In truth, it is not for the love of a husband that a husband is dear; but for the love of the Soul in the husband that a husband is dear.

It is not for the love of a wife that a wife is dear; but for the love of the Soul in the wife that a wife is dear.

It is not for the love of children that children are dear; but for the love of the Soul in children that children are dear.

It is not for the love of riches that riches are dear; but for the love of the Soul in riches that riches are dear.

It is not for the love of religion that religion is dear; but for the love of the Soul in religion that religion is dear.

It is not for the love of power that power is dear; but for the love of the Soul in power that power is dear.

It is not for the love of the heavens that the heavens are dear; but for the love of the Soul in heavens that the heavens are dear.

It is not for the love of the gods that the gods are dear; but for the love of the Soul in the gods that the gods are dear.

It is not for the love of creatures that creatures are dear; but for the love of the Soul in creatures that creatures are dear.

It is not for the love of the all that the all is dear; but for the love of the Soul in the all that the all is dear.

It is the Soul, the Spirit, the Self, that must be seen and be heard and have our thoughts and meditation. When the Soul is seen and heard, is thought upon and is known, then all that is becomes known.

Religion will abandon the man who thinks that religion is apart from the Soul.

Power will abandon the man who thinks that power is apart from the Soul.

The gods will abandon the man who thinks that the gods are apart from the Soul.

Creatures will abandon the man who thinks that creatures are apart from the Soul.

And all will abandon the man who thinks that the all is apart from the Soul.

Because religion, power, heavens, beings, gods and all rest on the Soul.

As when a drum is being beaten its sounds cannot be holden, but by seizing the drum or the beater of the drum the sounds are holden;

As when a conch is being blown its sounds cannot be holden, but by seizing the conch or the blower of the conch the sounds are holden;

As when a lute is being played its sounds cannot be holden, but by seizing the lute or the player of the lute the sounds are holden;

So it is with the Spirit, the Soul.

The supreme Spirit is an ocean of pure consciousness boundless and infinite. Arising out of the elements, into them it returns again: there is no consciousness after death.

From where there seems to be a duality, there one sees another, one hears another, one feels another's perfume, one thinks of another, one knows another. But when all has become Spirit, one's own Self, how and whom could one see? How and whom could one hear? How and of whom could one feel the perfume? How and to whom could one speak? How and whom could one know? How can one know him who knows all? How can the Knower be known?

-- From the Brihad-Aranyaka Upanishad 2.4

The everlasting greatnes of the seer of Brahman is not greater or less great by actions. Let man find the path of the Spirit: who has found this path becomes free from the bonds of evil.

Who knows this and has found peace, he is the lord of himself, his is a calm endurance, and calm concentration. In him he sees the Spirit, and he sees the Spirit as all.

This is the great never-born Spirit of man, enjoyer of the food of life, and giver of treature. He finds this treasure who knows this.

This is the great never-born Spirit of man, never old and immortal. This is the Spirit of the universe, a refuge from all fear.

-- Brihad. Up. 4.3-4