Publication Date:May 1, 2000 Shipping:Eligible for Super Saver Shipping Promotion:Save $10.00 when you spend $50.00 or more on Qualifying Items offered by Amazon.com. Enter code BMLSAVES at checkout.Terms and Conditions Availability:In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served.
A delightful interpretation of a complex subjectJanuary 18, 2000 6 out of 7 found this review helpful
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the name Upanishad implies learning by sitting at the feet of the teacher. Upanishads record the views of a succession of Hindu teachers and sages from about 1000 BC to about 600 BC. The texts form the basis of much of later Indian philosophy and represent the final stage in the tradition of the Vedas. However, compared to Vedas themselves, the Upanishads are characterized by increased philosophical and mystical questioning and by their diminished concern with Vedic deities and sacrificial rites. The special philosophical concern of the Upanishads is with the nature of reality. The Upanishads broadly discus the nature of morality and of eternal life and incorporate themes such as the transmigration of souls and causality in creation. Against the above backdrop, this book is a delight to read. The author has beautifully brought out the essence of a very important piece of classic Hindu literature. The author's translation is authentic without getting into linguistic intricacies of Sanskrit, and simplified enough to enable the reader to grasp the original thought without compromising its philosophical integrity. The author's style, like that in his earlier Hindi books, is very refreshing. It is as though he is talking to his reader, which is consistent with the character of the Upanishads as described in the preceding para. I strongly recommend this book to any one who enjoys serious classic literature, whether he/she is familiar with the Hindu philosophy or not.
