5 Philosophies From The Upanishads The World Needs Today

1. 5 Philosophies From The World NeedsToday The Upanishads The Upanishadsare part of the Vedas — the ancient and comprehensive collection of teachings from the gurus of the Vedicperiod. The Vedasthemselves actually predate Hinduism. They contain the mantras, chants, and lessons of the Vedic order. And the Upanishads are an important part of that order. In fact, they contain some of the most influential philosophical teachings of theage. What’s fascinating about the Upanishads is that even though its teachings are now thousands of years old, they are just as relevant today as they were backthen. We’re going to dive into the Upanishads to show you what they’re all about and what key lessons we can learn from these ancient, mystical textstoday.

2. What Are TheUpanishads? The Upanishads are a collection of writings composed in India between 800–500 BCE. They contain many of the most fundamental spiritual teachings of theage. The precise Upanishads definitionis difficult to pin down, partially in thanks to its ancient origins. In Sanskrit, Upanishad means: ―sitting down near,‖ or ―sitting close to.‖ The meaning alludes to the nature of the teachings. The lessons in the Upanishads were initially taught by spiritual sages and gurus. These gurus would sit to share their wisdom and insight with dedicatedstudents. Who Wrote TheUpanishads? Now, hang on a moment. If the Upanishads are a collection of writings, who wrotethem? Well, there’s no single person responsible for the writing of the Upanishads. There are over 200 Upanishads, and the task would have been next to impossible for just oneperson. Instead, the Upanishads were compiled by a group of poets, scholars, and students over the course of many years. Some of the noteworthy Upanishadic sages featured in the writings were Shwetaketu, Shandilya, Pippalada, and SanatKumara.

3. 5 Essential Upanishad Philosophies We Can Learn From Today The Upanishads belong to the Vedas, and are one of the most popular and beloved of the Vedic order. Why? Because the Upanishads urged those seeking Enlightenment to turn away from ritual sacrifice and asked individuals to instead lookinward. The lessons in the Upanishads are timeless. They’re just as powerful and applicable today as they were thousands of yearsago. Here are five core Upanishad philosophies we can learn a lot fromtoday. 1. Samsara,Reincarnation The concept of samsarais prevalent in the Upanishads. Samsara, Sanskrit for, ―wandering,‖ is the cycle ofbeing. It represents reincarnation, the concept adopted by several Eastern religions of being reborn after your die according to the karmic cycle. Regardless of your personal beliefs, there’s something important to be taken from the samsara. Samsara tells us that all of life is in flux. The great wheel of life continues to turn, and nothing is ever stagnant:

4. This vast universe is a wheel, the wheel of Brahman. Upon it are all creatures that are subject to birth, death, and rebirth. Round and round it turns, and neverstops. —Svetasvatara Upanishad1.6-8 Samsara suggests that energy cannot be destroyed or diminished. It is simply transmuted. And it really is quite a poetic perspective on the cycle of death andbirth. 2. Karma,Action Now, here’s a word you might be more familiar with. Karma, literally translated, means, ―action, work, or deed.‖ But it also refers to the spiritual doctrine of cause andeffect. The karmic cycle suggests that what you do today will influence your life tomorrow. And circling back to the concept of samsara, what you do today will also influence your nextlife. The karmic principle urges you to reflect on what you do before you do it. Each action matters, and what you do affects your life and the lives of those aroundyou.

5. 3. Dharma, Universallaw In the Upanishads, the concept of dharma represents order, truth, and ultimate universallaw. Dharma is a concept present in many spiritual beliefs, including Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. But for the Vedic order, dharma was a little bitdifferent. Dharma in the Upanishads represents a whole and complete truth that can’t be refuted. It is the social obligation we have toward one another, the invisible law that governs ouractions. Dharma encourages us to fulfill our role in society to the very utmost of our abilities, carrying ourselves with respect, empathy, andcourage.

6. 4. Moksha,Liberation Moksha, from the Sanskrit, ―liberation, enlightenment, release,‖ is a powerful concept from the Upanishads. Mokshais nirvana, the ultimate end of suffering. It represents the surpassing of all worldly pain, desire, and longing for true and ultimate peace. It is the final escape from the cycle of death and rebirth. For us today, moksha represents a state within the self. We are capable of making a hell or a heaven out of our time on this earth, and moksha is attainable if we learn to let go of our attachments. 5. Atman,Soul Atman is the true self beyond the identity of the ego. It’s who we are at our innermost core. It’s the life beneath the exterior facade; beneath the clothes, the family, the friends, the job, the hobbies, the memories, and the experiences. Beneath all we’ve come to identify with, atman represents something timeless anduntouchable: The eye cannot see it; the mind cannot grasp it. The deathless Self has neither caste nor race, neither eyes nor ears nor hands nor feet. Sages say this Self is infinite in the great and in the small, everlasting and changeless, the source of life. —Mundaka Upanishad1.1.6

7. It’s something we must strive to connect with and listen to. It’s something intangible but very real. What’s one of the best ways to connect with this true self that lies within? Mindfulness meditation. Deborah King, Author of Mindvalley’s Be A Modern Master Program, explains, ―All spiritual progress is born out of self-awareness.‖ Try some mindfulness meditationfor yourself to access the self beyond the ego. You may be surprised by what youfind.