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The Quest for Self-Knowledge!
Long ago, in the sacred land of Bharat, the tradition of studying the Vedas and meditating deeply was diligently followed. Among these traditions is the profound story of Bhriguvali from the great Upanishad, the Taittiriya Upanishad. This is the story of a young sage, Bhrigu, who embarks on a quest for self-knowledge and approaches his father, Varuna, for guidance.
One day, the young sage Bhrigu went to his father, Sage Varuna. He humbly asked, "Father, I desire to attain the knowledge of Brahman. Please show me the path." Varuna solemnly replied, "Son, the knowledge of Brahman is attained through penance. Go and perform penance."
Bhrigu followed his father's instructions and began his penance. During his penance, he discovered that food (Annam) is the basis of all life. He realized that food sustains life and might be Brahman. He returned to his father and said, "Father, I have found that food is Brahman."
Varuna replied, "This is true, my son, but it is not the complete truth. Continue your penance."
Bhrigu performed penance a second time. This time, he meditated deeply and realized that the life force (Prana) is Brahman. He thought that without Prana, life is not possible, so Prana must be Brahman. He went back to his father and said, "Father, I have found that the life force is Brahman."
Varuna again replied, "This is true, my son, but it is not the complete truth. Continue your penance."
Bhrigu performed penance for the third time. This time, he deepened his meditation and realized that the mind (Manas) is Brahman. He understood that nothing is possible without the mind, so the mind must be Brahman. He went back to his father and said, "Father, I have found that the mind is Brahman."
Varuna replied once more, "This is true, my son, but it is not the complete truth. Continue your penance."
Bhrigu performed penance. This time, he experienced the intellect (Vijnana) as Brahman. He felt that nothing can be known without intellect, so intellect must be Brahman. He went back to his father and said, "Father, I have found that intellect is Brahman."
Varuna again replied, "This is true, my son, but it is not the complete truth. Continue your penance."
Finally, Bhrigu performed penance for the fifth time. This time, he immersed himself deeply in meditation and realized that bliss (Ananda) is Brahman. He experienced that everything, whether it is food, life force, mind, or intellect, ultimately merges into bliss. He went back to his father and said, "Father, I have found that bliss is Brahman."
This time, Varuna joyfully replied, "Son, now you have known the true Brahman. Brahman is bliss, and bliss is Brahman."
Under the guidance of his father, Varuna, Bhrigu attained self-knowledge.
He realized that food, life force, mind, intellect, and bliss are all different forms of Brahman, but the true Brahman is blissful, true knowledge of Brahman can be attained through penance, curiosity, and the guidance of a guru.
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