Isha Upanishad - Perfect life

 Isavasya Upanishad – way of happy life

Right from my childhood I was very much impressed by the following three verses from this Isha Upanishad, which was source of strength for me in times of difficulties.

Om Puurnnam-Adah Puurnnam-Idam Puurnnaat-Puurnnam-Udacyate |
Puurnnasya Puurnnam-Aadaaya Puurnnam-Eva-Avashissyate ||
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

That (Brahma) is complete, whole; this(Jagat) is complete, whole .From the complete(Brahma)  comes the Jeeva /Jagat, which is also whole, complete. If completeness is taken away from complete, still complete only remains. This may be compared to Ocean which is water. If you take out some water from ocean, ocean remains still full and the water taken out has all the qualities of the water in the ocean. God being eternal and bliss, same applies to Jeevatma , we human beings. Our nature is peace, bliss and we are permanent. Go into different bodies, births. Just like child hood, young age, old age , death and rebirth is the cycle carrying the samskara ( result of our deeds). It is believed that our interaction with other beings creates these samskaras and till all this is cleared through practices like meditation , detachment , Jeeva keeps taking rebirth.

Isavasyam idam sarvam yat kim ca jagatyam jagat, tena tyaktena bhunjitha, ma gridhah kasyasvid dhanam.

The whole universe is filled with the spirit of God. We are not separate from him. If God is the ocean of water, maybe we are like a bubble coming on the water and vanishing after a while. That is like birth, death, change all are there. All the material wealth in this cosmos belongs to him. Hence, Let us enjoy whatever he has given us and do not be greedy for others wealth. This thought will relieve us from greed , jealousy and brings in contentment. We start thinking as trustees of the wealth we possess and start making best use of that.

Kurvanneveha karmani jijeevishechchatam samah

Evam tvayi nanyathetosti na karma lipyate nare

 

One has to aspire to leave hundred years carrying out his duties ( Karma) on this planet. Other than this there is no other way. When you live like this the karma will not cling to you. This clearly talks about Nishkama Karma , means without any expectation from the Karma.

The essence of these slokas is that we are part of Brahman and we are complete. Because of our Karmas we keep taking birth again and again till we are cleaned of all our samskaras ( result of Karmas). The way is keep performing your karma without expection of result. Have faith in self. Don’t be greedy. That is the way for perfect and happy life.