Readin' Upanishads

[HeWhoSearches]

I just started reading The Upanishads. If theres anything I should know before getting to far, such as terms, customs, ect., they would be good to know so I don't confuse myself entirely.

Also, should there be anything I should read after it; or even stop reading it and read something else first.

So far, it's been preety interesting. There was one section, I'll have to go find it again, that made my heart swell and I start to tear.

 

[indianx]

There was one section, I'll have to go find it again, that made my heart swell and I start to tear.

Lol, nice. Are you reading them online or as a book?

 

[coolbodhi]

I just started reading The Upanishads. If theres anything I should know before getting to far, such as terms, customs, ect., they would be good to know so I don't confuse myself entirely.

Also, should there be anything I should read after it; or even stop reading it and read something else first.

So far, it's been preety interesting. There was one section, I'll have to go find it again, that made my heart swell and I start to tear.

Which Upanishad are you reading?

 

[HeWhoSearches]

A book, one I bought from Borders.

Umm.... I think it contains all of them. It's a preety big book. I guess when I stopped I had read one and a half of one. What they are, I'd have to find out, because my book is in my bag, and my bag is in my car. And its cold outside....

 

[coolbodhi]

A book, one I bought from Borders.

Umm.... I think it contains all of them. It's a preety big book. I guess when I stopped I had read one and a half of one. What they are, I'd have to find out, because my book is in my bag, and my bag is in my car. And its cold outside....

Okay

I like katha upanishad.

 

[Theowne]

Have you read other scriptures?

 

[indianx]

Thanks for your post.

Do you remember if it was Max Mueller's translation, by any chance, off the top of your head?

 

[HeWhoSearches]

Have you read other scriptures?

Alas no.

 

[coolbodhi]

Have you read other scriptures?

me? not yet. I am reading Gita though. It's kinda confusing sometimes.

 

[HeWhoSearches]

Thanks for your post.

Do you remember if it was Max Mueller's translation, by any chance, off the top of your head?

I don't think so. It was some guy who had a meditation retreat in California. Blue Mountain? He's written books on a bunch of things if I remember correctly.

 

[Theowne]

me? not yet. I am reading Gita though. It's kinda confusing sometimes.

Was actually asking original poster, but yeah, the Gita can be overwhelming at times. I suggest you try the Bhagavad Gita: As it Is translation by A.C.B.S. Prabhupada. It explains it very well as you read.

 

[rahul_sharma]

Alas no.

I would suggest you to read Bhagavad Gita also along with them or after them. Are you reading just translations or with commentries?

This link has nice commentries on Isha Upanishad and Katha Upanishad and an introduction to Upanishads.
http://www.atmajyoti.org/spirwrit_hinduism.asp

 

[indianx]

Eknath Easwaran? Nice choice.

 

[HeWhoSearches]

I would suggest you to read Bhagavad Gita also along with them or after them. Are you reading just translations or with commentries?

This link has nice commentries on Isha Upanishad and Katha Upanishad and an introduction to Upanishads.
http://www.atmajyoti.org/spirwrit_hinduism.asp

It's translations and commentaries.

I almost bought the Bhagavad Gita, but I was trying to choose a book from different relgions. The Upanishads was bigger than it to, and I wanted something that would last kinda long.

As I was reading, it would speak of Atman, the Self, ect. It seems that it tries to express they were the same thing, are they? If not, why not just use one word? Then yet it seemed to say they were different....

Thank goodness, a Hindu has come

 

[rahul_sharma]

As I was reading, it would speak of Atman, the Self, ect. It seems that it tries to express they were the same thing, are they? If not, why not just use one word?

Yes , they are trying to speak of same thing.
Also, Atman is sometime non-techinacally refer to the commonsense self which represents the individual as opposed to other beings or to the envoirnment. Upanishadic writers would frequently stress the difference between oneself (ego-bound) and the True Self (Atman).

Read this...
http://www.hinduism.co.za/self-.htm

Thank goodness, a Hindu has come

Many others are also hindus. Many Hindus prefer to use actual traditional name Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Laws) rather than Hinduism. So, you will find many hindus opting for other religion faith icon.

 

[HeWhoSearches]

Yes , they are trying to speak of same thing.
Also, Atman is sometime non-techinacally refer to the commonsense self which represents the individual as opposed to other beings or to the envoirnment. Upanishadic writers would frequently stress the difference between oneself (ego-bound) and the True Self (Atman).

Alright.

Many others are also hindus. Many Hindus prefer to use actual traditional name Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Laws) rather than Hinduism. So, you will find many hindus opting for other religion faith icon.

Alright.

After thinking for a minute. It seems that the Upanishads follows a style I've seen before. Or rather, someone else follows the Upanishads style.

It reminded me of reading Plato and his dialouges.

Anyway, I have to go outside, so I guess I'll get the book. I'll read some more and come back with any questions I may have.

 

[HeWhoSearches]

I started reading the Katha Upanishad, as some of ya'll have spoke of. I found it very interesting indeed.

Especially one section:

"In the secret cave of the heart, two are seated by life's fountain. The seperate ego drink of the sweet and bitter stuff liking the sweet, disliking the bitter, while the supreme Self drinks sweet and bitter, neither liking this nor disliking that...

What I have gathered is that our concious self sets bounds on things one likes. But that the Self "likes" all things equally and knows no preference.

...Know the Self as lord of the chariot, the body as the chariot itself, the discriminating intellect as charioteer, and the mind is reins. The senses, say the wise, are the horses; Selfish desires are the roads they travel."

Reading this has allowed me to put something into words.

My chariot has crashed....

 

[Born_to_Lose_Live_to_Win]

I just started reading The Upanishads. If theres anything I should know before getting to far, such as terms, customs, ect., they would be good to know so I don't confuse myself entirely.

Also, should there be anything I should read after it; or even stop reading it and read something else first.

So far, it's been preety interesting. There was one section, I'll have to go find it again, that made my heart swell and I start to tear.

The most important thing to keep in mind is to avoid explanations(to the actual Upanishadic verses) by people who have a vested interest in mind, I mean, like the ISKCONers. The Upanishads talk about 'Brahman' but after reading an explanation by by an ISKCONite, you'll think as though it is directed towards Krishna. Even though in the ultimate sense it is all the same ( Krishna or Brahman) we should not confuse between the Upanishads and Srila Prabhupadajeee. JMHO.

 

[Theowne]

So, you will find many hindus opting for other religion faith icon.

I would change to the Hindu icon but I don't know how

 

[HeWhoSearches]

I dont even see a way to change.