Timeless wisdom from the Chandoga Upanishad. Translated by Patrick Olivelle “Take the bees, son. They prepare the honey by gathering nectar from a variety of trees and by reducing that nectar to a homogeneous whole. In that state the nectar from each different tree is not able to differentiate: “I am the nectar of that tree”, and “I am the nectar of this tree”. In exactly the same way, son, when all these creatures merge into the existent.” No matter what they are in this world — whether it is a tiger, a lion, a moth, a gnat, or a mosquito — they all merger into that.”

“The finest essence here — that constitutes the self of this whole world; that is the truth; that is the self (atman). And that’s how you are, Svetaketu.” “Sir, teach me more.” “Very well, son. “Now, take these rivers, son. The easterly ones flow towards the east, and the westerly ones flow towards the west. From the ocean, they merge into the very ocean; they become just the ocean. In that state they are not aware that: “I am that river”, and “I am this river”. In exactly the same way, son, when all these creatures reach the existent, they are not aware that: “We are reaching the existent”. No matter what they are in this world they all merge into that.”

“The finest essence here — that constitutes the self of this whole world; that is the truth; that is the self (atman). And that’s how you are, Svetaketu.” “Sir, teach me more.” “Very well, son.” “Now, take this huge tree here, son. If someone were to hack it at the bottom, its living sap would flow. Likewise, if someone were to hack it in the middle, its living sap would flow; and if someone were to hack it at the top, its living sap would flow.”— http://beliefnet.com