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The Upanishads

Name: The Upanishads
Price: 13.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781586380212

✍️ Easwaran, Eknath

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$13.95 ~~$17.00~~ Save $3.05 (17%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This edition presents a vital collection of ancient Indian spiritual texts, offering direct insights from enlightened masters. Through their profound explorations of consciousness, these writings illuminate a transcendent Reality, revealing the eternal Self inherent in all beings—a Self intrinsically connected to the universal creative force. Easwaran's acclaimed translation makes these profound teachings accessible, providing essential context, detailed introductions, and a glossary for contemporary seekers.

Easwaran, Eknath

📚 all books by this author (7) →

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Sacred Texts

Praise for this book

“No one in modern times is more qualified - no, make that 'as qualified' - to translate the epochal Classics of Indian Spirituality than Eknath Easwaran. And the reason is clear. It is impossible to get to the heart of those classics unless you live them, and he did live them. My admiration of the man and his works is boundless.”

— Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions

🏛 Nilgiri Press 📅 2007 📖 384 pages 🌐 en 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781586380212

Fun Fact

Easwaran's translation truly excels in making these profound ancient texts accessible and relevant for contemporary seekers. His clear prose, combined with excellent historical context and scholarly aids, makes complex philosophical concepts digestible without sacrificing depth. While purists seeking a complete, uninterpreted academic translation might look elsewhere, this edition brilliantly serves as an indispensable entry point and companion for anyone exploring the spiritual heart of Hinduism and universal wisdom traditions.

📝 Description: The Upanishads

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 experience directly 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 best-selling translation of selections taken from the principal Upanishads and five others is reliable and accessible. It 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, and their relevance to the modern reader, that makes this edition truly outstanding. Each sage, each Upanishad, appeals in different ways to the reader's head and heart. As Easwaran writes, "The Upanishads belong not just to Hinduism. They are India's most precious legacy to humanity, and in that spirit they are offered here."

📑 What's inside

Foreword 7
Introduction 13
ISHA 51
The Inner Ruler
KATHA 61
Death as Teacher
BRIHADARANYAKA 93
The Forest of Wisdom
CHANDOGYA 119
SacredSong
SHVETASHVATARA 153
The Faces of God
MUNDAKA 179
Modes of Knowing
MANDUKYA 197
Consciousness& Its Phases
KENA 207
WhoMoves the World?
PRASHNA 219
The Breathof Life
TAITTIRIYA 239
Ascentto Joy
AITAREYA 263
TheUnity of Life
MINOR UPANISHADS
Beads of Wisdom
TEJOBINDU 283
ATMA 286
AMRITABINDU
288
PARAMAHAMSA 291
Afterword 295
A Religion
for Modern Times
by Michael N. Nagler
Glossary 337
Notes 345
Index377

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This translation succeeds in its primary goal: making ancient Indian wisdom approachable for the modern reader. Easwaran’s clear prose and supportive apparatus—such as introductions and glossaries—demystify complex metaphysical concepts, rendering them relevant to contemporary spiritual practice. However, scholars or readers seeking rigorous academic critique, historical philology, or untranslated primary source analysis will find this work lacking in depth. It is not suited for those who prefer challenging, dense philosophical treatises over accessible guidance. Instead, it stands as a gentle, inviting introduction for the sincere seeker rather than a definitive scholarly reference.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Contemporary seekers yearning for accessible entry points into profound spiritual philosophy will find this edition invaluable. Eknath Easwaran’s acclaimed translation strips away linguistic barriers, making these ancient insights directly available to modern minds. The inclusion of essential context and detailed introductions ensures that readers do not merely skim the surface but truly grasp the transcendent Reality described within. Those seeking to understand the eternal Self inherent in all beings will appreciate the clarity provided by the glossary and explanatory notes. This book serves as a bridge, allowing those new to Eastern wisdom to connect with the universal creative force without feeling overwhelmed by dense academic jargon or obscure terminology.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you seek profound spiritual truths, an understanding of your inner nature, and a connection to universal consciousness, this book is for you. It's essential reading for anyone exploring Eastern philosophy, meditation, or the timeless quest for self-realization.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This translation succeeds in its primary goal: making ancient Indian wisdom approachable for the modern reader. Easwaran’s clear prose and supportive apparatus—such as introductions and glossaries—demystify complex metaphysical concepts, rendering them relevant to contemporary spiritual practice. However, scholars or readers seeking rigorous academic critique, historical philology, or untranslated primary source analysis will find this work lacking in depth. It is not suited for those who prefer challenging, dense philosophical treatises over accessible guidance. Instead, it stands as a gentle, inviting introduction for the sincere seeker rather than a definitive scholarly reference.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Easwaran's rendition is celebrated for its clarity and accessibility, making these complex ancient texts understandable to contemporary audiences. His profound grasp of the material allows him to convey the spiritual depth effectively, complemented by valuable contextual insights and study aids.

This edition offers a curated selection from the most influential principal Upanishads, alongside several other significant texts. It provides a comprehensive introduction to their core teachings rather than an exhaustive, complete collection of all 108+ Upanishads.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Nature of Consciousness

These texts delve into the deepest layers of human awareness, presenting the direct spiritual experiences of ancient seers. They offer a profound inquiry into what consciousness truly is, moving beyond everyday perception to explore its transcendent, universal aspects as the ground of all existence.

The Eternal Self

At the core of the Upanishads is the revolutionary concept of Atman, the individual soul, as identical with Brahman, the ultimate reality. The sages illuminate how our true essence is not merely mortal but an eternal, deathless spark of the divine, interconnected with all creation.

Path to Transcendence

Beyond philosophical exposition, the Upanishads provide guidance for realizing this ultimate truth. They describe various paths and insights that lead to a direct experience of the transcendent Reality, fostering liberation from worldly limitations and a profound sense of unity with the cosmos.

📜 Historical context

Emerging from ancient India between 800 and 200 BCE, the Upanishads represent the foundational philosophical core of Hinduism, marking a pivotal shift from Vedic ritualism to introspective inquiry. They form the concluding part of the Vedas, hence "Vedanta" (end of the Vedas), laying the groundwork for much of subsequent Indian spiritual thought and practice.

📚 Glossary

Brahman
Atman
Vedanta

📔 Questions to reflect on

How does the concept of an eternal, deathless Self resonate with your personal understanding of identity and existence?
Reflect on moments when you've experienced a sense of profound interconnectedness or unity. How might these moments relate to the Upanishadic idea of a transcendent Reality?
The Upanishads explore consciousness deeply. What practices or inquiries help you investigate the nature of your own awareness?