The Upanishads

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

Book Overview

An "Upanisad" is a teaching session with a guru, and the thirteen texts of the "Principal Upanisads"--which comprise this volume--form a series of philosophical discourses between teacher and student that question the inner meaning of the world. Composed beginning around the eighth century BCE, the Upanisads have been central to the development of Hinduism, exploring its central doctrines: rebirth, karma, overcoming death, and achieving detachment, equilibrium, and spiritual bliss. Speaking to the reader in direct, unadorned prose or lucid verse, the Upanisads collected here embody humanity's perennial search for truth and knowledge.

Valerie Roebuck's powerful new translation blends accuracy with readability and retains the oral style of these stirring and profound philosophical explorations. This volume includes an introduction to the text, information on Sanskrit pronunciation, suggestions for further reading, explanatory notes, and a glossary.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140447490
• ISBN13: 9780140447491
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Length: 592 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.9" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

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.

Reality

The Atman is the Soul. It is our real Self, God residing within us. We are to submerge the ego, and discover the Atman (Self). Uncovering the Self leads to nirvana, or enlightenment. This is the essence of this book. We will differentiate between what is Real (unchanging)and what is illusory (changeable). And as Jesus said, the Truth will set you free ...