Then his father said to him: Just as, my dear, of a great lighted fire a single coal the size of a firefly, if left, may be made to blaze up again by adding grass to it and will thus burn much more, Even so, my dear; of your sixteen parts only one part was left and that, when strengthened by food, blazed up. With it you now remember the Vedas. Therefore, my dear, the mind consists of food, the prana consists of water and speech consists of fire. After that he understood what his father said, yea, he understood it.
Sama Veda, Chandogya Upanishad VI, VII – How the Mind consists of Food, 5-6
Uddalaka the son of Aruna said to his son Svetaketu: Learn from me, my dear, the true nature of sleep. When a person has entered into deep sleep, as it is called, then, my dear, he becomes united with Pure Being (Sat), he has gone to his own Self. That is why they say he is in deep sleep (svapiti); it is because he has gone (apita) to his own (svam).
Sama Veda, Chandogya Upanishad VI, VIII – Concerning Sleep, Hunger, Thirst, and Death, 1
Just as a bird tied by a string to the hand of the bird-catcher first flies in every direction and then finding no rest anywhere, settles down at the place where it is bound, so also the mind (i.e. the individual soul reflected in the mind), my dear, after flying in every direction and finding no rest anywhere, settles down in the Prana (i.e. Pure Being); for the mind (the individual soul) is fastened to the Prana (Pure Being).
Sama Veda, Chandogya Upanishad VI, VIII – Concerning Sleep, Hunger, Thirst, and Death, 2
Set up to the East of the sacred Fire, you accept our prayer, intense and unflagging. Hold yourself high to bring us prosperity. Drive far away dearth of inspiration.
Rig Veda III, 8, 2
Girdled and adorned, he displays youthful beauty, yet is fairer by far when brought to new birth. With minds contemplative and godward directed, our sages of lofty intelligence rear him.
Rig Veda III, 8, 4
