Hinduism

All these things, don't interest Naciketas because he knows that these things are transitory and fleeting, and instead he wants to know more about the atman (the self), which is truly valuable. Yama praises him for having choosing the good(shreyas)over the pleasant(preyas). .
             Yama then teaches him about the atman, this is the essence of each individual, the eternal, unchanging reality that exists forever, unaffected by the circumstances and events of person's countless rebirths. The atman can't be known through the senses or the intellect; it must be known through direct, intuitive realization. The atman is not only a personal essence, it is also said to be identical with the cosmic Ultimate, called Brahman.
             Yama states that, "The good is one thing, and the pleasant another, both goals which blind a person. From, the two, it is better for the person who chooses the good, the person who chooses the pleasant does not fulfill his goals. Naciketas asks Yama, "Tell me what you see beyond righteousness and unrighteousness, beyond what is done and not done, and what is beyond what was and what will be." Yama responds by saying, " I will briefly explain to you all that is taught in the Vedas, all that asceticism declares, and that which sages seek through religious practice. It is Om." This syllable is truly Brahman, it is the supreme syllable. Whoever knows it, obtains all wishes." This is the best support, this is the supreme support. Knowing this support, a person attains happiness in the world of Brahma. .
             Sacrifices Cannot Lead to the Ultimate Goal- this passage states that sacrifices are like unsteady boats, and should not be practiced by anyone wishing to leave cyclic existence. It does not state that Brahmins should stop performing sacrifices, but instead warns them that they should not depend on them heavily and instead remove themselves from the world and practice asceticism and devotion in the forest in order to work at achieving a tranquil mind that knows truth.