#202 Confused or Enlightened - (From Darkness to Light – Part 1)

In this talk we begin by exploring of a very well-known Upaniṣad-ic mantra.  

Auṁ  asato mā sad gamaya tamaso mā jyotir gamaya mṛtyor māmṛtaṁ gamaya Auṁ śānti śānti śāntiḥ  

Oh Lord, lead me from illusion into the eternal reality.  Lead me from darkness into the light. Lead me from the realm of death into the nectar of immortality. Let there be the peace of spiritual enlightenment! - Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.3.28  

What does it really mean? - “Oh Lord, lead me from illusion(untruth) into the eternal reality.”    

The Sanskrit word “sat” (reality, truth) and “asat” (nescience, ignorance, untruth)  in this mantra references the extraordinary way the ancient sages looked at this world, relationships and the self.   Some of the verses I quoted: Ignorance consists of considering that which is temporary as eternal, the impure as pure, misery as happiness and the non-self (the body or mind) as the real self.   Yoga-sūtra  2.5  

Only one who can learn the process of nescience and that of transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessings of immortality. - Śrī Īśopaniṣad mantra 11