The teaching "That thou art" is found in this lesson (tat tvam asi).
The ultimate nondifference between Brahman and atman, the
universe and the individual Self, is asserted in one of Indian philosophy's
"great declarations" (mahavakya).
One of the most recent upanishads, or
speculative religious scriptures that make up the Vedas' most recent layer.
The Shvet ashvatara Upanishad's shape and content are used
to make this decision.
The earlier upanishads, including the Shvet ashvatara, are
written in prose or prose interspersed with poetry, but the later upanishads,
including the Shvet ashvatara, are entirely written in verse.
The older upanishads tend to be extensive and meandering in
substance, but the later ones are much more succinct and fully developed in
terms of concepts.
The most fundamental principle of the Shvetashvatara
Upanishad is its portrayal of the Supreme Being in entirely theistic terms, as
opposed to the preceding upanishads' abstract, impersonal representations.
Ultimate Reality is recognized as the deity Rudra, who was
eventually connected with the god Shiva, one of the most significant Hindu
deities in current times.
The essay is particularly important for the earliest known
written explanation of yoga's method and outcomes.
Although the upanishad is most known for these novel
concepts, it also shows continuity with earlier traditions.
The second chapter opens with a lengthy invocation to the
sun deity Savitr (Surya), which includes lines taken verbatim from Vedic
writings written over a thousand years ago.
Such inconsistencies suggest that there was no obvious
dividing line between the four kinds of Vedic texts—samhita, Brahmana,
Aranyaka, and upanishad—and that these literary styles were created at
different times.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.
