The Upanishads

By Eknath Easwaran, Anonymous, F. Max Müller, et al.

Book Overview

Easwaran's best-selling translation of the ancient wisdom texts called the Upanishads is reliable, readable, and profound.

In the Upanishads, illumined sages share flashes of insight, the results of their investigation into consciousness itself. In extraordinary visions, they have direct experience of a transcendent Reality which is the essence, or Self, of each created being. They teach that each of us, each Self, is eternal, deathless, one with the power that created the universe.

Easwaran's translation of the principal Upanishads and five others includes an overview of the cultural and historical setting, with chapter introductions, notes, and a Sanskrit glossary. But it is Easwaran's understanding of the wisdom of the Upanishads that makes this edition truly outstanding.

Each sage, each Upanishad, appeals in a different way to the reader's head and heart. In the end, Easwaran writes, "The Upanishads are part of India's precious legacy, not just to Hinduism but to humanity, and in that spirit they are offered here."

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1586380214
• ISBN13: 9781586380212
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Nilgiri Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Better than a formal course.

Decades ago, I plugged through a book called "The Thirteen Principal Upanishads"; at the time I found it especially useful. However, I am the type of person who needs someone to tell me when my shoe is untied. Not so much a guru as an explication or guide to what I am about to read, so I can slow down and look for those points besides the one I find on my own. I perused through the Upanishads books available and found I had already purchased this as a series. I then decided to also re-purchase this in the Kindle edition. I do not know if it is his classical background or just skillful presentation; however, Eknath Easwaran is perfect at showing you what is about to be presented and tying it back to the concrete or classical world. I now realize it was not that I just wanted to reread the Upanishads but to understand and dwell on them. Thank you, Eknath Easwaran. You might want to do what you are not supposed to do with mysteries and go to the back of the book first to view the Glossary for pronunciations and the descriptions of all the different players. Be sure to read his other books. “The Bhagavad Gita (Classics of Indian Spirituality) “The Dhammapada (Classics of Indian Spirituality) “Classics of Indian Spirituality” ISBN-13: 9781586381394

Good introduction to the Upanishads

The Upanishads, regarded by Hindus as sacred scripture, are essential reading for anyone wishing to understand Eastern literature, philosophy and religion. The Upanishads are a series of works in dialogue format which explore the nature of the universe, the nature of the human soul and conciousness, God and Gods in Hindu belief, and also the appropriate religious duties of men. These works are often of varying length but with patience and read carefully, contain profound spiritual insights and also great philosophical interest. The Upanishads have influenced philosophers, poets, artists and writers including Emerson, Coleridge, Schopenhauer and Wittgenstein. They are also essential for understanding Buddhism, which in many ways is a reaction against Hindu philosophy and theology. This version of the Upanishads includes a good introduction by a scholar on Eastern literature as well as very useful explanatory notes, and an introduction to each chapter and book of the Upanishads. Also like other Oxford versions it is very affordable.

A Required Book For Any Collection of Eastern Wisdom

This book, along with its companion translations of the Dhammapada and Bhagavad Gita, also by Eknath Easwaran, should be required for any serious student of Eastern Wisdom. If you can't afford Swami Nikhilanandas multi-volume set of complete translations of every Upanishad, and even if you can, you should also have this volume on your shelf.