Poornam - The Whole, Perfect, Empty - Nothingness

Isha Vaasya Upanishad is one of the more popular and revered Upanishads. 

It is considered a part of the Yajur Veda. 

Isha Vaasya Upanishad - also known as Ishopanishad, says the ultimate Truth or Reality is Poorna.

The closest equivalent words of Poorna in English would be whole, full, complete, or absolute and perfect. 

       ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते | 

            पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते 

Om: Poornamadah Poornamidam, Poornaat Poornamudachayatay

Poornasya PoornaMaadaaye, Poornameva avashishyatay 

                                           (Ishavaasya Upanishad)

Literal  translation:

That is Absolute - This is Absolute

From the Poorna (Perfect) emerges the Poorna (Perfect).

And if we take out Poorna from the Poorna - Poorna indeed remains.

                        

The Truth, Brahm or God or whatever name we give to the ultimate Reality, is Whole - Absolute and Perfect.

The literal meaning of the words Adah and Idam would be That and This. (Poornam Adah - Poornam Idam)

But in this context, these words have a vast deep meaning. 

Here, That and This means unmanifest and manifest. 

It's a statement of Non-Duality. 

Whatever we see, feel, or know, is part of the Unmanifest Reality.

Here and There, Now and Then - in the past, present, or future, it's always Poorna. 

It is- always was and always will be. 

It was Poorna before the creation appeared and will remain Poorna after it vanishes. 

From this Poorna, the whole creation emerges.

From this Absolute, the whole creation is created - everything arises out of this Poorna.

And even though this whole creation has come out of this Poorna, the Truth - the ultimate Reality still remains Poorna.

Whether the whole creation is added to this Purna or the whole creation is removed from this Purna - the Purna is whole and complete in every state.

This truth – the ultimate reality – remains absolute.

Sometimes, it is also referred to as Shoonya - meaning empty, void, or Nothingness.

Perhaps it can be understood more clearly with the concept of Shoonya. 

In mathematics, Shoonya means zero. 

If we add or subtract zero from zero, the answer would be zero.

Adding nothing to nothing - or taking away nothing from nothing - nothing indeed remains. 

It also implies that there can not be more than one such Poornas - such Absolute Wholes. 

Meaning there is only One Supreme Reality and none other. 

Indeed this is a non-dualistic ideology- the Advaita philosophy. 

However, it contradicts the popular concept that this visible universe is nothing more than just an illusion and should be disregarded and abandoned.

According to the above Mantra of Ishopanishad - 

             Poornam-Adah Poornam-idam 

That is Poorna - This is Poorna - The unmanifest and the manifest - both are Poorna.

The whole creation has not only come out of the Poorna, it is a manifestation and a part of the Poorna - so it must also be Poorna.

This is where the Vedantic Hindu ideology slightly differs from Buddhism and Christianity. 

According to Buddhism: 

                          "Sarv Dukham, Sarv Dukham"

That the basic structure of the Samsara is Dukh - Suffering. 

Hence the concept of Sanyasa - renunciation of the world.

And Christianity believes that we are born out of sin, and no one can ever be perfect. 

Vedanta says:

            Poornam-adah Poornam-idam, Poornaat Poornam-udachayatay

The practicable - purposeful and useful understanding of this verse should be:

That (Unmanifest) is Poorna - This (Manifest creation)* is also Poorna - though temporary and transitory. 

And there must be a purpose behind the Samsara - the manifest creation. 

So, instead of regarding the manifest creation simply as an illusion and rejecting it, it should be utilized by living a peaceful and purposeful life. 

Some esteemed scholars may not agree with my above interpretation.

Because it is believed that according to Advaita the world is just an illusion – it's nothing but deception and delusion. 

And according to dualism, Brahm and Jagat - God and the world - both are Real.

Nevertheless, in my opinion - Advaita should also be understood in a practical and functional form. So that these talks are not limited to philosophy only and can also be used in worldly life.

The first Mantra of Isha Vasya Upanishad clarifies it further:

        Isha-Vaasyam-Idam Sarvam YatKinch JagatyaamJagat

The Supreme Lord- Ishvar, is present in every particle of this Jagat - the universe. 

Everything belongs to Him - He resides in everything.

                          Taina Tyaktaina Bhunjithah 

(Therefore) Enjoy the world with detached attachment 

                   Maa Gridhah kasya Svidhnanam.

Lust not after someone else's possessions. 

Do not deceive anyone - Do not snatch anyone else's money and possessions or try to seize what belongs to someone else.  

                                                             " Rajan Sachdeva "

* Some people - scholars and religions interpret 'That and This' - the Unmanifest and Manifest as Nirakaar and Sakaar - both to be Poorna.

                        ईशा वास्यमिदं सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत्‌।

                        तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम्‌ ॥

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