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8-Dialog Between Uddaalak and His Son Shwetketu

The following story is taken from Chhaandogya Upanishad. It is the dialog between Muni Uddaalak and his son Shwetketu.

Uddaalak said - "Svetaketu, Have you ever asked your teacher for that instruction by which we hear what cannot be heard, by which we perceive what cannot be perceived, by which we know what cannot be known?
Shwetketu said - "What is that instruction, Sir?"

The father replied - "My dear, just as by a single lump of clay, all that is made of clay is known, all modifications being only a name based upon words, (the difference being only a name arising from speech) but the truth being that all is clay thus, my dear, is that instruction."
"Please Sir, explain this to me further." said Shwetketu.

Uddalaka - "Bring me a fruit of that Nyagrodh tree (banyan tree)."
Shwetketu - "Here is one, Sir."
Uddalaka - "Break it."
Shwetketu - "It is broken, Sir."
Uddaalak - "What do you see there?"
Shwetketu - "Those extremely small seeds, Sir."
Uddaalak - "Break one of them, my dear."
Shwetketu - "It is broken, Sir."
Uddaalak - "What do you see there?"
Shwetketu - "Nothing, Sir."

The father said - "My son, that subtle essence which you do not perceive there, of that very essence this great Nyagrodha tree, grows (exists). Believe me, my son. Now, that which is the subtle essence (the root of all) in That all that exists has its Self; that is the Self; That is the Truth; That thou art, O Shwetketu!"
Shwetketu said - "Please, Sir, explain to me further."
"Be it so, my child," replied the father.

Uddaalak - "Place this salt in the water and come to me in the morning."
Shwetketu, the son, did as he was commanded.
Next day the father said to him - "Bring the salt, my dear, which you put in the water last night." The son looked for it and did not find it, for it had become dissolved.

The father said - "My child, taste it from the surface of the water. How is it?"
The son replied - "It is salt."
Uddaalak - "Taste it from the middle. How is it?"
The son replied - "It is salt."
Uddalak - "Taste it from the bottom. How is it?"
The son replied - "It is salt."
The father said - "Throw it away and come to me."
The son did so; It exists for ever.
Then the father said to him - "Here also in this body, forsooth, you do not perceive the Truth (Sat or Pure Being), my son, but there it is indeed."
The father said - "Now that which is the subtle essence (the root of all), in That all that exists has its Self: That is the Self; that is the Truth; That thou art; O Shwetketu.
 

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