The Path of Light
The luminous path to non-return.
The Upanishads describe two paths after death: the path of light (devayana) leading to Brahman, and the path of darkness (pitriyana) leading to rebirth. The wise take the path of light.
By the path of light, they go to Brahman and return not.
The path of light leads to final liberation.
Chandogya Upanishad
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- What the Upanishads say about grief
Two routes are described after death — the path of light, from which there is no return, and the path of the fathers, which leads back to rebirth. This sits in open tension with the teaching that the Self was never born at all, and the texts do not reconcile them for you.