The Upanishads

A collection of 112 texts, the Upanishads (meaning “Sitting Near a Sage or Teacher”) are a key theological and philosophical work in Hinduism. Using proverbs and dialogues between sages and other individuals, they convey ideas about the divine (called the “Spirit” or “Brahman” throughout the texts), faith, spirituality, and the unity of existence that are still at the heart of Hindu belief and Indian philosophical thought to this day. These include the importance of awareness of Brahman even over religious ritual; karma and the cycle of death and rebirth; how an individual soul can transcend the cycle of rebirth through an awareness of Brahman and the Atman (the eternal self); and how Brahman exists both beyond and within the universe and every living being. The texts thus explore themes such as Ultimate Reality Within the Individual, The Importance of Knowledge in Spiritual Liberation, The Cyclical Nature of Life and Death, and The Guidance of Moral Principles.

The Upanishads were originally written in the ancient language of Sanskrit. While the exact dating of the Upanishads is a matter of scholarly debate, the oldest texts are dated as far back as the 9th century BCE and the newest texts are believed to have been written as late as the 16th century CE.