The Self

Yajnavalkya said to his wife Maitreyi," Oh. Maitreyi, it is true that it is not for the sake of the husband. that he is loved but for one's own sake that he is loved. It is not for the sake of wife that she is loved but for one's own sake that she is loved. It is not for the sake of the sons that they are loved but for one's own sake that they are loved. It is not for the sake of welth that it is loved but for one's own sake that it is loved. It is not for the sake of the animals that they are loved but for one's own sake that they are loved. It is not for the sake of worlds that they are loved but for one's own sake that they are loved. It is not for the sake of the Gods that they are loved but for one's own sake that they are loved. It is not for the beings that they are loved but for one's own sake that they are loved. It is not for the sake of all that all is loved but for one's own sake that all is loved. Oh Maitreyi, the Self is to be realised, heard of, established by argument and meditated upon. The Self being realised, heard of, established by argument and meditated uopn, all is known.
- From Brihadaranyaka Upanisada (4|5|6).