The Katha Upanishad recounts the story of Nachiketa, a young boy who seeks the ultimate truth from Yama, the god of death. It talks about discerning between the pleasant (Preya) and the good (Shreya) and the nature of the eternal Self (Atman).
In the timeless wisdom of the Katha Upanishad, two paths are there before every human: Preya and Shreya. Preya, the lure of immediate pleasure and fleeting joy. Shreya, the steadiness that offers beneficial good in the long run.
Preya is the lure of quick fun. It’s being lazy all the time, doing stuff that does not benefit you. It shows up as buying stuff you don’t need just to feel good now, then feeling bad later. Jobs that burn you out for fast success or relations full of transactions – these are Preya. The ancient texts say fools chase it but it leaves you empty inside, like a popped balloon.
Shreya is the smart path for real good. It’s not about skipping fun; it’s about picking what helps long-term. Like exercising every day for a fit body, learning a skill that grows over time or building true connections. Shreya grows your strength, toughness and calm mind. The wise texts call it the way to go beyond fear of death through knowing your true self.
Preya dazzles the senses, while Shreya appeals to discernment (viveka). In our hyper-stimulated world, Preya generally wins by default. And choosing Shreya is a rebellion. In today’s world, how does one select Shreya over Preya, on a regular basis?
Meditation is the way. As you meditate, you start going inwards. This makes you aware of who you really are and what you really want. A meditative person is able to drop most of their desires and fears, as they realise that most of their desires and fears were not their own in the first place, just accumulated garbage. As you empty yourself of accumulated garbage, you discover that there is more to life than what was visible before.
Meditation is for now. Meditation increases your discernment which in turn helps you to choose what you really want and what is good for you.
Start your journey of meditation. You will always thank yourself.