The Hindu
Enlightenment Series
The Hindu Upanishads are among the best known and most beloved philosophical/religious/spiritual works in the world. They are also among the oldest, predating the earliest known works of Greek philosophy.
Though not well known by the masses, the teachings contained within their pages have influenced some of the greatest minds of our time, including T.S. Elliot, Leo Tolstoy, Albert Einstein, Arthur Schopenhauer, Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and John Adams, just to name a few. They have also influenced Buddhism, the modern “New Age” movement, and just about every other religion that we know of today.
The goal of this series is to help you experience the “fountainhead” of modern spiritual thought for yourself, but in a greatly simplified manner. I plan to produce my interpretations of the twelve main Upanishads. (There are one hundred and eight in total.)
The theme of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is to "lead us from the unreal to the Real; from darkness to Light; from mortality to Immortality."
This work shows us how to approach, observe, and thereby understand life in a slightly different manner. Successfully attain this shift in mindset and we are told that we will discover the purpose of our existence, along with our true identity ... which is immortal and impervious to the elements, trials, and tribulations of this world.
All of the Upanishads put forth the same basic concept, but each one focuses on a specific aspect of the overall theme ... each Upanishad goes into detail on a different lesson or two.
The Chandogya Upanishad focuses on the purpose of our journey on earth, the purpose of our obstacles (the purpose of our trials and tribulations), and what awaits us at the end. It also outlines the understandings that gave rise to the masters of this world and how you can become one yourself.
Once we understand the purpose of our obstacles and the reward for overcoming them, we are told we will no longer dread them or wish to avoid them, but instead look forward to them as our next chance to progress another step towards enlightenment and mastery.
The Taittiriya Upanishad is a bit more detailed than the other Upanishads. It delves into the "Alphabet of Existence" ... the root "Sounds of Creation".
Nikola Tesla once said that “If you want to uncover the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.” This work does just that.
All that exists is made up of atoms, which are made up of subatomic particles. Both are vibrating at specific rates, modes, rhythms, and frequencies.
The specific rates, modes, rhythms, and frequencies of clumps of subatomic particles determine the atoms they form; the specific rates, modes, rhythms, and frequencies of these clumps of atoms determine the compounds they form.
All vibrations produce sounds.
This work introduces us to the vibrational patterns, frequencies, and tones put off by God, Heaven, the Astral Plane, the material plane, and everything found within them.
Learn to vet out and align your attention with these vibrational signatures and the tones they produce (which exist right now before you; you just do not yet know how to listen for them) and you will align with and experience their "beingnesses" intimately ... you will travel beyond the vibrational pattern of your current state of consciousness and experience other states of consciousness. This work shows you how.
Like the Taittiriya Upanishad, The Aitareya Upanishad is also a bit more detailed.
The Aitereya Upanishad goes into the Hindu concept of Creation and evolution. The Hindu portrayal of both of are at odds with the beliefs of modern Western religions.
The original work was extremely brief. It contained concepts that were known by those living back when it was written, so the concepts were not extrapolated upon ... they were not explained to any degree.
In order to make these concepts accessible to modern readers, I expanded on the original text.
The Kaushitaki Upanishad is a bit shorter and more direct than the others. It required less explanation.
This work goes into the individual steps required to reach enlightenment in general, the obstacles to be expected, how to recognize plateaus and break through each one, the limitations of the waking mind and how to wade beyond, the purpose of imagination and dreaming, and so much more.
Direct, to the point, and filled with information that is immediately practical, applicable, and accessible, The Kaushitaki Upanishad is a treasure.
The Kena Upanishad is also simpler and therefore less detailed.
This work explains the manner in which our thoughts shape the reality we perceive.
By transcending our thoughts, the Hindus say we can access a deeper reality—a reality that resides far beyond ordinary experience. This reality, they say, is the true Reality. The reality of our thoughts and senses is but a shadow begin cast off by the true Source of existence.
How does one transcend one's thoughts and senses? This is the focus of The Kena Upanishad.
The Bhagavad Gita has been called the "Song of God". It has also been called the "New Testament" of the Hindu religion. It is not an Upanishad, but a culmination of the Upanishads ... along with insights added after they were written.
The lessons within this work are given through the telling of a story, which takes place on a symbolic battlefield ... the "Battlefield of Life".
Arjuna, the protagonist, is exhausted and disillusioned by the "war"; by the trials tribulations, and struggles of living. Get through with one "battle" and another is not far behind. What is the point? Why not just give up? There seems to be no point.
Krishna, the Messiah, comes to Arjuna in his time of need. Krishna explains to Arjuna the purpose of life, the purpose of his struggles, and the reward obtained if he is victorious. Krishna summarizes the lessons of the Upanishads, yet also adds to them.
"Fight, Arjuna .... Fight!" Krishna tells Arjuna. "It is why you are here! You have been designed for this "battle"! In fact, you have been designed to win! Nothing has been placed in your in your path that you cannot overcome. It won't be easy. It will take some grit, but face your fears! Face your obstacles! Make them fear you! Do this and success, along with the ultimate prize, is assured."
Thousands of years after this work was written, the lessons contained within The Bhagavad Gita remain immediately applicable and practical to the fundamental dilemmas, struggles, and angst we all face. Arjuna is each and every one of us, at some point in our lives.
The Bhagavad Gita 101 is another of my most popular works and can be read before or between the others.
Explore the Hermes Trismegistus books, which is part of my Egyptian Enlightenment series.