Brahma Upanishad

[5] The Brahma Upanishad is notable, in its third chapter, for rejecting all forms of rituals and external religious observations, and declaring the highest complete state of man is one that is dedicated entirely to knowledge.

[10] Textual references and literary style suggest that this Hindu text is ancient, composed before the Ashrama Upanishad which is dated to the 3rd-century CE.

[15] The divisions and structure of these manuscripts is different, particularly those referred to as "Calcutta and Poona editions", though with similar message.

The prose sections are the most ancient layer in this Upanishad given their archaic Sanskrit style, while the poetic parts likely added at some later time.

[20][21] Brahman, states sage Pippala in the text, indeed is the Prana (breath, life-force) and is the Atma (soul).

[21] The Brahman is Prana, and the life of the gods that are the vital sensory organs in human body,[7] their beginning and end.

[22] The Brahman (Atman) leads all these gods within the human body, and they follow him, asserts the text, in a way similar to bees and queen-bee.

[26] The Atman is the higher and lower brahman, the one inspiring the principle of non-harm (Ahimsa), imbuing consciousness into the gods that are sensory organs, he is the swan, he is the self.

[note 1] The shining Brahman state of the Atman has no worlds or non-worlds, no Vedas nor non-Vedas, neither gods nor non-gods, no sacrifices nor non-sacrifices, no mother nor father, no non-mother nor non-father, no relatives no non-relatives, no ascetic nor non-ascetics, neither recluse nor non-recluse, and this one highest Brahman is which shines.

[34][31] Put away the sacred thread and shear off the tied tuft of hair on your head, states the text, as it begins its discussion of renunciation.

[35] Abandon the external rites and rituals, and rest in peace with your soul and pursuit of its wisdom, the one who does so has understood the Vedas.

[35][37] The Brahmin, translates Deussen, is engaged in Vedic duties wearing the hair tuft and the external sacred thread then doing the ritual works, but it is the one who wears knowledge as his hair tuft and internal sacred thread is the true state of Brahmin.

[38][37] Just like there is butter in milk, oil in seeds, water in streams, fire hidden in dormant churn-stick, there is Atman within to be found.