Translation of the 11 major Upanishads with notes, detailed introductions and explanations based on interpretations of 8th century philosopher and mystic, Sankaracharya.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
Will add incomparable riches to any mind which contemplates it. -- Thomas Sugrue, New York Times Book Review
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Athoritative Translation,
By James Foard (Medford, Oregon) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Upanishads, Vol. I-IV (4 Volume Set) (Hardcover)
To have a work of this philosophic profoundness translated by someone who was himself steeped in the very same tradition as the work that he is translating is a privelege.Swami Nikhilananda was a genuine Hindu holy man who was also a scholar and he brings to this translation rare insights that can only be found from the actual experience of what he is writing of. Be careful of premature comparisons between the Upanishads and the teachings of Buddhism: While there are similarities between both traditions, they are each distinct and have their own value and integrity as religious systems and both make a decided contribution to the wisdom of the religions of the east.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most important text of Vedanta,
This review is from: The Upanishads, Vol. I-IV (4 Volume Set) (Hardcover)
The Upanishads are the most important text of Vedanta. The Triple Canon of Vedanta (Prasthana Traya) include: (1) the Upanishads, (2) the Bhagavad Gita, and (3) the Brahma Sutras. The Upanishads are considered the revealed scriptures and so referred to as 'Sruti Prasthana'. The Bhagavad Gita is the recollected scripture and hence referred to as 'Smriti Prasthana'. The Brahma Sutras use logic and reasoning to discuss the Sruti and so called 'Nyaya Prasthana'. The best commentary to these three was written by the 7th or 8th century Sage, Swami Adi Sankara. Any serious student of Vedanta should have all these three books with Sankara's commentary.
Adi Sankara selected 11 Upanishads and wrote commentary on them and called them 'the Major Upanishads'. This four volume set contains all the major Upanishads with notes based on Sankara's commentary. Swami Nikhilananda's translation is superb. Rather than literally translate Sankara's commentary, he has chosen to place 'notes' based on Sankara's commentary and this makes the text very readable. He has added explanations to Sankara's commentary, which I feel are essential for modern readers. Another feature of this 4 volume set is Nikhilananda's extensive introductions on the concept of Brahman as portrayed in Vedic scriptures and also on other aspects of Veda Dharma (i.e., the religion based on the Vedas). The central message of the Upanishads is that Brahman (God) is the only Reality. As you read through these 4 volumes, you will enjoy among other things: Nachiketa's conversations with Yama on the Supreme Secrets of life and death in Katha Upanishad, profound discussions of the transcendental turiya state in Mandukya Upanishad, beautiful conversations of King Janaka with Sage Yajnavalkya in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and discussions of the five sheaths that 'conceal' the Supreme Reality in Taittiriya Upanishad. The Section on the short but extremely important Upanishad, Mandukya, also contains Gaudapada's Karika or commentary. (Gaudapada is Sankara's Guru's Guru). To conclude, this 4 volume edition is the most comprehensive as well as best available English translation of the Major Upanishads with notes based on Sankara's commentary.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A superb 4-volume set still in print at a reasonable price,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Upanishads, Vol. I-IV (4 Volume Set) (Hardcover)
This is a superb edition of the Upanishads and I have little to add to what other reviewers have already said except to suggest that readers ignore the insane prices being asked for these books by certain demented Amazon sellers.
Swami Nikhilananda's well-known 4-Volume Set of translations of eleven Upanishads, with detailed verse-by-verse commentaries, remains in print at the time of writing and is available as separate reasonably priced volumes from both ramakrishna.org and vedanta.com I might add that these are hardback volumes (mine are bound in cloth), stitched in the traditional way so that they actually open flat as books should, and well-printed on quality paper; in other words, unlike so much of the stuff being foisted off on us today by unscrupulous publishers, they are real books that are a pleasure to handle and will last. For alternative editions see my Listmania list on the Upanishads.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
(learn more)
sattva particles, unillumined person, association with máyá, unmanifested prakriti, illusory superimposition, determinative faculty, such spiritual disciplines, relative universe, lower knowledge, relative immortality, mighty rule, root sad, third boon, second boon, ritualistic worship, unitive knowledge, manifold universe, illumined soul, tangible universe, ritualistic action, inmost self, inner calmness Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Pure Consciousness, Saguna Brahman, Supreme Self, Higher Knowledge, King of Death, World Soul, Supreme Lord, Highest Good, Knowledge of Atman, May Brahman, Non-dualistic Vedanta, Cosmic Mind, Brahman Itself, Great Atman, Nirguna Brahman, Way of the Gods, Lord Himself, Personal God, World of the Fathers, Northern Path, Plane of the Deities, Plane of the Moon, Supreme Bliss, Therefore Brahman New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
sattva particles, unillumined person, association with máyá, unmanifested prakriti, illusory superimposition, determinative faculty, such spiritual disciplines, relative universe, lower knowledge, relative immortality, mighty rule, root sad, third boon, second boon, ritualistic worship, unitive knowledge, manifold universe, illumined soul, tangible universe, ritualistic action, inmost self, inner calmness Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Pure Consciousness, Saguna Brahman, Supreme Self, Higher Knowledge, King of Death, World Soul, Supreme Lord, Highest Good, Knowledge of Atman, May Brahman, Non-dualistic Vedanta, Cosmic Mind, Brahman Itself, Great Atman, Nirguna Brahman, Way of the Gods, Lord Himself, Personal God, World of the Fathers, Northern Path, Plane of the Deities, Plane of the Moon, Supreme Bliss, Therefore Brahman New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Listmania!
|
|
