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.

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.

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 ...