Upanishads: At the Seat of the Teacher

600-300 BCE

The Upanishads are commentaries on the Vedas and are regarded as the final stage in their evolution. Thus, they are known as Vedanta meaning “the end of the Veda.” Ritualism becomes less important here and instead the emphasis is on teaching and explaining great systems of belief and developing a more intellectual tradition and inward focus for spiritual enlightenment. The Sanskrit term Upanishad translates as “sitting down near” implying seated at the foot of a guru (spiritual teacher). There are 112 existing Upanishads, the earliest were composed during the Vedic period, the remainders are more sectarian in nature and are believed to be written later.

The Upanishads are best known for presenting the concepts of Brahman (Absolute Reality) and Atman (individual Self). Brahman is the idea of one underlying supreme power as the essence of the universe. Atman is the part of Brahman that resides within us, the idea that we are one with the universe. The Upanishads also present the concept of reincarnation and reflect on the mystery of death. They emphasize the need for right action, wisdom, discipline and perseverance.

A key difference between the Samhitas and the Upanishads is that the Samhitas were externally focused upon the outer world and the Upanishads are internally focused. Rather than external ritual, they state the importance of inward focus for self-realization – that rituals cannot reach our true inner Self. The famous statements from the Upanishads, “Thou are That,” and “I am Brahman,” teach us that our real Self is part of the power that creates and sustains the universe. This oneness can be self-realized and is the purpose of our being. We don’t need outside forces, such as priests or organized religion to realize this. Yoga is mentioned as a path toward self-realization – “When the five senses and the mind are still, and reason itself rests in silence, then begins the Path supreme. This calm steadiness of the senses is called Yoga.” (Katha Upanishad)

The Upanishads contain the first description of Aum as the primal sound of the Universe, a divine vibration that underlies all existence. “Aum, this syllable is the whole world. The past, the present, the future – everything Is just the sound Aum”

For the first time in history, the Upanishads focused on studying the medium of knowing – the mind. Earlier teachings focused upon studying the objects of the natural world. The sages discovered that they could separate the mind and observe how it works as objectively as pondering any other object in the world. The four stages of consciousness are explored in the Mandukya Upanishad – waking, dreaming, sleeping and the deep sleep of higher consciousness. These four states are familiar to anyone who studies Transcendental Meditation.

The Prashna Upanishad describes the five prana vayus, the five kinds of vital energy in living things: prana (vital energy or life force), apana (downward force), samana (equalizing force), vyana (distributing force) and udana (upward force). The Shvetashvatara Upanishad names the three gunas or the three qualities of matter and energy whose interplay is in constant change: sattva (harmony, peace), rajas (energy, passion) and tamas (inertia, ignorance).

The Upanishads formed the basis for the six orthodox systems of Hinduism, including Yoga and Vedantaism, (orthodox Hindus accept the authority of the Vedas) and also non-brahmanic religious systems, like Jainism and Buddhism, which emerged later in the Epic period.

Guru

The Sanskrit word guru means “weighty one” as a guru’s teachings have significant weight or substance to them. Its Sanskrit roots: gu means darkness; and ru means the act of removal. Therefore a guru is the remover of darkness or ignorance. The guru guides the disciple on the path toward enlightenment. It is a title of reverence used to address spiritual teachers. The relationship of the guru and disciple is a sacred one and is to be respected by both the teacher and the student.

Study Guide Questions and Personal Reflections:

1. In terms of focus, what is the key difference between the Samhitas and the Upanishads?
2. Do you relate to the concepts of Atman and Brahman? How?
3. In your own life, what external rituals do you include on your path toward self-realization?

Vocabulary

• guru

Quotations

“Lead me from the unreal to the Real;
Lead me from darkness to light;
Lead me from death to immortality.”
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

“Thou art That.”
Chandogya Upanishad

“The word, Aum, is the universe. Everything that exists in the past, present and future is Aum; and that which exists beyond the threefold dimensions of time is Aum.”

Mandukya Upanishad