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What is that by knowing which everything in this vast universe is known? This question has something or other agitated all thinking persons. The hoary sages of ancient India, after deep and prolonged meditation, discovered the answer that by knowing Atman, the sole reality that sustains the universe, all is known; for the atman creates this universe and enters into it as soul. Atman also termed Brahman, the creator is the supreme soul; atman the created is the individual soul. The entire esoteric fabric of the Upanishads, which number more than a hundred, is woven around two concepts - that of the Brahman and the atman They urge the earnest seeker to strive for Brahma-atma-aikyam (unity of the Brahman and the Atman). As the path to this knowledge is best with perils and sharp as a razor's edge, the adept teachers commencing from such an insignificant trifle as a fig take their pupils through theology, cosmology, psychology and eschatology to that destination where all illusions vanish and the purport of laconic but profound statements like tat tvam as (that art thou), aham brahma asmi (I am Brahman) are realized. Countless philosophers, noteable being Badarayana the author of Brahma-sutras, have sought inspiration from the Upanishads for their system of philosophy.
The unabating popularity of Paul Deussen's The Philosophy of the Upanishads ever since its first publication in 1906 attests to the quality of its contents. This second edition is brought out to reach a wider circle of readers who desire to have a close acquaintance with the philosophy of the Upanishads.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE UPANISHADS | ||
The Second Period of Indian Philosophy, or The Continuance and Close of the Times of the Brahman | ||
Introduction to the Philosophy of The Upanishads | ||
I. The Place of the Upanishads in the Literature of the Veda | 1-15 | |
1. The Veda and its Divisions | 1 | |
2. Brahman, Aranyaka, Upanishad | 2 | |
3. The Upanishads of the three older Vedas | 5 | |
4. The Upanishads of the Atharvaveda | 7 | |
5. On the Meaning of the word Upanishad | 10 | |
II. Brief Summary of the History of the Upanishads | 16-38 | |
1. The earliest Origin of the Upanishads | 16 | |
2. The extant Upanishads | 22 | |
3. The Upanishads in Badarayana and Sankaras | 26 | |
4. The most important Collection of Upanishads | 33 | |
III. The Fundamental Conception of the Upanishads and its Significance. | 38-50 | |
1. The Fundamental Conception of the Upanishads | 38 | |
2. The Conception of the Upanishads in its relation to Philosophy | 50 | |
3. The Conception of the Upanishads in its relation to Religion | 44 | |
THE SYSTEM OF THE UPANISHADS | ||
Introduction | 51-53 | |
First Part : Theology, or the Doctrine of Brahman | ||
On the Possibility of Knowing Brahman | 54-85 | |
1. Is the Veda the Source of the Knowledge of Brahman? | 54 | |
2. Preparatory Means to a Knowledge of Brahman | 60 | |
3. Sacrifice | 61 | |
4. Asceticism (tapas) | 65 | |
5. Other Preliminary Conditions | 70 | |
6. The Standpoint of Ignorance, of Knowledge, and of superior Knowledge in relation to Brahman | 74 | |
The Search for Brahman | 85-99 | |
1. The Atman (Brahman) as the Unity | 85 | |
2. Balaki's Attempts at Explanation | 87 | |
3. Sakalya's Attempts at Explanation | 88 | |
4. Six inadequate Definitions | 89 | |
5. Definition of the Atman Vaisvanara | 90 | |
6. Narada's gradual Instruction | 92 | |
7. Three different Atmans | 94 | |
8. Five different Atmans | 97 | |
III. Symbolical Representations of Brahman | 99-125 | |
1. Introduction and Classification | 99 | |
2. Brahman as Prana and Vayu | 101 | |
3. Other Symbols of Brahman | 111 | |
4. Attempts to interpret the symbolical Representations of Brahman | 117 | |
5. Interpretations of and Substitutes for Ritual Practice | 119 | |
IV. The Essential Brahman | 126-157 | |
1. Introduction | 126 | |
2. Brahman as Being and not-Being, Reality and not-Reality | 128 | |
3. Brahman as Consciousness, Thought | 132 | |
4. Brahman as Bliss (ananda)Item Code: IDE423 Cover: Hardcover Edition: 1979 Publisher: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation Language: English Size: 8.8" X 5.8" Pages: 433[/product_video] |