That which is neither internal consciousness nor external consciousness nor both together, which does not consist solely in compact consciousness, which is neither conscious nor unconscious, which is invisible, unapproachable, impalpable, indefinable, unthinkable, unnameable, whose very essence consists of the experience of its own self, which absorbs all diversity, is tranquil and benign, without a second, which is what they call the fourth state—that is the ātman. This it is which should be known.§
Atharva Veda, Māṇḍūkya Upanishad 2.7. VE, P. 723§
He who dwells in the light, yet is other than the light, whom the light does not know, whose body is the light, who controls the light from within—He is the ātman within you.§
Śukla Yajur Veda, Bṛihadāraṇyaka Upanishad 3.7.14. VE, P. 708§
When nourishment is pure, nature is pure. When nature is pure, memory becomes firm. When memory remains firm, there is release from all knots of the heart. §
Sāma Veda, Çhāndogya Upanishad 7.26.2. UPR, P. 489§
With his mind purified, with his consciousness purified, with patience, thinking “I am He,” and with patience when he has attained the consciousness of “I am He,” he is established by wisdom in the supreme ātman who is to be known in the heart.§
Śukla Yajur Veda, Paiṅgala Upanishad 4.9. VE, P. 441§
The ten abstinences are nonviolence, truth, nonstealing, chastity, kindness, rectitude, forgiveness, endurance, temperance in food and purity. §
Śukla Yajur Veda, Tṛishikhi Brāhmaṇa 32-33. YM, P. 19§
As the sun that beholds the world is untouched by earthly impurities, so the Spirit that is in all things is untouched by external sufferings. §
Kṛishṇa Yajur Veda, Kaṭha Upanishad 5.11. BO UPM, P. 64§
He who knows this, having become peaceful, controlled, detached, patient and concentrated, sees the ātman in himself and sees all in the ātman. Evil does not overcome him, but he overcomes all evil; evil does not consume him, but he consumes all evil. Free from evil, free from passion, free from doubt, he becomes a knower of Brahman.§
Śukla Yajur Veda, Bṛihadāraṇyaka Upanishad 4.4.23. VE, P. 718§
Revealed and yet dwelling hidden in the cave is that which is called the great Abode. Whatever moves and breathes and blinks is fixed therein. Know this as being and also nonbeing, the desire of all hearts, transcending knowledge, best beloved of every creature. Burning as a flame and subtlest of the subtle, in which are firmly fixed the worlds and their peoples—that is the imperishable Brahman. That is life and word and spirit, the true, the immortal! That, my friend, is to be known—know that! §
Atharva Veda, Muṇḍaka Upanishad 2.2.1-2, VE, P. 685§
Like the waves in great rivers, there is no turning back of that which has been done previously; like the tide of the ocean, the approach of one’s death is hard to keep back. Like a lame man, bound by the fetters made of the fruits of good and evil, like the condition of a man in prison, lacking independence; like the condition of one in the realm of death, beset by many fears; like one intoxicated with liquor, intoxicated with the liquor of delusion, rushing about like one possessed by an evil spirit; like one bitten by a great serpent, bitten by the objects of the sense; like gross darkness, the darkness of passion; like jugglery, consisting of illusion; like a dream, false appearances; like the inside of the banana tree, unsubstantial; like an actor changing dress every moment; like a painted scene, falsely delighting the mind; and therefore it has been said, “Objects of sound, touch and the like are worthless objects for a man,” for the elemental self, through attachment to them, does not remember the highest state. §
Kṛishṇa Yajur Veda, Maitrī Upanishad 4.2 UPR, P. 420-421§
The Self resides within the lotus of the heart. Knowing this, consecrated to the Self, the sage enters daily that holy sanctuary. Absorbed in the Self, the sage is freed from identity with the body and lives in blissful consciousness. §
Sāma Veda, Çhāndogya Upanishad 8.3.3-4. UPP, P.122§
High truth, unyielding order, consecration, ardor and prayer and holy ritual uphold the Earth; may she, the ruling mistress of what has been and what will come to be, for us spread wide a limitless domain.§
Atharva Veda 12.1.1, VE, P. 123§
May the wind blow us joy, may the sun shine down joy on us, may our days pass with joy, may the night be a gift of joyful peace! May the dawn bring us joy at its coming! §
Atharva Veda 7.69.7, VE, P. 302-303§