Episode 438, Maitrayani Upanishad Explained – Self, Brahman, Renunciation & path of Liberation (part 1)

Entering the Space of Higher Knowledge

A sacred continuation of the timeless tradition of self-inquiry and renunciation. This session opens with reverence for awakened souls and a collective intention to engage deeply with knowledge that liberates. The focus of this episode is the Maitrayani Upanishad, a profound Upanishadic text that unfolds the science of Brahmavidya—the knowledge of the Absolute. The discourse invites seekers to stay attentive until the end, as each section builds upon the last, gradually unveiling the inner mechanics of the soul, mind, body, and liberation. Dedicated to a profound exploration of the Maitrayani (Maitri) Upanishad, one of the classical Sannyasa-path Upanishads, which reveals the deepest truths about the Self (Ātman), Brahman, renunciation, impermanence, and liberation.

Origin of the Maitrayani Upanishad

The Upanishad begins with a powerful narrative. After renouncing his kingdom and entrusting it to his eldest son, a radiant king retreats into the forest for deep austerities. There, consumed by the question of ultimate truth, he seeks Brahmavidya, which he learns was first revealed by Lord Maitriya and originated with Brahma Himself. The Maitrayani Upanishad was transmitted through a lineage of realized sages. The knowledge of Brahmavidyā (Supreme Knowledge) was received by Sage Maitri from the Divine Source and later propagated through Prajāpati.

The Upanishad establishes Advaita (non-dual) consciousness as the ultimate truth.

The sages define Brahman as:

• The underlying essence of all existence

• The supreme, non-dual reality

• Fearless, infinite, imperishable, and beyond attributes

The human mind, when purified through renunciation and inner discipline, becomes capable of realizing this truth.

Brahman, Soul, and the Human Condition

The Upanishad explains that existence operates on two planes:

1. The Human Body – fragile, temporary, bound by karma

2. The Conscious Self (Ātman) – eternal, indestructible, formless, and transcendent

Though Brahman is infinite and self-luminous, it manifests as pure consciousness within every being. This inner consciousness is the real Self.

While the human body is bound to suffering, decay, and impermanence, consciousness itself is infinite and untouched. Within every being exists the pure soul—an expression of Brahman. Out of its own fullness and creative impulse, Brahman manifests the universe and enters beings through:

• The five pranas (Prana, Apana, Udana, Vyana, Samana)

• Cosmic fire (Vaishvanara / Agni Purusha)

The body is described as a chariot:

·       Sense organs are the horses

·       Mind is the reins

·       Intellect is the charioteer

·       Nature (Prakriti) is the driving force

Because of ignorance and attachment, the soul appears bound, wandering through 84 lakh species, though in truth it always remains free.

Bondage, Action, and the Illusion of Suffering

The Upanishad explains that bondage is not real—it is an effect of mental tendencies and karmic impressions. The soul, when identified with actions, emotions, and desires, becomes the “material soul.”

Yet:

·       the soul is not the body

·       The body is merely a temporary residence

·       Death is inevitable, like rivers merging into the ocean

• The soul is merely a guest in the body

• Liberation is possible while living (Jivanmukti)

• Mind is the cause of bondage and liberation

Due to attachment to sensory pleasures, humans forget the Supreme Goal (Param Pada). When desires are abandoned and the mind is stabilized, the soul rests in its true nature.

Meditation, Om, and the Two Realities

All creation arises from Om, the primordial vibration of light and sound. Consciousness manifests in two forms:

1. The manifest – transient, false/ Mūrta (Formed / Relative / Impermanent)

2. The unmanifest – eternal truth/ Amūrta (Formless / Absolute / Eternal)

Meditation on Om becomes the bridge between the individual soul and the Absolute, dissolving ignorance and revealing the inner sun of consciousness. The ultimate destination is the formless, eternal Self, realized through Om (Pranava)—the vibration from which creation arises.

The King’s Renunciation and the Sage’s Teaching

Awakened to the impermanence of the body, the king Brihadratha renounces everything and performs intense penance for a thousand years. Eventually, an enlightened sage Shākāyana appears, radiant like smokeless fire. When asked to choose a boon, the king requests self-knowledge. Though initially discouraged—due to the depth and antiquity of the question—the king insists, declaring the body to be nothing more than skin, blood, waste, and decay.

He questions:

• What value do desire and pleasure hold in a body destined for death?

• Where is God amidst desire, anger, fear, grief, and old age?

Observing that even oceans dry up, mountains crumble, and celestial beings perish, the king concludes that all of creation is impermanent.

Ignorance, Darkness, and the Need for Grace

The king likens worldly existence to a frog trapped in darkness. He confesses his own bondage and seeks grace. The sage responds with compassion, preparing to explain the true nature of the soul.

Through yoga:

·       When the senses are withdrawn inward

·       When prāṇa is guided through yoga

·       When ignorance is destroyed

• The soul realizes itself as Brahman

When ignorance falls, the soul attains the realization “Aham Brahmasmi”—I am Brahman.

Faith, Scripture, and Liberation

This teaching is meant for those with faith in the Vedas and Upanishads, echoed in texts like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita. For such seekers, liberation occurs the very moment the body is abandoned—the soul merges instantly into supreme light. Those without faith, it is said, continue to wander in subtle realms.

The Five Prāṇas and Inner Fire

The one Prāṇa manifests as:

• Prāṇa

• Apāna

• Samāna

• Udāna

• Vyāna

The Vaishvānara Agni digests food and sustains life. The inner sound heard in silence is the resonance of this cosmic fire.

The Soul Defined by Brahma

In response to the sages’ questions, Brahma defines the soul as:

• Pure and sacred

• Peaceful and eternal

• Unborn, indestructible, stable

• The very essence of freedom

Though subtle and unobservable, it is the force that animates the body, enters creation as Prajapati, and manifests through the pranas and senses.

The Final Insight of Part One

The soul itself is pure, unmoving, and unchanged. It only appears to enjoy the fruits of action due to identification with the mind and the three gunas. All suffering arises from action—not from the soul.

Thus, the teaching concludes:

• The mind is the doer

• The soul is the witness

• Liberation lies in re-educating the mind and dissolving ignorance

Conclusion: Preparing for Part Two

This first part of the Maitrayani Upanishad reveals astonishing truths about the soul, bondage, and liberation. Through contemplation and repeated listening, faith deepens and detachment arises naturally.

Part Two will continue this journey into deeper metaphysical insights. Seekers are encouraged to revisit these teachings, meditate upon them, and stabilize themselves in inner stillness.

The ultimate invitation remains simple yet profound:
Withdraw the mind, dissolve desire, and recognize yourself as the eternal light.