Customer Reviews

Upanishads, Volume 1

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There are numerous translations of the Upanishads extant, and each that I have had the privilege to inspect has much to offer. My favorite, however, for overall presentation and scholarship is Nikhilananda's four volume masterpiece published by the Ramakrishna-Vedanta Center of New York beginning in 1949. The first volume contains the Katha, Kena, and Mundaka Upanishads, along with the majestic eighty-one page introductory essay, "Discussion of Brahman in the Upanishads", and a General Introduction to the entire work. The second volume contains the Svetasvatara, Prasna, and Mandukya Upanishads, and another searching and informative introduction embodying a study of Vedic ethics. The third volume contains the Aitareya and Brihadaranyaka Upanishads with another awesome introductory essay discussing the value of rituals and symbols for the contemplation of Brahman. The fourth volume contains the Taittiriya and Chandogya Upanishads and an essay discussing ritual and contemplative worship as steps leading to the knowledge of Brahman. The translation has been decribed by leading authorities in the field over the years as clear, literal, and vigorous - to these observations, I would add radiant and inspiring. Nikhilananda's own commentaries are succinct and incisive. Nikhilananda's translations of Sankara's commentaries are considered definitive. In the words of one academic reviewer, "The special value of the translation lies in the infusion of the author's dual quality - that of a practiced mystic and religious scholar. The use of Sankara's commentaries makes as it were for another dimension - as of a vastly competent Thomas Aquinas winnowing the scriptural chaff from the kernel of reality."
If you're considering a multi-volume edition of the Upanishads for your library, check out the Nikhilananda. Although the one-volume Centenary Edition of Radhakrishnan's translation is masterful, great, and deserves honorable mention, I value Nikhilananda's guiding light and incredible introductory essays as among the most useful tools available for understanding the Upanishads in a myriad of ways, and, in the final analysis, I would not want to be without them when approaching this seminal and always challenging text.

This book provides an excellent treatment of what the vedantas call "Brahman". This latter term indeed represents the concept of "emptiness" or "Self" in the buddhist literature. This first volume of a series of four presents the general philosophy of the Upanishads by explaining the terms used throughout the four volumes of the series. The meaning of the text is by no means easy to grasp and the intent is not there. For getting into the depth of the text one should really have some knowledge of the historical context of India at that time and be able to make the difference between what is written and what is meant.
A historical book about Hindu history and philosophy is a prerequisite...but this work deserves the time spent on it...
Don't be discouraged by its cryptic style...the subject is deep...

This is probably the best introduction to Indian religious philosophy possible, maybe the best introduction to religion and philosophy in general. It could be said that most of Western thought consists of a series of annotations to the Upanishads.

For example: compare the section where Yama offers the world and is refused to the New Testament verses where Satan offers Jesus the world. Compare the explanation of Atman as being like an Indian fig tree (the one-tree forest) to Jesus' statement "I am the vine, ye are the branches." Compare the verse that Atman "Is called the Bright; there is no path to Brahman outside of Atman" to "I am the Way and the Truth and the Light; none come to the Father except through me."

After a while, you might realize that the Upanishads are the source text of the New Testament.

Or you may not.