A Constructive Survey of Upanishadic Philosophy c9.4

c9.4

not solicit them, similarly all these beings will bring offerings to a man who knows this secret even though he does not solicit them. For him the rule of life is ‘Beg not’. When he has gone to alms in a village and does not find any, he may sit down with the resolve that he shall not partake of anything that may be offered to him, and those who had formerly refused him shall come near him and speak to him good words—for this is verily what happens to a man who does not solicit alms—and bring offerings to him and say they shall give” (S. 6. b). This passage from the Kaushītaki enjoins upon an ascetic the attitude of non-begging in the firm belief that when he does not beg, things will come to him of their own accord. The Bṛihadāraṇyakopanishad gives further characteristics of the ascetic life, inasmuch as it tells us that “a Brahmin ought to grow disgusted with all wisdom, and lead a life of child-like simplicity” (S. 7. a); believing in the quietistic life, “he should never give himself up to too many words, for that is verily a weariness of the flesh” (S. 7. b).