‘Three characters of Reason’ used in Chandogya Upanishad to explain Reality

Philosophy and Logic are intertwined. Philosophizing includes reasoning. The following is one of the finest and direct example of use of Logic in Chandogyaya Upanishad to explain the philosophical concept of Reality.

As learnt from Indian Logic, a Reason or Middle Term or Hetu should technically possess one of the three characters: (i) Reason should be the effect of the thing to be inferred (Predicate), or (ii) the Reason may be in essence identical with the thing to be inferred, or(iii) non-perception of the Reason may be due to non-existence of the thing to be inferred. Thus, the underlying relations are of (i) cause-effect, (ii) essence, and (iii) non-existence. The Chandogya Upanishad has beautifully utilized all these three relations to explain Brahman or The Ultimate Reality.

The ’cause-effect illustration’ in Chandogya Upanishad is of the Seer bringing to the understanding of the boy that the banyan tree is the effect of the seed, the seed in effect of granules and if you cut the granules further there exists noting visible to the eyes. Similarly, the world arises out of Brahman .

The ‘essence illustration’ is of the Seer making the boy understand that just as salt mixed with water is not seen to the eyes yet it forms the essence of the salty drink, similarly Brahman is the essence.

The ‘non-existence illustration’ is about being able to see things as they are and not being disillusioned .