The Upanishads: Distilled Hinduism
“The Upanishads - what (or who!) are they?”This would be the response of many Hindus of today if asked about the Upanishads!
The Upanishads are in fact Hindu scriptures. They can be thought of as portions of the Vedas, but are also separate texts in their own right. They form the basis of what is known as ‘Vedanta’, meaning ‘the end of the Vedas’, implying that the Upanishads can be thought of as the essence of the Vedas. They have a very important place in Hinduism, forming the basis of mainstream Hindu philosophy, and being accorded an authoritative status by most almost every sect.
July 3rd, 2006 at 7:50 am
The Upanishads are the culmination and the essence of the Hindu Dharma.
As the German Philosopher , Shaupenhauer(spelling) said …… the Upanishads has been the solace of my life, it will be the solace of my death.
I only wish that such lofty scientific and spiritual ideas found in the Upanishads and other Dharmic scriptures can reach the masses and not be restricted to the learned few. Therefore it is imperative that we turn Hinduism into a proslytising faith so that true spiritual faith can once again be established in the world by taking Hinduism to the people. However this can happen once we emmerse ourselves with the philosophy by seeing all with an equal eye by becoming more compassionate towards all fellow beings.
Om Shanti,Shanti,Shanti…….
July 3rd, 2006 at 7:21 pm
How is it that the principles and values of Vedanta Sutras (Upanishads) teach about the divinity of all men and women, yet the practice of Hinduism is based on the caste system distinguishing each individual as upper or lower in the caste hierarchy, thus discriminating people and segragating communities on caste basis? Such a system has gone on for centuries in the name of Hinduism. For centuries those in the upper caste who had the exclusive privilege of reading the Upanishads and should know better were and are responsible for dividing the Hindu society on such inhuman and cruel treatment of others. The philosophy of Hinduism is noble and humane, but the practice is immoral. I hope to God that such evil is eradicated. And, the gloriously beautiful religion of Hinduism be practiced in its true values. Thanks.
July 3rd, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Shall wait to hear your comments. Thanks
July 4th, 2006 at 6:52 am
There are a a variety of reasons like this. One is that human greed can ruin the best of ideals. We see that around the world. Like all the Western countries that have equality of all men as a founding principle, and talk vociferously about human rights - still their economic policies keep most of the world poor, and still they do business with sectarian dictators when it suits their “national interest” (rather than their ideology).
The other factor was the extreme poverty/chaos that hit India due to invasions that lasted the entire medieval era of Indian history. It put a strain on society that caused rigidification and darwinian survival behaviour. Before this era, the society was somewhat more relaxed.
July 4th, 2006 at 9:26 pm
“For centuries those in the upper caste who had the exclusive privilege of reading the Upanishads and should know better were and are responsible for dividing the Hindu society on such inhuman and cruel treatment of others.”
And how do you know that only upper castes had this privilege?, if that is the case then how is it that many Hindu saints came from lower castes?, let’s see we had Tiruvalluvar, then we had Kabir, Ravidas, Pipa, Dhanna, Namdev, all these people were well versed in the classics, although they were not obsessed with books for moksha, it is quite evident that many of them had read the Hindu classics. Then we had Sri Narayan Guru from Kerala, now from the same state we have Amma, injustices happened but this selective bashing and selective history should not go unchallenged, many of the Hindu heroes including Shivaji came from lower castes, which shouldn’t be the case if only upper castes ruled.
Injustices happen even today but somehow people selectively blame the upper castes (particularly the “evil” Brahmins) but what about injustices done by lower castes among themselves, would a Yadav ever marry a Chamar or would a Mahar marry someone who is also classified as SC but who is even below the Mahar?, I do not mean that all Mahars or Yadavs are like this but there must be some who are like this just like there are people like this among the upper castes, but somehow the blame is always selectively applied to upper castes.
July 5th, 2006 at 12:13 am
Just as one swallow does not make a summer, so too a handfull of “saints” from lower castes do not make for an egalitarian Hindu society. The Manava Dharma Shastras (Laws of Manu) forbids education and equal status not only for the lower castes, but also for women.
Gautama Dharma Shastra states” if a Sudra listens intentionally to a recitation of the Vedic texts, his ears shall be filled with lead, if he recites them his tongue shall be cut out. If he remembers them his body shall be split int twain”
As reasonable knowledgeable people let us accepts the facts. It is time now, in the present century, for all of us to help eradicate the wrongs, and set our society in the path towards the values of divinity in all, and the unity of mankind, as stated so beautifully in our Upanishads-the Vedanta Sutras, which is Shruti, and not the divisive Dharma Shastra which is smriti.
Vedanta Sutras is Sanatana Dharma, which is known as Hinduism.
July 5th, 2006 at 10:30 pm
I do not believe we are all equal. I do not believe that my mind is the same as that of a mentally handicapped person stooling on himself in a group home nor to that of Stephen Hawkins. It is yet another myth you are arguing. We are about equally ignorant before the supreme being but we have relative differences that become substantial in living. Krishna says 1/1000 try to seek SatCitAnanda. Of these 1/1000 suceed. Is that 1/1000000 the same as those that did not even try? How rediculous to propose so.
If you can be lucky enough to know the Upanishads exist, you may read them, and you may be lucky enough to grasp parts of them. To bring the awareness of the depth of truth down to political-econmic ethnocentric conflict of you and me is foolish - this is not Artha shastra. Does the variability of IQ tell you that the Caste system is correct? Do you think that the oppression of Caste is anywhere close to slavery, the selling of women and children, child labor, and the many genocides perpetrated by so called egalitarian societies?
Look at history seriously. Yes the use of genetic predisposition is problematic in life but it is the reality. The average IQ of college graduates is higher than non-grads. But in your need for equality do you argue that non-grads should become the doctors and lawyers? Do you want your leaders to have an IQ of 50 or 150? Of course what you are really saying is that there should be a meritocracy - a system based on demonstrated merit. But who established merit? - the status quo social clique of course. Society must have structure that must be based on raw (genetic) ability and demonstrated (effort based) ability. Call it Caste, class, merit, I don’t care. Which serious leader would do away with the wisdom of the oneness with God because it didn’t suit his political needs.
Now look at shastra seriuosly. The laws on Manu are the laws of Man (not god). They are part of a transient understanding of life and meaning. There have been many Manu’s. There have been many lawsboooks. Unlike biblical canons the book is full of discussion and caveats - ie a Brahmin is known by his actions not his birth. Ayurveda is the art of life which Gandhi Ji violated many times - does that mean he derided ayurveda? There is only one Gita and it specifically warns - don’t think that the end of a relgious life is the study of scriptures. You must go beyond the simple words printed.
You must split atoms and societies - your mind is to discern reality - but you can not split the Truth ergo Isa Upanishad - He who walks the path of the world misses the spiritual, He who walks the path of the spirtitual misses the world. You must do both to know the Truth (sorry for the paraphrase)
You refer to the practice of Hinduism. This is an intensely personal process taught by the Upanishads. Don’t get mired down into the mythology of the sociological bases of relgion. Hinduism is an antisocial stance - Sacrifice one man for a village, one village for a nation, one nation for the world, one world for the universe, and all the universes for the Self which is in you. Is there a more counter - social structural message?
hariaum
July 5th, 2006 at 11:04 pm
“Just as one swallow does not make a summer, so too a handfull of “saints” from lower castes do not make for an egalitarian Hindu society.”
So how many saints would satisfy you, what about Vyasa?, first we were told that lower castes weren’t allowed to read any scriptures but then I listed many lower caste Sants, now you claim that they are only a handful, why don’t you make a list for yourself of all the prominent Hindu Sants and see how many come from FC’s and how many come from lower castes instead of speaking like an authority.
“The Manava Dharma Shastras (Laws of Manu) forbids education and equal status not only for the lower castes, but also for women.
Gautama Dharma Shastra states” if a Sudra listens intentionally to a recitation of the Vedic texts, his ears shall be filled with lead, if he recites them his tongue shall be cut out. If he remembers them his body shall be split int twain”
As reasonable knowledgeable people let us accepts the facts.”
But for Manu Smriti to have any say in this matter it should have been used to make Laws, last time I checked not one Hindu kingdom I know used it to make laws, even the famous Vijayanagar kingdom didn’t, the Manu Smriti also states that the Dravidas were fallen Aryas, this includes South Indian upper castes (since they do come under Dravidas), but somehow we don’t see people using this to argue that South Indian upper castes were also oppressed.
Injustices will not be rectified by selective blame game, so called progressives never understand that which is why they never learned to appreciate people like Narayan Guru who being an Ezhava was denied entry into mandirs but instead of telling his caste people to forever wallow in self pity he instilled pride in them and told them to build their own mandirs, and told them that there is no need for them to beg anyone.
“In contrast to certain other reformers who critized Brahmins and upper caste Hindus for the conditions of the lower castes, Nārāyana Guru stressed on the upliftment of a community through its own efforts by the establishment of schools and temples.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narayana_Guru”
And today the Ezhavas are no longer in that position, but what recognition did the great soul get, nothing, while Ambedkar who was always busy blaming others gets all the recognition even though the Mahars have virtually stayed where they were in many ways and still face discrimination.
July 5th, 2006 at 11:47 pm
The essence of the Upanishads is the declaration of the divinity in man. The Mahavakyas express the the essential divinity of man and “form the basis of mainstream Hindu philosophy and is accorded an authoritative status”.
The Upanishads assert that all are equal. No one is superior or inferior. Even those who one regards as “handicapped” is divine. Even those who assume that they are superior have divinity in them.
This concept is so well expressed by our Hindu form of salutation- The palms of the hands held together to express the basic philosophy of the Upanishads, “my respects to the God in you”, which greeting is likewise reciprocated.
To treat others with respect is the basic tenet of our Hindu philosophy.