people would admit to the feeling that
there is within their self the seed of a higher or a nobility of
purpose. The initial impulse to seek higher truth is the
germination of this seed. This causes one to turn to a spiritual
life. Whether you are then drawn to Teacher, Church,
Temple, Mosque or Synagogue you are being moved to seek
the light of truth. From then on what is needed is the
nourishment and nurturing of this seed through to fruition,
through to Kaivalya.

Lastly, but of utmost truth and importance.

Considering the terms solitary, alone, Kaivalya. It must be
understood right from the beginning that these terms,
aloneness and so forth are merely terms of duality in
themselves.
Ironically, these terms are only relevant to the state of duality
and forgetting that we are in right now. You can feel alone
now, this is why the consideration of Absolute Aloneness
causes profound fear or sadness. But, after the proper
Realisation of your Solitary Existence you will never feel or
be alone again, because aloneness will not exist.
Consider, fear itself in all its forms only arises within
duality. This is because duality itself only exists through the
forgetting of our non-dual identity with or as the Divine
Absolute or God. Once the Absolute, God, The primal
singularity of Existence is realised the state of one’s existence
is Absolutely Complete.
After this Realisation, Aloneness or Solitary or Kaivalya
does not exist because they are relative terms. All will be
well.
 Chapter one

Section 1
1. Then Ashvalayana addressed the Lord
and said: “Teach, O Lord, the knowledge
of the Absolute, the highest, always
cultivated by the good, secret and by
which a wise man drives away instantly all
the sins and reaches the Absolute higher
than the high”.

“Then Ashvalayana addressed the Lord and said

Teach, O Lord, the knowledge of the Absolute, the
highest”
When Ashvalayana is moved to sound his desire for
knowledge and union with the Absolute it is that seed of
Divinity that is maturing. Kaivalya itself is the fruition of
purpose and realisation of life’s journey.
“always cultivated by the good”.
The knowledge of the Absolute which Ashvalayana desires is
that same knowledge that all the good and wise cultivate or
nurture from within their being. The good are the ones that
can discriminate between transient material truth and eternal
truth.
The intuition that this higher truth exists is the beginning of
wisdom.
“secret”
That described as secret means that understanding that is
subtle and can only come from within ones own self, arising
from ones own intuition, albeit helped and guided by the Guru
in revealing the subtle meaning within thewords of the
scriptures.
“by which a wise man drives away instantly all the
sins”
When the word sin is used, especially within the Upanishads
its meaning is understood by us to be any action or practice
that might cause forgetting of the Absolute Self or delay ones
inevitable attainment of that truth. There would be no big sin
or little sin. A sin is just an action or way that is, for the
moment, in ignorance of the Absolute.
Needless to say “sins” fall away with the wisdom that comes
with truth. Further, abiding in the truth the wise person
naturally “drives away instantly” all further untruth with its
sins.
“and reaches the Absolute higher than the high”
Truth is seen or discriminated through the cleansed Buddhi or
intellect. This highest Truth of Non-Duality contains the
understanding that the duality of high and low does not exist in
reality, this is indeed the light that leads to the Realisation of
“The Absolute higher than the high”.
This is a plea for freedom made by one who is world weary
because he has realised that this experience of life does not
reflect the highest truth.
It is for our benefit here that Ashvalayana seeks and receives
the Truth that sets you free and as an example he is willing to
suffer any trial to attain that truth.

2. And to him, the Lord said, “Know this

knowledge by means of faith, yoga,
devotion and meditation. Not by works,
nor by progeny, nor by wealth, but by
renunciation, some attained immortality”.

“the Lord said, Know this knowledge by means of

faith, yoga, devotion and meditation”
As stated above, this subtle or “secret” knowledge, can only
be known and understood by those with faith and love of the
truth for truths own sake. Higher knowledge has to be sought
with a vision that is focused through disciplined practices
(“yoga”) led by meditation and inner enquiry. This process
takes time and dedication and is a path for the devoted only.
“Not by works, nor by progeny, nor by wealth”
Very quickly our true purpose in life is covered by the unreal
values of the majority which arise through the delusion of
duality, guided by material face values, which deny the
growth of the subtle seed of true purpose, allowing the false
values to delude us into believing our purpose is the material
“success” of accumulating worldly knowledge, wealth fame
and power.
It is the delusion of duality that causes the seeing of others as
separate existences from ourselves. Duality is the forgetting
of the underlying unity of all existence, this forgetting gives
rise to the fear of inadequacy that causes the need or desire to
collect material wealth for protection and status. It is only
through duality that inadequacy can be experienced,
inadequacy imagines the need for work and increase. The
desire for progeny is the desire to thrive with love for
material prosperity within this creation that was itself caused
through desire.
The meaning here is that the higher Knowledge that transcends
this world cannot be seen or achieved while flourishing
through material acquisition.
“but by renunciation, some attained immortality”
This verse confirms that the unreality of the transient world
needs to be renounced. It is through a yoga of purification and
meditation that the real, the eternal is seen. It is not by the
achievements of wealth, work or progeny but through the
renunciation of this unreality we achieve the higher
knowledge that leads to immortality through Self Realisation.
The meaning here is that this knowledge is not obtainable
through material or worldly means. The reality is that the
highest Truth transcends this Creation. One needs to renounce
this world to reveal the Truth.

3-4. Higher than heaven, seated in the

intellect of the heart That shines which the
self-controlled attain. The Ascetics, who
being of pure minds have well ascertained
the Reality, by the knowledge of Vedanta,
and through sannyasa. In the sphere of
creation, at the time of cosmic dissolution,
they will have achieved liberation.

“Higher than heaven”,

Heaven and all relative terms refer to this apparent Creation
of duality which is transient and mortal. “That” which
“shines” referred to here is That Absolute Knowledge which
is eternal because it is Primal knowledge and transcends this
Creation. It is immortal therefore “Higher than heaven”.
“seated in the intellect of the heart”
This verse contains a profound truth of Advaita, of non-
duality, The meaning here is that Absolute knowledge is
Eternal Existence and is therefore eternally available, and
can be attained through the intellect or Buddhi purified
through right practices.
 “That shines which the self-controlled attain”
“That” which shines is the “self” which is eternal knowledge
and Consciousness that is the Absolute Self. Although this
knowledge is available to all and is seen by all it is the “self-
controlled”, meaning those having undergone a discipline of
yoga and meditation, that become more conscious of “self”,
of the Truth of this subtle knowledge. Those who believe the
material world to be the “real world” rationalise this insight
away too quickly.
“The Ascetics, who being of pure minds have well
ascertained the Reality, by the knowledge of Vedanta, and
through sannyasa (Final Ashram practice)“.
The Kaivalya Upanishad here describes the Ascetic having
undertaken the path of the Sannyasin. Through contemplation,
meditation and complete disentanglement from the sensual and
material world, the intellect of the heart, Buddhi, has been
purified enabling proper discrimination for the truth of the
“self” to be intuitively seen, This truth then becomes the
proper guide enabling the realisation of the Absolute Self.
“In the sphere of creation, at the time of cosmic
dissolution, they will have achieved liberation”.
This verse tells us that this realised being achieves liberation
(unity with the Absolute) in this sphere of Creation, this
lifetime or, by the time of the end of material Creation,
“Cosmic dissolution”.
This means it is through the teaching of the sage and
meditation practices that one purifies the intellect that can
intuitively discriminate higher knowledge to Realise the truth
of Existence that liberates one.

5. In a secluded place, sitting in an easy

posture, pure, with a neck, head, and
body erect, living in the last ashram of the
orders of religious life, having controlled
all the senses, saluting his own teacher
with reverence, meditating within the lotus
of the heart on The Absolute, untainted,
pure, clear and without sorrow.

“In a secluded place, sitting in an easy posture,

pure, with a neck, head, and body erect”
The ascetic seeking the Absolute Alone is most complete
within the Solitariness of his own self.
Here the ascetic is described in the meditating posture sitting
in seclusion. No other work will be undertaken other than that
necessary for the facilitation of meditation.
“living in the last ashram of the orders of religious
life having controlled all the senses”.
This is the decision of the sage. “Having controlled all the
senses” the sage is now free from the delusion of desire so
now naturally renounces the material world as unreal and
undesirable to the wise man of higher understanding.
 “saluting his own teacher with reverence”.
The sage will always be available for his teachers and his
realisation of unity will contain insight and understanding of
how he or she received that truth.
“meditating within the lotus of the heart on The
Absolute”.
Here the “lotus of the heart” refers to the higher intellect or
Buddhi. Buddhi is the subtle quality of being that, in
stillness, has access to “Absolute Knowledge” through which
divine reason and discrimination can reveal the truth of the
Absolute Itself.
It is from meditation that is free from Manas, mind and
thinking that this higher truth that transcends material Creation
is seen or realised through intuition.
With Realisation comes the awareness of this singularity or
Non-Duality. That Singularity is seen as This Alone and all
else falls away.
“untainted, pure, clear”.
In the course of everyday life one is “tainted” through the
perception of duality with its desires and fears.
The sage of this verse, having Realised the reality of Non-
Duality and the Consciousness of the Absolute becomes free
“untainted” and “pure” of the impediments of duality.
The sage so liberated has clarity of perception, his
understanding is “clear”.
“without sorrow”.
“Sorrow” is a product of attachment and the taints of duality,
it is a part of this material Creation.
The Realised Sage of this verse is “without sorrow” because
due to his clarity of understanding he now sees and renounces
this material Creation along with its sorrows or joys as unreal
and undesirable.
Accordingly the sage renounces the world of the senses
without regret or sorrow and through Solitary meditation
practice turns to the Absolute within.

6. He is the unthinkable, unmanifest, of

endless forms, the good, the peaceful,
Immortal, the origin of the worlds,
without beginning, middle, and end, the
only one, all-pervading, Consciousness,
and Bliss, the formless and the wonderful.

“He is the unthinkable”.

The Absolute is in fact “yourself”. You are the Absolute
because the Absolute is all this very Existence. Through the
delusion of Maya there is an experience within consciousness
of duality and a “self”, nevertheless there is but one
Consciousness so the experience in consciousness of a
thinking “self” is in reality merely a projection by the
Absolute “Self”.
This means that the projected experience of a “self” thinking
cannot logically encompass that “Absolute Self” that projects
that very thinking experience.
Therefore the Non-Dual Absolute ItSelf cannot be truly
examined by the duality of thought, the Absolute is
“unthinkable”.
It is for the above reason that any meditation practice that
might transcend Creation to experience the Absolute would be
effectively delayed so long as it slips into desire and thinking.
“unmanifest”.
The Absolute is the “unmanifest” primal singularity that is
knowledge and consciousness absolute. All that is manifest is
merely a projection of that “unmanifest” knowledge made
manifest in Consciousness.
Therefore all that is manifest is the Absolute but the Absolute
is greater than all this that is manifest, therefore the Absolute
Itself is “unmanifest”.
“of endless forms”.
As stated above all that is manifest, which is this universe, is
the Absolute itself. This universe consists of name and form
only and is made manifest from the infinite knowledge that is
the Absolute.
The Absolute is infinite knowledge therefore “of endless
forms”.
“the good”.
“the good” taken literally assumes the duality of good and
bad, but in reality good and bad do not exist as duality does
not exist.
The meaning here is to remind us that the absolute Alone
exists so what “IS” is all there is therefore what “IS” is what
is meant to be or correct or good or all that can be or simply
the Absolute Alone.
“the peaceful”.
“peaceful” means free from disturbance. Because the
Absolute is the primal singularity of existence there literally
is not another to cause disturbance. The absolute itself is
unmanifest, it is the unmoving completeness of truth
consciousness and bliss. “the peaceful”.
“Immortal”
The Absolute is immortal due to being without origination,
unborn. Never changing state the Absolute is eternal.
“the origin of the worlds”
Being without origination the Absolute is the primal
singularity of existence. From that non-dual singularity all
that is apparent now, the universe with its worlds and so
forth, must have its origin and support within that singularity.
“without beginning, middle, and end”
As stated above the Absolute is without origination and
immortal, meaning this One is without dimensions.
“the only one”
Existence being this primal non-dual singularity literally
means the Absolute Alone Exists, the only One, there is no
other.
“all-pervading”
Whatever exists is pervaded completely by Existence. The
Absolute is Existence Alone therefore is all pervading.
“Consciousness, and Bliss”
The Absolute being “the origin” of all things it consists of all
knowledge. The Absolute being absolute knowledge alone is
therefore pure Consciousness, with the harmony of
completeness this Consciousness is transcendent Bliss.
“the formless and the wonderful”
Absolute Knowledge and Consciousness is without form. The
wonder of the Absolute is that although it is unknowable the
wise can come to know of it.
Acknowledging the unreality of Creation through renunciation
the Solitary sage meditates to open the heart and intellect to
the indefinable unmanifest Absolute Truth.
To a casual observer the meditating Sage might appear to
have abandoned life and purpose. But to the wise he has
found, realised and now rests in Reality Alone, the One
immortal unity of Truth Consciousness and Bliss.

7. Meditating on the highest Lord, The

Absolute, and tranquil, the holy man
reaches Him who is the source of all, the
 witness of all and is beyond darkness and
delusion.

“Meditating on the highest Lord, The Absolute”

The meditating sage reaches the highest through an open heart
Alone. Such Realised Sages have reported back on the reality
of the Absolute but that Absolute itself is unknowable. The
love of an open heart will through grace receive the
knowledge of the Absolute but that Absolute will not be found
through acquired knowledge or description, This should be
realised.
“tranquil, the holy man reaches Him who is the
source of all, the witness of all”
If the Sage were to look back he would see a past life of
negotiating a path through the unreal and the untrue. Here now
in the tranquillity of renunciation, meditating at the feet of the
Absolute he has transcended the unreal and has found his way
home to the Absolute “source of all, the (unmoving) witness
of all”.
“and is beyond darkness and delusion”
Having once transcended the untruth and delusion of duality
one will have seen the light of the Knowledge of Non-
Duality. Once the light of Truth is seen this One Alone is
forever beyond the darkness of ignorance.
Understanding that the Absolute source of all is a singularity
the sage reaches that singularity through Realising his own
identity as that Solitary singularity.

8. He is God, He is The Absolute, He is

Heaven, He is Eternal, the Supreme, the
Self-luminous, He alone is All, He is
Breath, He is Time and Fire, He is the
Moon.

“He is God”
This singularity is seen as the one highest reality. Knowing
this One Alone the Sage sees this reality in all descriptions.
“He is The Absolute”
The term Absolute describes the highest possible Truth, all
possible truth, all possible truth and untruth, Absolutely all
possible knowledge of all possibilities.
“He is Heaven”
The Absolute being all things and all places encompasses all
ideas of the divine.
“He is Eternal”
The Truth is naturally eternal by definition. The Absolute is
Truth (knowledge) itself.
“the Supreme”
Being the primal singularity, Existence itself there is not the
duality of “another” to be more or less superior.
 “the Self-luminous”
The Absolute is the source of all knowledge and the support
of creation itself. The sun itself with its luminance is merely a
projection of the knowledge of the Absolute and Absolute
knowledge lights itself and all things.
“He alone is All”
The Absolute is the Primal Singularity Alone. Apart from that
Absolute nothing else exists.
“He is Breath”
Breath Symbolises life in the scriptures and the Absolute is
the life principle.
“He is Time and Fire”
Time Symbolises the created through the mortality of all
things. Fire Symbolises the act of Creation itself. Both
Creation and the Created are merely the projection of
Absolute Knowledge.
“He is the Moon”
Moon Symbolises mind and the Absolute is the intelligence or
thinking principle itself.
The Sage is no longer Sage. The surrender of self is
complete, the acceptance of the Absolute is unconditional.
The Absolute Alone is now known and accepted with
complete certainty as the one reality. However the Absolute
is experienced, whatever the shape form or medium, be it
pleasure or pain, this Absolute Reality is no longer
questioned or denied.

9. He alone is all that was, and all that

will be, the Eternal. Knowing Him, one
transcends death. There is no other way to
freedom.

“He alone is all that was, and all that will be, the
Eternal”
This statement is the established fact of the scriptures. Upon
this fact is based the highest understanding.
With the Primal Singularity of Existence established it is
empirically observable that nothing new comes into existence
and also there is no-thing that leaves or goes out of existence
(all things merely change) therefore the Absolute is “all that
was, and all that will be” Existence is Eternal.
“Knowing Him, one transcends death”
The term “Knowing Him” means to have Realised the truth of
the Absolute. The wise man that sees this Truth will
understand that all that he is, is but The Absolute Itself
Alone, this is the fact of Non-Duality. Knowing this the
Realised Sage knows himself to be Eternal (“transcends
death”).
“There is no other way to freedom”
It is immediately understood by the wise that only the truth,
realised in consciousness, can lead that consciousness to
freedom. Any understanding, action or way of life that does
not consciously encompass the truth of Non-Duality cannot
result in true freedom, ignorance is a prison because it leads
the consciousness to the repetition of the unreal. The
definition of ignorance here is the forgetting of our true
identity with the Non-Dual Absolute or God, the Unity of
Existence.
This means that this Singularity of Existence has to be known
and Realised. Only by becoming fully conscious of this
reality can one escape the consciousness of duality, birth and
death.

10. Seeing the Self in all beings, and all

beings in the Self, one attains that highest
Self. Not by any other means.

“Seeing the Self in all beings, and all beings in the

Self”
Through the master practice of Meditation, when the Absolute
Self is Realised through perfected discrimination this Self
will be seen in and as all beings, and all beings as the Self.
This statement is true because as we have been told in verse
(9) above “He alone is all that was, and all that will be,
the Eternal”. The Absolute Self being all beings then all
beings are the One Self.
“one attains that highest Self”
The Sage through his Realisation will have attained higher
knowledge of the Non-Dual Absolute. Through this
knowledge the Sage gains higher consciousness of the
Absolute Self “attains that highest Self”.
“Not by any other means”
This same Truth of the Self cannot be known via the senses or
by deduction or from information or by any means other than
Self Realisation attained through meditation practices.
The meaning here is that freedom is only attained through Self
Realisation. Realisation encompasses the recognition that all
“others” are are but the experience of “This” Solitary
Consciousness.

11. Making the Self the lower fire stick and

Aum the upper fire stick, through repeated
friction causing the heat of knowledge, a
wise man burns up his bonds.

“Making the Self (Truth), the lower fire stick and

Aum (desire, Creation), the upper fire stick”
Likening the Truth of the Self to one fire stick and the
ignorance of material desire (Aum) to the other fire stick and
the two being rubbed together to cause friction and heat, this
verse describes the sustained burning away of ignorance as a
decision and commitment.
“through repeated friction causing the heat of
knowledge”
The wise Sage, after having cognised the existence of the
Absolute, he will willingly experience again and again the
heat caused by the friction of increasing knowledge and
understanding (Truth of the Self), as it rubes and chaffs
against the up to now accepted bonds of ignorance and desire
within Creation.
Significantly each encountered experience of the heat of truth
replacing ignorance strengthens the courageous and clarifies
will.
“a wise man burns up his bonds”
The renouncing of the practices of untruth with its desire for
gain and so forth is not without its natural fear. In reaching for
the Truth one has to stand alone in the face of judgements by
others based on duality. Gaining the faith to let go of ones
delusions gives rise to the heat of battle in overcoming
uncertainty. The wise will have made a decision to disregard
fear and doubt to gain the Truth.
One man cannot serve two masters. One cannot deny or
renounce the untruth of the Created while at the same time
having ambitions within Creation.
The bonds of desire are burnt away by the constant struggle
towards the light of the Absolute Self or God.
 12. With his self thus deluded by false
existence or ignorance, it is he who
identifies himself with the body and does
all sorts of things. In the waking state it is
the jiva who attains satisfaction through the
varied objects of enjoyment, such as
women, food and drink.

“With his self thus deluded by false existence or

ignorance”,
We are born into this life experience with particular
propensities for retaining ignorance, the extent of which
depends on the individual (“self or jiva”) levels of
consciousness. But all beings of birth suffer the delusion of
Maya. This waking dream is the delusion of duality causing
Creation to appear to have real existence, which further
maintains the ignorance which is the forgetting of our true
identity with the Non-Dual Absolute.
“it is he who identifies himself with the body and does
all sorts of things”
This jiva, this one deluded through duality sees separate
forms as individual existences. He regards his own body as
being the reality of who he is, “identifies himself with the
body”.
Moving as the body and seeing only through his senses he
imagines himself as the “doer” and achiever of his own
desires.
“In the waking state it is the jiva who attains
satisfaction through the varied objects of enjoyment, such
as women, food and drink”.
The waking state is the experience in consciousness of an
individual interacting with the material world looking after
his needs. Pleasure is mistakenly seen as gain by those so
deluded by duality and the consequent needs of their own
individual ego. The desires of the ego covered by ignorance
can be limitless, resulting in seeking sex, food, drink,
power and so forth for personal satisfaction and
aggrandisement, the cause for which arises from the
ignorance of duality and their need to assert themselves as
individuals.
The man that accepts the duality of Creation as Reality and his
master, will see his “self” as his means to satisfy his desires
within Creation.

13. In the dream-state that jiva feels

pleasure and pain in a sphere of existence
created by his own Maya or ignorance.
During the state of deep sleep, when
everything is absorbed (into their causal
state), he is overpowered by tamas or non-
 manifestation and comes to exist in his
form of Bliss.

“In the dream-state that jiva feels pleasure and pain

in a sphere of existence created by his own Maya or
ignorance”.
The dream state is the experience in consciousness of living
within ones own Creation of events and phenomena. This
individual, this deluded jiva consciousness, suffers the same
results of his delusions in the dream state as he does in the
waking state, due to both states being as a dream, (as Maya),
merely a projection of the higher Consciousness of Reality.
This is due to the dream state being the creation of that same
consciousness and knowledge limited by the delusion of
duality with its resultant desires.
“During the state of deep sleep, when everything is
absorbed (into their causal state)”
During the state of deep sleep the jiva is divested of attributes
such as delusion, ignorance, individuality, desires and so
forth. In deep sleep one seems as that One Alone, free from
desiring and apparently blissful.
“he is overpowered by tamas or non-manifestation
and comes to exist in his form of Bliss”.
This apparent bliss is only due to the unawareness and
subsequent ignorance of deep sleep, “his form of bliss”.
Only the Absolute Consciousness is true. All “states” of
consciousness are a projection of delusion. Within this
delusion beings “live” their experiences.

14. Again, through his connection with

deeds done in previous births, that very
jiva returns to the dream-state, or the
waking state. The being who sports in the
three cities, the states of wakefulness,
dream and deep sleep, from Him has
sprung up all diversity. He is the
substratum, the bliss, the indivisible
Consciousness, in whom the three cities
dissolve themselves.

“Again, through his connection with deeds done in

previous births that very jiva returns to the dream-state, or
the waking state”.
This statement refers to the experience of rebirth within the
consciousness that failed to realise the Non-Dual Absolute
before the death of the form.
The meaning is that due to consciousness still being deluded
through desire and duality it was lead back to the means of
achieving those material desires, that means within the
consciousness of material creation.
“The being who sports in the three cities, the states
of wakefulness, dream and deep sleep, from Him has
sprung up all diversity”
This statement is Confirmation that the being who desires is
the being who is reborn into the three cities of Creation
(“wakefulness, dream and deep sleep”).
The meaning is that the desires that cause rebirth are the very
desires that cause the Creation of the material realm (“all
diversity”) in order to accommodate the desirous being.
“He is the substratum, the bliss”,
This verse confirms the Absolute Self as the substratum for
this dualistic creation of the ignorant. Upon realisation of the
reality of the Self this realised consciousness attains the Truth
and bliss of Absolute Consciousness.
“the indivisible Consciousness”,
All the descriptions of “states of being” that are used such as
waking state or dream state or birth experience and so forth
are merely for the convenience of explanation. In truth all of
Existence is the One indivisible Non-Dual Consciousness
alone. All divisions or states are Maya causing that
experience in the one existence of Consciousness.
“in whom the three cities dissolve themselves”.
Within this false (Maya) creation of duality the “three cities”
(the states of wakefulness, dream and deep sleep) are
subsumed once more as indivisible Consciousness of
Absolute Knowledge Alone.
The reference to “previous births” means a recurring life
experience. This repeated experience of birth is due to his
“connection with deeds done in previous births”, which
means each life experience, or life state, has been “lived”
without relinquishing desire. Desires exist only within
material Creation therefore desires can only be satisfied by
material creation. The meaning here is that when this “jiva”
consciousness experiences the death of the form it retains the
consciousness of desire therefore it returns to, or retains the
state of experiencing birth life and death, meaning it returns to
the “waking state”, which is still a kind of dreaming, taking
up another form.
From this very “jiva” consciousness of desire the appearance
of duality and the universe arise, “sprung up all diversity”,
which is maintained so long as this Solitary jiva maintains
desire.
“Him” This Solitary “jiva” is One indivisible solitary
Consciousness of existence experiencing the Maya of desire
and the “three cities” of “wakefulness, dream and deep
sleep”. When this “jiva” wakes up from desire and emerges
into Absolute Consciousness the three states will “dissolve
themselves” to unmanifest knowledge which is that
indivisible Absolute Consciousness, just as a dream
dissolves itself into the waking consciousness of the man
arising in the morning.

15. From This spring up prana vital breath,

 mind, all the organs, sky, air, fire, water
and the earth that supports all.

“From This spring up prana vital breath, mind, all

the organs”
The whole of this phenomenal universe is a transient
projection (“From This spring up”) of material (“breath
mind and organs”) forming the body through which to
experience worldly knowledge.
Breath, Mind and organs describe the creation of the sentient
form of the first born or reborn man.
“sky, air, fire, water and the earth that supports all”
Correspondingly sky, air, fire and so forth describe this
created world that supports the reborn man.
“This” refers to This Solitary jiva or this Solitary Existence
or this Solitary indivisible Absolute Consciousness of
Knowledge, they are One Alone and the same.
“From This” that has desire, springs up the form of the body
and the form of the universe to provide the experience in
consciousness of obtaining and experiencing that desire.
As described in the previous verse, the Solitary experience
of the states of life, death and rebirth are caused and
maintained by desire.
When this Solitary jiva, this Solitary self, Realises the
reality of Absolute Self which naturally leads to the falling
away of worldly desires this jiva will reawaken into the Truth
and Bliss of Absolute Consciousness Alone.
 16. That which is the Supreme Self, the
soul of all, the great support of the
universe, subtler than the subtle, and
eternal - that is thyself, and thou art That.

“That which is the Supreme Self, the soul of all, the

great support of the universe”
The Absolute Exists Alone. The Self is the Absolute. The
Self represents the Created universe, in particular the One
Self represents the Truth of the Non-Duality of all beings
themSelves.
“subtler than the subtle, and eternal - that is thyself,
and thou art That”
The material form of all thing and beings is transient and
mortal, all forms arise from the same material and decay back
to that material when finished.
That which is eternal is the subtle consciousness and
knowledge that supports this very existence. The statement
“thou art That” is the closest available description of the
subtle unknowable Non-Dual Consciousness upon which we
experience this being, this life.
It is yourSelf that is the All. You Alone are Solitarily
responsible for Realising the reality of this Self, and through
that Realisation bring about liberation through the cessation of
this false creation of ignorance because as stated in this
verse, “You are That” which is unmanifest and eternal.

17. “That which manifests the phenomena,

such as the states of wakefulness, dream
and profound sleep, I am that Absolute”
Realizing thus one is liberated from all
bonds.

“That which manifests the phenomena, such as the

states of wakefulness, dream and profound sleep”
That Absolute Alone Exists. Without this Absolute
Consciousness there could not be this dream state. Without
this Absolute Consciousness there could not be the conscious
experience of these different states.
“I am that Absolute”
This is the most basic of logical statements but it is still
difficult for the mind to encompass. After coming to terms
with the reality of Existence being a unity of all things then
Consciousness itself becomes Non-Dual then Absolutely all
beings must see themselves as “I am that”.
“Realizing thus one is liberated from all bonds”
When through proper discrimination the Absolute is perceived
and Realised as the One substratum upon which all apparent
states or dreams are manifest then one can drive a wedge
between the real and the unreal and gain liberation from
desire, the unreal will no longer form any desires or bonds.
There are two fundamental truths which need to be realised
from this verse.
One is that all apparent changes of consciousness are not
real. There is only One Consciousness and that is
unchanging, unmoving and Absolute. The apparent
experience of birth sleeping or waking and so forth are just
that, simply the conscious experience of the knowledge of
such change, nothing actually happens or changes.
The second fundamental truth here is that you are “That” or
“This” consciousness. This Solitary Consciousness of
Absolute Knowledge is Existence Itself. This material life
that you are experiencing is taking place because you desire to
flourish within this unreal experience. Until you Alone
Realise this and wake up from this desire into the Truth and
Bliss of Absolute Consciousness you will continue to
experience the Consciousness of your desires, the changing
states of a worldly life.

18. What constitute the enjoyable, the

enjoyer, and the enjoyment, in the three
abodes - different from them all am I, the
Witness, the Pure Consciousness, the
Eternal Good the Sovereign Will.

“What constitute the enjoyable, the enjoyer, and the

enjoyment, in the three abodes”
If duality were true or possible then an enjoyable thing would
have a traceable existence unlinked to anything else in
existence.
Likewise the being who is the enjoyer would have a
legitimate unique existence independent of any other.
So also would enjoyment itself have to lend itself to the
experience of others because having its own existence would
mean it was autonomous.
“different from them all am I, the Witness”
With direct reference to “enjoyment” above this statement
confirms that the Non-Dual Absolute Consciousness is That
that is not one thing nor the other “different from them all am
I” because the Absolute is the Singularity that is the witness
and support for all the apparent diversity of creation.
“the Pure Consciousness, the Eternal Good”
Being pure Consciousness of Absolute Knowledge Alone
there is not that duality of another to deny the one intention.
The meaning is that the “Eternal Good” is all that Exists. It
is “good” because all must conform correctly to Absolute
Knowledge because there is no other form of Existence.
“the Sovereign Will”
This statement confirms the fact of “eternal good” because
here “Will” is formed of that very same Absolute Knowledge
and there is none higher, none lower and none other.
The three abodes (conscious states) themselves and all that
arises within them are the creation of desire and therefore
unreal, this has been explained.
The meaning here is that you Alone really exist, because you
are the Solitary witnessing Consciousness of these
experiences.
Realising the Absolute as “I” all else can be allowed to fall
away. All that You Alone really are, is the Absolute Alone.
Whatever else comes to mind can be let go of as unreal,
“that” that lets go can be surrendered because this verse tells
us that your true being is pure Consciousness, purely the
witness. By letting go of all concern for doing, that eternal
purity of Consciousness Alone remains.

19. In me alone is everything born, in me

does everything rest, and in me is
everything dissolved. I am that One Alone
without a second.

“In me alone is everything born, in me does

everything rest, and in me is everything dissolved”
“me alone” refers to Absolute Consciousness. The meaning
is that all experiences of individuals, groups, birth, death
and so forth take place “in” the One Consciousness.
“I am that One Alone without a second”
This is confirmation of the above meaning which is to say
Existence is not made up of many forms all joined by one
thing to form a contrived unity. The Truth is literally that
Consciousness Alone Exists and all apparent diversity is
merely an experience within that Singularity of
Consciousness.
You Alone are all. Kaivalya, the Solitary realisation of
Alone is the great responsibility this Upanishad is trying to
wake us up to. You cannot share this responsibility with
others because “others” are not the reality of Existence. All
perceptions, thoughts, ideas and concepts can be allowed to
fall away, Nothing needs to be retained. when all is gone
your infinite Self alone remains. This is not easy to achieve,
courage and great faith in the truth is needed.

20. I am more minute than the minute, I am

likewise the greatest of all, I am the
manifold universe. I am the Ancient One,
the Consciousness and the Ruler, I am the
Effulgent One, and the All-good.

“I am more minute than the minute, I am likewise the

greatest of all”.
The meaning here is that the Absolute is beyond measure.
Because the Absolute Alone “is” existence there is not that
other to be greater or smaller. Further, being the entirety of
Existence the Absolute is without exterior or interior.
 “I am the manifold universe. I am the Ancient One,
the Consciousness and the Ruler”.
It has been explained before that the Absolute is the Universe
and all things and being the eternal Primal unity of Existence it
is the Ancient One. Further, there exists nothing older nor
does there exist anything younger than the Absolute.
“I am the Effulgent One, and the All-good”
Being the source of knowledge of all things the Absolute is the
light of all existence. All conforms perfectly to the one source
of knowledge and is therefore all-good.
The meaning here is that because you are the Solitary totality
of this very Existence you are all labels or all descriptions
because you are all there is. Being this totally adequate
completeness Alone it is your Solitary Responsibility to
Realise the Truth of This to put an end to the Creation of
untruth.

21. Without arms and legs am I, of

unthinkable power; I see without eyes, and
I hear without ears. I know all, and am
different from all. None can know me. I
am always the Intelligence.

“Without arms and legs am I, of unthinkable power; I

see without eyes, and I hear without ears”.
The Absolute is without form. Being the thinking principle
itself the Absolute is beyond thought. being the sense
principle itself the Absolute is beyond the senses.
“I know all, and am different from all”
The meaning of the statement “I know all” is that the Absolute
is the very Knowledge from which all is projected.
It follows that as the Absolute is literally all things then the
Absolute is different from all things.
“None can know me. I am always the Intelligence”
Being the intelligence principle itself the Absolute is always
beyond being knowable.
This is the description of the Absolute Self. The Absolute is
“All This”. The wise and Realised Sages, understanding that
the Self is unknowable and unthinkable, they surrender their
limited idea of an individual self.

22. I alone am taught in the various Vedas,

I am the revealer of the Vedanta or
Upanishads, and I am also the Knower of
the Vedas. For me there is neither merit
nor demerit, I suffer no destruction, I have
no birth, nor any self-identity with the
body and the organs.

“I alone am taught in the various Vedas”.

The Vedas symbolise knowledge itself which is the Absolute
itself Alone.
“I am the revealer of the Vedanta or Upanishads, and
I am also the Knower of the Vedas”.
The Absolute is Existence as Knowledge. Knowledge lights
and reveals the “Vedanta or Upanishads” and literally all
things.
“For me there is neither merit nor demerit”.
As the Absolute is the One supreme controller or Will then the
Absolute can suffer no labels of division.
“I suffer no destruction, I have no birth, nor any
self-identity with the body and the organs”.
The Absolute is without origination therefore is immutable
and immortal and is beyond destruction. Without origination
it is without birth and being formless it encompasses all things
and is identified with none.
There is nothing that is not “I”. Further to this, but also the
significance of this, Reality itself is a creation of “I”

23. For me there is neither earth, nor

water, nor fire, nor air, nor ether. Thus
realizing the observer, who lies in the
cavity of the heart, who is without parts,
and without a second, the Witness of all,
 beyond both existence and non-existence
one attains the Pure Consciousness Itself.

“For me there is neither earth, nor water, nor fire,

nor air, nor ether”.
For the Sage at rest meditating in the last ashram of life there
is neither home nor away neither becoming nor having become
although the knowledge of all these exists.
Likewise with the Truth Consciousness and Bliss of the
Absolute there is nothing relevant but all things are known
(are knowledge).
“Thus realizing the observer, who lies in the cavity of
the heart, who is without parts, and without a second, the
Witness of all”
“The cavity of the heart”, it should be understood, literally
means cavity or void or ether. The meaning is all that Exists
is Absolute Consciousness. Therefore, Consciousness or
Absolute knowledge is Existence itself and relates to no
thing. Whatever or Wherever the organ of perception (here
the heart), may appear to be, it is manifest within, as it
were, Absolute Knowledge. So, here the “empty” cavity of
the heart is the absolute and so can be known there.
The Absolute Self is known within the heart of the intellect of
the Sage as the subtle “self”. This “self” provides the light
of knowledge that guides the meditating Sage to Realisation of
the Absolute Self the “Witness of all”.
“beyond both existence and non-existence one attains
the Pure Consciousness Itself”
The Absolute is the Existence principle itself therefore it is
the Existence of existence, likewise with non-existence the
Absolute is beyond all such labels.
Realising the Absolute Self thus the Sage Realises Absolute
Consciousness and finds his way to unity as that
Consciousness Alone.
Through divine discrimination the truth is now heard in the
words of the Sages and the scriptures.
The enlightened seeker, the one to whom has been revealed
the truth of Existence will no longer see Truth in duality. A
sincere attempt, a decision to attain higher Truth through Self
Realisation requires surrendering, relinquishing dualistic
personal beliefs and support. Although now accepted to be
false, giving up ambition and desire is as if sawing through
the very branch that is the sole support between the seekers
reason for being and oblivion below. The courageous,
desiring that Truth felt through the love of the Absolute, suffer
the heat of this fear and surrender themselves to the reality of
the Absolute.
That heat caused by the action of the irrepressible working for
Truth is real. It may cause actual distress. It has an emotional
content. It is a drama.
The Experience is of two worlds, or as Dogen Zenji states in
his Genjokoan “When one side is lit, the other side is
dark”. The child clinging fearfully to the branch of the tree,
the world he knows, is afraid to give up the little security he
has even though his Father is close with arms outstretched
urging the child to let go. Once the move is made, and the
child is safe in the world of the Fathers arms the world of the
tree distorted by fear is forgotten.
Before Self Realisation the concept of “I Alone Exist” is
difficult. After Self Realisation the understanding that
assumes duality is profoundly alien.
The Absolute, the primal Consciousness, the eternal
Observer is unmoved throughout this play but the material
body and emotions however, being a prop within the play
registers all consequences.

24. He who studies the satarudriya is made

pure as fire, is purified from the sin of
drinking, purified from the sin of killing a
brahmana from deeds done knowingly or
unawares. Through this he has his refuge in
The Absolute, the Supreme Self. One who
belongs to the highest order of life should
repeat this always or once a day.

“He who studies the satarudriya (prays or

meditates)”
The being of this verse is understood to be an accomplished
Meditator “studies and prays”. He will be a Realised Sage.
“is made pure as fire, is purified from the sin of
drinking, purified from the sin of killing a Brahmana
(priest) from deeds done knowingly or unawares”.
The Realised Sage is purified through the realisation of the
Truth of the Absolute. All impurity comes from duality
arising from the ignorance that is the forgetting of the
Singularity of the Absolute.
The Realised Sage does not commit a sin. All labels
themselves are a fundamental error of duality.
“Through this he has his refuge in The Absolute, the
Supreme Self”.
The Sage having Realised the Absolute Self will know that
Truth to be the only substance for rest or refuge, all else will
be seen as false and transient.
“One who belongs to the highest order of life should
repeat this always or once a day”
The meaning here is that the Truth once seen needs to be
remembered. It is the forgetting of the unity of the Absolute
that lead to that original ignorance and duality.
Such a person leaves behind them all sins just as they leave
behind them the false being of ignorance they appeared to be.
This person now resides in the higher awareness of the
Absolute Self, as such each day will be lived according to
and within the understanding of this knowledge.
Choosing the path of truth, suffering any pain in the process
lead to this greater awareness of the Divine. One commits
completely to that Reality. The unreal is a very real prison.
There are subtle entities, egoism etc. that have a vested
interest in ones subservience. The only way for the wise is to
face the pain of struggle valiantly for freedom now or suffer a
disturbing dream forever. Once the Absolute is felt true Love
will not allow rest.

25. By means of this, one attains the

knowledge that destroys the ocean of
samsara or repeated transmigration.
Therefore, knowing thus one attains the
fruit of Kaivalya or liberation, verily one
attains liberation.

“By means of this, one attains the knowledge that

destroys the ocean of samsara or repeated transmigration”.
By means of the Truth all untruth is destroyed. To Realise the
Truth or Knowledge of the Non-Dual Unity of Existence is to
invalidate past experience and understanding of untruth. The
consciousness limited by desire and duality that would have
lead one back into the cycle of rebirth is expanded through the
Consciousness of The Absolute which leads back home to
unity with Absolute Consciousness.
“Therefore, knowing thus one attains the fruit of
Kaivalya or liberation, verily one attains liberation”
The fruits of Kaivalya are the fruits of the acceptance of the
responsibilitiesof “I Alone Exist”.
That heat and pain of struggle is different now. As in nature a
sick body will raise its temperature to kill of microbes.
So here, this struggle towards awakening assaulting the bonds
of delusion with the ammunition of knowledge, the weapons
of will and the desire for truth at any cost, has caused the
resultant heat to burn away all impediments, thus clarifying
the truth.
By means of this truth, the seed of Kaivalya is carried to
maturation. This divine gift is honoured. Finally free from
any former sins, debts or charges the sufferer of the ignorance
of desire, creation and birth, is free to return to Absolute
Consciousness Alone.

Here The Kaivalya Upanishad Ends

Kaivalya is less to do with being Alone than it is to do with
Realising ones Solitary responsibility for Realising ones
identity as Absolute Consciousness Alone. Being Truth Alone
is the reality, not even a goal. Truth Alone sets you free.
After Kaivalya, in the light of Absolute knowledge, all else
is seen as illusion.
What remains is Solitary undifferentiated completeness.

“That light is within us.

There is no other help.
That light illumines the direct path,
the straight path.
There is no need to carry anything.
But this is subtle knowledge,
very difficult”.
from “The Map of The Journey To God” p38.
Sufi shaikh M.R.Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, may Allah be
pleased with him.

Jesus Said,
The Kingdom of God cometh not with
observation.
Luke 17:20
Neither will they say, “Look, here”! or,
“Look, there”!
“for behold, the Kingdom of God is within
you”.
Luke 17:21

OM peace peace peace

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