(Response to 2.H.1 Mundaka, Upanishad (1.2.11-13), presented by Anantanand Rambachan)
I resonated with this passage that conveys a key message to us human beings: what is important is not our worldly achievements or success, not seeking after pleasure or power or fame, but rather, to seek the Timeless. This inner dynamism inherent in human beings that makes us long for nothing short of the Infinite is what led the Prince Siddhartha to renounce his privileged and luxury-laden life for a life of austerity and simplicity, in search of what could quench the dissatisfaction (dukkha) he felt so acutely. In doing so, he paved the way for countless others in human history to take radical steps to free themselves from what binds their inner spirit, and seek a life of inner peace, wisdom and compassion. The emergence into one’s awareness of this longing for the Infinite marks the beginning of an intentional spiritual path in the life of a given individual human being, a longing that cuts across cultures and religious traditions of the world. St. Augustine gave expression to this when he exclaimed, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”
