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Upanishads: Universal Insights
Part 3: The Principal Upanishads - I
In the Upanishads we can study the graceful conflict of thought with thought, the emergence of more satisfactory thought and the rejection of inadequate ideas. Hypotheses were advanced and rejected on the touchstone of experience and not at the dictate of a creed. Thus thought forged ahead to unravel the mystery of the world in which we live. Let's have a quick look at the 13 principal Upanishads:
Chandogya Upanishad
The Chandogya Upanishad is the Upanishad that
belongs to the followers of the Sama Veda. It is
actually the last eight chapters of the
ten-chapter Chandogya Brahmana, and it
emphasizes the importance of chanting the sacred
Aum, and recommends a religious life, which
constitutes sacrifice, austerity, charity, and the
study of the Vedas, while living in the house of a
guru. This Upanishad contains the doctrine of
reincarnation as an ethical consequence of
karma. It also lists and explains the value of
human attributes like speech, will, thought,
meditation, understanding, strength memory and
hope.
Kena Upanishad
The Kena Upanishad derives its name from the word
"Kena", meaning "by whom". It has four sections,
the first two in verse and the other two in prose.
The metrical portion deals with the Supreme
Unqualified Brahman, the absolute principle
underlying the world of phenomenon, and the prose
part deals with the Supreme as God, "Isvara". The
Kena Upanishad concludes, as Sandersen Beck puts
it, that austerity, restraint, and work are the
foundation of the mystical doctrine; the Vedas are
its limbs, and truth is its home. The one who
knows it strikes off evil and becomes established
in the most excellent, infinite, heavenly world.
Aitareya Upanishad
The Aitareya Upanishad belongs to the Rig Veda. It
is the purpose of this Upanishad to lead the mind
of the sacrificer away from the outer ceremonial
to its inner meaning. It deals with the genesis of
the universe and the creation of life, the senses,
the organs and the organisms. It also tries to
delve into the identity of the intelligence that
allows us to see, speak, smell, hear and know.
Kaushitaki Upanishad
The Kaushitaki Upanishad explores the question
whether there is an end to the cycle of
reincarnation, and upholds the supremacy of
the soul ("atman"), which is ultimately
responsible for everything it experiences.
Katha Upanishad
Katha Upanishad, which belongs to the Yajur Veda,
consists of two chapters, each of which has three
sections. It employs an ancient story from the Rig
Veda about a father who gives his son to death (Yama),
while bringing out some of the highest teachings
of mystical spirituality. There are some passages
common to the Gita and Katha Upanishad. Psychology is
explained here by using the analogy of a chariot.
The soul is the lord of the chariot, which is the
body; the intuition is the chariot-driver, the
mind the reins, the senses the horses, and the
objects of the senses the paths. Those whose minds
are undisciplined never reach their goal, and go
on to reincarnate. The wise and the disciplined,
it says, obtain their goal and are freed from the
cycle of rebirth.
Mundaka Upanishad
The Mundaka Upanishad belongs to the Atharva Veda
and has three chapters, each of which has two
sections. The name is derived from the root "mund"
(to shave) as he that comprehends the teaching of
the Upanishad is shaved or liberated from error
and ignorance. The Upanishad clearly states the
distinction between the higher knowledge of the
Supreme Brahman and the lower knowledge of the
empirical world — the six "Vedangas" of phonetics,
ritual, grammar, definition, metrics, and
astrology. It is by this higher wisdom and not by
sacrifices or worship, which are here considered
"unsafe boats", that one can reach the Brahman.
Like the Katha, the Mundaka Upanishad warns
against "the ignorance of thinking oneself learned
and going around deluded like the blind leading
the blind". Only an ascetic ("sanyasi") who has
given up everything can obtain the highest
knowledge.
Taittiriya Upanishad
The Taittiriya Upanishad is also part of the Yajur
Veda. It is divided into three sections: The first
deals with the science of phonetics and
pronunciation, the second and the third deal with
the knowledge of the Supreme Self ("Paramatmajnana").
Once again, here, Aum is emphasized as peace of the soul, and
the prayers end with Aum and the chanting of peace
("Shanti") thrice, often preceded by the thought,
"May we never hate." There is a debate regarding
the relative importance of seeking the truth,
going through austerity and studying the Vedas.
One teacher says truth is first, another
austerity, and a third claims that study and
teaching of the Veda is first, because it includes
austerity and discipline. Finally, it says that
the highest goal is to know the Brahman, for that
is truth.