|
|
I
n the beginning, there was only the Self. ... He reflected, and saw that there was nothing but Himself, whereupon he exclaimed, "I am" (Aham). Ever since, He has been known within as "I." Even now, when announcing oneself, one says, "I am …” and then gives the other name that one bears.
He was afraid. Even today, one who is alone is afraid. But then he realized, '"Since there is nothing else but myself, what is there to fear?" It is only from [the presence of] a second [entity] that fear need ever arise. However, he was still unhappy. Even today, one is unhappy when alone. He desired a mate. And so he took of the form of a being the size of a man and woman joined in a close embrace; and then He separated into two individuals: a man and a wife. Therefore, as the sage Yajnavalkya has declared, this body, by itself, is like half of a split pea. [In order to become whole again,] this empty space must be filled by a woman. The male [half] then embraced the female [half], and from that the human race arose.
But the female wondered: "How can he unite with me, whom he has produced from himself'? Well then, let me hide!" She became a cow; he became a bull and united with her, and from that cattle arose. She became a mare; he became a stallion. She an ass, he a donkey and united with her; and from that solid-hoofed animals arose. She became a goat, he a buck; she a sheep, he a ram and united with her; and from that goats and sheep arose. In this way, he poured forth all pairing creatures, down to the ants. Then he realized: "All this creation is actually myself; for I have poured forth all this." One who knows this truth realizes that he, himself, is truly the creator [living] within his own creation.
|
|