Shvetashvatara Upanishad 1.13Famous
beginner
वह्नेर्यथा योनिगतस्य मूर्तिर्न दृश्यते नैव च लिङ्गनाशः। स भूय एवेन्धनयोनिगृह्यः तद्वोभयं वै प्रणवेन देहे॥
vahneryathā yonigatasya mūrtirna dṛśyate naiva ca liṅganāśaḥ | sa bhūya evendhana yonigṛhyaḥ tadvobhayaṃ vai praṇavena dehe ||
"Just as fire, latent in its source (wood), is not visible, yet its subtle form is not destroyed - it can be grasped again by rubbing the wood - so also both (the Self and the Lord) can be grasped in the body through the pranava (OM)."
What This Means:
Fire hidden in wood cannot be seen, but it is there and can be brought out by friction. Similarly, the Self and God, though hidden in the body, can be realized through meditation on OM.
Going Deeper:
This famous analogy shows that Brahman is latent in the body like fire in wood. The practice (pranava/OM meditation) is like the friction that reveals the hidden fire.
How To Apply This:
The divine is hidden within you like fire in wood. Through the friction of OM meditation, it can be revealed.
#fire in wood#latent#OM#revelation