Beautiful Quote by Bede Griffiths
“There is a beautiful expression of this in the Chandogya Upanishad: 'There is this City of Brahman, (that is the body), and in this city there is a shrine, and in that shrine there is a small lotus, and in that lotus there is a small space, (akasa). Now what exists within that small space, that is to be sought, that is to be understood.' This is the great discovery of the Upanishads, this inner shrine, this guha, or cave of the heart, where the inner meaning of life, of all human existence, is to be found.”
About This Quote
Source Upanishad: Chandogya Upanishad, ancient Vedic scripture
The passage uses a city metaphor to illustrate that the deepest truth lies in the innermost part of the self, a small space within the heart where ultimate understanding resides.
In simple terms: True wisdom is found deep inside the heart.
Key Takeaway
Seek inner stillness to discover meaning.
Themes
spirituality
self‑discovery
philosophy
Mood
contemplative
reverent
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- meditation
- personal reflection
- seeking purpose
Key Concepts
metaphor
inner shrine
consciousness
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you create a quiet inner space in daily life?
- What does “inner shrine” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may be too abstract for practical application.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
