8 Quotes from the Hindu Vedas, That If Applied, Will Dramatically Change the Way You Think

After being exposed to Vedic knowledge, I now see life as a magical unfolding.

A shift in perception allows a change from a surviving to thriving mentality.

I used to be a sheep following the herd toward an inevitable age-old retirement.

After being exposed to Vedic knowledge, I now see life as a magical unfolding, not bound by a need for control or a source of anxiety.

The knowledge of Veda’s attempts to deliver self-improvement through a shift in perception, based on how a person views themselves and their world.

A group of people called rishis divinely received the Vedas. A rishi is considered a highly developed human.

The Veda’s are divided into 2 sections and are written in Sanskrit.

The first section is called the Karmakanda, which relates to action-based activities like rituals or how to build a house. The second part is named Jnanakanda, which relates to knowledge of how to live and who we are at our core.

Of particular note in the Jnanakanda are the Upanishads, which number 108 in total. The Upanishads are generally conversations between a teacher and a disciple.

The Upanishad teachings are given in mantra prose form. They are symbolic and cryptic in nature.

MUṆḌAKA-UPANIṢAD (मु􁭛डकोपिनषद्)

In this Upanishad, there is a conversation between the student, Saunaka and sage Angiras. The sage talks about the distinction between higher and lower knowledge, the nature of Consciousness, and the qualities required to know Absolute Consciousness.

यथोर्णनाभिः सृजते गृह्णते च यथा पृथिव्यामोषधयः संभवन्ति । यथा सतः पुरुषात्केशलोमानि तथाऽक्षरात्संभवतीह विश्वम् ॥१.१.७॥

Just as the spider creates and withdraws (its web), just as trees are born on the earth, just as hairs on the head, and the body (grow) from a living person, in the same manner, the universe is born here out of Brahman (God/Consciousness.)॥1.1.7॥

This mantra states that we are the problem and the solution. Your lifestyle is something that you have created. All the good and all the not-so-good.

Knowing that you are the creator of your reality empowers you to know you do influence the outcomes. Therefore, you can ignite change for the better.

Know and acknowledge you are an agent of change.

You aren’t a victim of circumstance. And if you think and behave in this way, you can change it.

How to apply:

• Acknowledge any fear of change.
• Write down a plan to move towards what you want to change or achieve.
• Work through any past trauma related to the area of change.

द्वा सुपर्णा सयुजा सखाया समानं वृक्षं परिषस्वजाते । तयोरन्यः पिप्पलं स्वाद्वत्त्यनश्नन्नन्यो अभिचाकशीति ॥३.१.१॥

Two birds with beautiful wings, which are close friends, cling to the same tree. Of them, one eats the fruits with relish. The other looks on without eating. ॥ 3.1.1॥

Have you ever shot off a social media post or a work email based when angry?

I have, more times than I care to remember.

Objectivity comes from not being reactive to outside stimulation.

Taking out the reactive emotional element allows the various sides of a problem to be accurately evaluated.

What to do:

• Put off sending emotionally charged emails until the following day.
• Write out all your thoughts and feelings in a journal before reaching out to the other person or making a critical decision.
• Use ‘I’ statements and nonviolent communication as a safe way to communicate your message.

नायमात्मा प्रवचनेन लभ्यो न मेधया न बहुना श्रुतेन । यमेवैष वृणुते तेन लभ्यस्तस्यैष आत्मा विवृणुते तनूं स्वाम् ॥३.१.२॥

Being deluded (and) completely immersed in the very same body, a person grieves helplessly. When one sees the other, the adored Lord, (and) His glory as (one’s own), (one becomes) free from grief. ॥ 3.1.2॥

You have more similarities with the annoying people in your life than differences.

Wanting others to do as you desire can distort the way you see them.

Every person, including your parents, has a history. That is bound up in a messy hodgepodge of mental scares and repressed emotions. People react the way they do, sometimes out of these dark places.

Most of the things that others do are none of our business.

What to do:

• Be mindful of people’s unspoken and unseen struggles.
• Replace a nasty thought with an observation on how you are similar to your friendly enemy.
• Focus on what your reaction is and understand your psychological patterns.

सत्यमेव जयते नानृतं सत्येन पन्था विततो देवयानः । येनाक्रमन्त्यृषयो ह्याप्तकामा यत्र तत् सत्यस्य परमं निधानम् ॥३.१.६॥

The truthful alone wins, not the untruthful. The bright-path is paved with truthfulness. By this (bright path) indeed do the upāsakas, who has fulfilled the desires, reach (that brahmaloka) where the supreme goal of truthfulness (is). ॥ 3.1.6॥

Telling the truth is tough, as in reality, the truth is seen subjectively. That what is true for us may not be true for another.

Plus, there can be the bonus of viewing something in a not-so-truthful way as a means to get our way on something.

What to do:

• Drop your agenda and be the objective bird on the branch.
• Be vulnerable by sharing your emotions and responsibility with the other person.
• Be honest with yourself about what is holding you back from reaching your goal.

भिद्यते हृदयग्रन्थिश्छिद्यन्ते सर्वसंशयाः । क्षीयन्ते चास्य कर्माणि तस्मिन्दृष्टे परावरे ॥२.२. ८ ॥

When that (Brahman) which is in the form of cause and effect is seen, the knot of the heart is broken. All doubts are dispelled. And all his karma wears out. If you stick your finger in a fire it will get burnt. ॥ 2. 2.8 ॥

Know that actions have consequences. Those results can either be to your and others’ benefit or not.

Decide if you want those results in your life or not, before acting.

A night out drinking and partying or saving to own a home in the future.

What to do:

• Look with understanding for the long-term effects of your actions.
• Keep those things in your life that are essential and disregard the non-essentials.

KAṬHA-UPANIṢAD (कठोपिनषद्)

The student, Naciketas approaches Yama, the Lord of Death, to learn about Self-knowledge.

श्वोभावा मर्त्यस्य यदन्तकैतत्सर्वेंद्रियाणां जरयंति तेजः । अपि सर्वं जीवितमल्पमेव तवैव वाहास्तव नृत्यगीते॥ १.१.२६॥

Oh Yama, All these ephemeral (things) weaken the power of all the sense organs of the mortal (human being). Moreover, every form of life is short only. Let all your vehicles, dance, and music be yours only. II 1.1.26॥

In this mantra, Lord Yama tests young Nachiketas resolve in the pursuit of self-knowledge while offering all the delights in the world.

Happiness appears to be inside an object.

You eat chocolate and it tastes good. You feel happy.

So you eat a little more, and a little more (sometimes a lot more.) Each time, the happiness kick isn’t as much.

There is a diminishing return on the amount of contact when you consume something. Hence why you have to keep taking and consuming more of something or have to do new and more exciting things.

Social media marketers worked this out long ago. Maybe from Lord Yama.

Things in the external world trigger what is inside. And not the other way around.

When your life purpose is clear and powerful, all other desires fall in line with its requirements.

I wanted to teach yoga. I took up a 5-year teacher training in Iyengar yoga. As part of the training, you had to practice regularly in the early morning. As such, I went to bed early, ate more healthily, and ate smaller meals at night. This enabled me to get up early in the mornings to practice.

What to do:

• Be clear on your life’s purpose. And align your lifestyle with your life’s purpose.
• Do those activities provide contentment rather than give a dopamine hit.

इन्द्रियेभ्यः परा ह्यर्था अर्थेभ्यश्च परं मनः । मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्बुद्धेरात्मा महान्परः ॥ १.३.१०॥

Sense-objects are superior to the sense organs. Mind is superior to the sense-objects. Intellect is superior to the mind. Mahat is superior to Intellect. II 1.3.10॥

What you see value in most you will spend the most time doing.

Consciously prioritizing what can have the biggest impact is intelligent living.

A mars bar can stimulate your internal sense organs. But the mind is where the sensation takes place. The intellect, having the ability to discriminate the long-term impact of eating chocolate, is superior to the mind.

Mahat can be translated into superior knowledge or noble person.

Sometimes, superior to your discrimination is seeking help from others.

What to do:

• Immerse yourself in books, documentaries, YouTube clips, and podcasts, all those things that will help you achieve your life goal.
• Engage a coach that can provide expert guidance.

उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत । क्शुरस्य धारा निशिता दुरत्यया दुर्गं पथस्तत्कवयो वदन्ति II१.३.१४॥

Arise. Awake. Having approached the great ones, know (the Ātmā). The wise declare that path (of Self-knowledge) is difficult to tread, (just as) the sharp edge of a razor is difficult to tread. II 1.3.14॥

Don’t let another day go by, letting your dreams stay inside your mind.

Like you have created children, friendships, or a relationship, your dreams can also manifest in your life.

Knowing who you are at your essence. At its depth, like what sweetness is to sugar. Will allow you to go after your dreams.

At present, you may not know the depth of your greatness out of fear of not feeling capable.

Although be warned, the path to delve deep into oneself is not something to be taken likely. Society wants to keep you small and controllable. Not to allow you to roar like a lion and roam freely.

Societal pressure will come from friends, family, and all those close to you to conform to that which keeps the herd together.

Tread carefully and be bold.

What to do:

• Be clear about your dreams and aspirations.
• Know your milestones to tick off on the way to manifesting your dreams.
• Devise solutions for solving potential roadblocks.

Final Thoughts

The Hindu Vedic knowledge has no recorded original starting date. A lot of modern-day personal development and spiritual teachings can trace their origins back to this timeless wisdom.

Drink from the wisdom of this cryptic, empowering knowledge to satisfy your thirst for manifesting your dreams. Here today and in the future.

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