Isa Upanishad

by Anonymous, Brahmrishi Vishvatma Bawra, William Milcetich (Editor)

The Isa Upanishad is the primary exposition on Brahman, the Supreme Self, and therefore, Vedanta. The Supreme Self, is the source of each and every life. He is our loving friend and most dear and near to us. He is the support of our lives. There has never been nor be any time when we are separate from the Supreme Self. It is impossible. We are from Him and He dwells within us as our individual self. We only need to turn and recognize this truth and attain the direct experience that is available to every human being.
There is no distinction in class, community or gender in the pursuit of eternal truth. Vedanta is for all who are eager to attain the Supreme. According to the Vedas the entire human race is one class. We all have an intellect to guide us toward the realization of truth. The same Supreme Self dwells within each of us. There is no place in this teaching for higher or lower status. Any seeker devoted to truth can practice restraint and become detached from the world in order to know, to see and to attain the Supreme Self. This is the proclamation of Vedanta, and is the teaching of the Upanishads.

Genres: Religion, Philosophy, Hinduism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Devotional, Collections

114 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 800

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:

* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author

Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.

See also: Anonymous

Reviews

[Homo Sentimentalis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Onaj ko sve sustavno gleda u odnosu sa Svevišnjim Gospodinom, ko sva živa bića vidi kao Njegove sastavne djeliće i ko u svemu vidi Svevišnjega Gospodina, nikada ništa i nikoga ne mrzi."

Upanišade su filozofski dijelovi Veda, a ovo je vjerovatno najpoznatija i najčešće komentarisana od njih ukupno 223. Sastoji se od osamnaest kratkih poruka, takozvanih mantri (manah - um, tr - izbaviti), u ovom izdanju propraćenih tumačenjima Svami Prabhupade, u najmanju ruku sumnjivog lika.

Prvo što će mnogi čitaoci zapaziti jesu nevjerovatne podudarnosti između Upanišada i antičke filozofske misli (a tu možemo pridodati i Lao Cea). Sličnosti postaju utoliko zanimljivije ukoliko znamo da su i jedna i druga misao nastajale u manje-više istom razdoblju, a da između antičke Grčke i drevne Indije nije postojao nijedan vid komunikacije - Indija je za Grke bila granica poznatog svijeta na Istoku, ali oni nikada nisu kročili na njeno tle, ako izuzmemo kratkotrajni upad Aleksandra Makedonskog.
Evo nekoliko zanimljivih paralela (u zagradama citiram pojedine mantre i približno ekvivalentne sanskritske pojmove) :
- Heraklitovo učenje o Logosu i jedinstvu suprotnosti ("Svevišnji Gospodin savršen je i potpun, pa kako je potpuno savršen, tako je potpuna cjelina i sve što iz Njega izvire, kao ovaj pojavni svijet. Sve što nastane iz potpune Cjeline i samo je potpuno. Kao Potpuna Cjelina, On je u potpunoj ravnoteži, iako iz Njega izviru tolike potpune jedinke.")
- Empedokleovo, Pitagorino i Platonovo učenje o seobi duša, te Platonovo učenje o nagradi i kazni poslije smrti ("Ubica duše, ma ko bio, mora otići na planete poznate kao svjetovi nevjernika, pune tame i neznanja")
- Pitagorina akuzmatika (transcendentalno znanje ili šruti se prema učenjima Veda stiče vještinom slušanja)
- stepeni saznanja: čulno saznanje (pratjaksa), racionalna spoznaja (anumana) i transcendentalno znanje (šruti)...

Zanimljiv je i pojmovnik, definitivno bih se trebao malo više posvetiti sanskritu!

[Ujjwala Singhania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isopanisad is the shortest of all Upanishads with only eighteen verses; and often considered as the first among the Upanishads. When we hear only 18 verses, it seems so simple and short. However, these 18 verses incorporates the whole of Indic philosophy. It contain within itself, the synthesis of our complete thought system which takes a man from pravrittimarg to nivrittimarg.
We always talk about the importance of number eighteen in the context of the great epic Mahabharata, now the number has got an additional significance for me because of the wealth of knowledge it encompasses in this short book.
I got this book as a giveaway from Indica Org and the author Nitin Sridhar ji, and I couldn't be happier to read this beautiful book. The book is structured in a very thoughtful and thought-provoking way. It is divided in two parts, where the first part consists of 18 short chapters on one verse each - starting with the verse in Sanskrit, its word-by-word translation in English, then the pada-by-pada meaning in English followed by the author's commentary of the given verse with notes and references.
In the second part, Nitin ji explains the overall philosophy of Isopanisad and gives the reader a high level overview of the Vedantic way of life. This part shares the crux of the complete Indic Philosophy on Saguna and Nirguna Brahman and the different paths to attain Moksha. It talks about how a person moves from her quest to Jiva, Jagat and Ishwara by following pravittimarg and attain Karmamukti; to how one achieves the oneness between herself and the Brahman through nivrittimarg and attain Jivanmukti. And in the end, the author also shares the third path, the path to suffering which is due to one's prarabdha karma, sanchit karma and/or present/future karmas.
To my simple mind, I like the idea that the Isopanisad is considered to be the first book in the Upanishadic pantheon because in few short verses it gives the seeker the flavor of the treasure trove thats awaiting her. And Nitin ji's easy to understand, smoothly flowing commentary makes the journey of a newbie like me that much interesting and encouraging.

[Robert]

A monk gave me this, today. Anybody know anything about it?

[Clara Winding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a great insight to the thoughts and philosophies behind Hare Krsna Consciousness. Though not so throughoutly as Bhagavad-gita, this is a good startingpoint for anyone with just a bit of knowledge about Krsna - though if you have none at all, I will really recommend you to read up a bit before getting started, because there is quite a lot of names and vedic words, that can make one feel slightly intimidated.

[BRAIN_QUEEN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good overview of the hare krishna movement.

[Revati Ragini · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this is the kind of book I read a little of each day, over and over again.

[Carla Faletti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is a diamond. It contains beautiful artful transcendental instructions to bring the reader closer to a personal relationship with God. My #1 morning prayer comes from this book:
May I be accepted into the transcendental association of the Lord in order to render transcendental loving service unto Him.

[Gosia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll always enjoy bite sized pockets of knowledge 🙏🏻

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Those who criticize Western religions due to their reliance on divine revelation should be happy to criticize Hindu scriptures on the same grounds. While the Mantras found in this volume are often thought-provoking, whether they are actually enlightening or not will depend on the individual, and your mileage may vary. What is clear to this reader, however, is that the translator/editor's commentary, the so-called "Purports," which make up the vast bulk of the text here, are a confounding word salad of seeming mystical mumbo-jumbo which is only barely, and in a limited number of cases, elucidated by the anemic Glossary included in the back of this volume.

The commentary abounds with dubious statements such as, "There are 8,400,00 species or forms of life, of which the human form, qualified by brahminical culture, presents the only chance to obtain knowledge of transcendence," which should come as welcome news to naturalists. Or this tidbit, undoubtedly of interest to NASA: "The living being's activities are performed within the body through the movements of different kinds of air... The soul is supposed to rise from one circle of air to another until it rises to the brahma-randhra, the highest circle. From that point the perfect yogi can transfer himself to any desired planet." Perhaps it's a cultural thing. Or, what I suspect is more likely, these statements -- and many, many others like them -- are meant in a figurative or symbolic sense. But then, if the goal of the commentator is to elucidate his beliefs to a largely ignorant Western audience, perhaps he should have been more explicit in this regard? It was also not lost on me that a certain amount of the commentary was given over to what appears to be sectarian squabbling. Overall, I found the Bhagavad-Gita a much more rewarding read.

[Joaquin Castañ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Los 108 Upanisad son considerados la esencia de los Vedas y entre ellos el Iropanisad es uno de los principales.

"El Sri Isopanisad. Secretos de otros tiempos" de A.C. Bhaktlvedanta Swami Prabhupada

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The version I have is the original 1969 pressing so I'm sure it's a little bit different than the the book that is shown here in Goodreads. I bought this book from the ISKON website hoping that it would help me better understand the version of the Upanishads that I am currently reading. Sri Isopanishad however is itself one of the 223 texts that make up the complete Upanishads. Sri Isopanishad is also one of the shortest and possibly among the latest written of the texts, making it a very quick read. In my version, A.C. Bhaktivedanta goes through the text manta by manta (18 in all) in 5 sections for each. First the mantra is shown "as it is" in Sanskrit. Then, a word for word pronunciation for the Sanskrit, followed by a word for word English translation. I found this interesting as a basic way to get a beginner's understanding in Sanskrit. The forth part of the mantra is a short paragraph paraphrasing the word for word translation. And finally, a lengthy purport by A.C. Bhaktivedanta of the mantra. This method is also seen in his Bhagavad Gita As It Is translation.

I think that A.C. Bhaktivedanta does a good job in the process creating a very good introductory text to the Vedas. Within his purports A.C. Bhaktivedanta quotes from other spiritual texts (The Bhagavad Gita, The Bhagavata Purana, and others) and applies them to the mantras in Sri Isopanishad showing how everything comes together explaining the text.

Having read The Bhagavad Gita as well as a few study guides, this was a nice refresh for me. However, I had to give this book 3 stars because sadly, it wasn't what I was looking for. I would however recommend this book as a study guide for first time readers into Vedic texts.

[Genndy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Everything I had written about the other Prabhupada's book Life comes from life at the beggining of this year is appliable to this one. It is a dreadfully idiotic book. Not the Isopanishada itself, mind you, for Upanishads are one of the most prominent and most important creations of early human intellect. No, I'm talking about this "explanation" of Isopanishada, written by a cultist and a fraud Prabhupada, the founder of the cult Hare Krishna. Book is deliberatly anti-intellectual, anti-scientific (although it presents itself as the science of the highest order, lol), it is really badly written, the approach to learning laymen on this topics is beyond bad for it uses tons of sanskrit words in the explanations themselves, and Prabuphada goes even further, deliberately fabricating the meaning of the original text for the goals of his cult (I'll give just one explanation to that, but there are many more - he translates Agni as Krishna, and anyone knowing anything about Upanishads and Vedas knows what kind of idiotic nonsence that really is). No wonder this particular Prabhupada's publication contains rants against professional indologists - at this point he probably sensed they figured out his frauds and shameless fabrications. In short, this is not the wisdom of the highest order, but the garbage of highest order.

[Devon Webb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’d like to preface this review by saying that I’m not an atheist, I consider myself a spiritual though not religious person, & have many friends of differing religions including Hare Krsna, & I do love the energy when I see them dancing & chanting on the street, & have had great chats with the monks including the one who gave me this book.

That being said, this shit is exclusive & condescending. It denounces things like education & altruism in favour of devotion to the Supreme Lord which involves detachment to this world we live in so one gave attain the higher state (apologies if I’m not using the right terminology).

It also says that even if someone commits atrocities, the Supreme Lord will accept them if they’re devoted. & I just think this whole idea of looking down on things like education, & building hospitals, in preference of detachment is wild. Algood if you wanna detach, like, fair enough the world is pretty tough to observe & live in. But don’t go around preaching that other people should also give up their educations & commitment to making the world a better place, in preference of devotion to the Supreme Lord, who it sounds like doesn’t give two shits about our world that people suffer in every day.

Institutionalised patriarchal religion is wack. Smh

[Damian C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spirituality That Makes Sense

Even though some of the purports in the book are well explained there's some things that can be taken out of context. That's the least important thing. The philosophy in this book explains the direct translations from the ancient Sanskrit Mantras in this part of The Upanishands.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

an Israeli Hare Krishna gave this to me in Square-Phillips (Mtl). a *ton* of circular arguments, but if you can ignore that, very interesting stuff. beautiful prose. excellent appendices include a list of the Vedic texts, glossary and Sanskrit pronunciation guide. worth keeping just for that.

[Gaurav Sikarwar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of knowledge which brings nearer to Lord Krishna.

[William Marshall · Rating 1 out of 5]

(1.0/10)

I was approached by a monk on my first day in Exeter and, as I am yet to make a friend in this city, I thought I’d make the most of this encounter and engage with the man (admittedly, and ironically, primarily because of his striking good looks, though I’m doubtful he would reciprocate such primal tuggings of desire). But, I digress, this man told me of the great Sri Isopanisad, and the mantras contained within it, and I felt encouraged enough to dip my toes back into religious scripture, after having, rather tryingly, put Christianity to the test (literarily speaking).
I cannot deny the degree of disappointment I felt upon realising that this book of “great revelation” and “pure peace” was based on perhaps the most laughably, ludicrously paradoxical premises I have yet encountered. Each mantra is, in and of itself, it’s own ruin. We are told that man, those of us who live in this terribly “mundane world” cannot possibly comprehend the ‘Vedas’ or perfect knowledge of the ‘Supreme Being’ because the world and its inhabitants suffer from 4 defects:
1.) One is certain to make mistakes.
2.) One is subject to illusion.
3.) One has a propensity to cheat others; and
4.) One’s senses are imperfect.

I do not necessarily disagree with such a description of our defects, however, following the description of these four defects, we are told that no one with these imperfections (and thus, essentially, no human being) can deliver perfect knowledge. Yet, contradictorily, this message is conveyed by a human who, quite conveniently, does not suffer such defects and was able to pass on the ‘Supreme Being’s’ message to mankind. Thus, everything that follows is subject to overwhelming doubt.

This book, like many others which pertain to theistic endeavour, offers exclusively circular justifications for itself, consistently contradicting its own messages whilst relaying on faith based solutions to remedy its shortcomings, claiming that ‘man is simply unable to reconcile such contradictions and should not question the “Vedas” of the Supreme Being.”

I’d take the monk out for a drink, but wouldn’t pay for this book (which I returned to him).

[Tallyn T Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first formal introduction into Hinduism. I was utterly taken; a book of this sort should serve to do two things: challenge, and teach. In much of what I read now I find myself being affronted with neither - of course when you absorb yourself in one part of the world for so long that isn’t so surprising. Most books of this sort I read now don’t capture me, I read them and think “Yes, I agree” or “No, I disagree”. This, on the other hand, has put into such beautiful words things I believe in but haven’t been able to articulate that I am merely swooped by the magic of experiencing that articulation - and then pulls the rug from beneath me, to do the opposite. This has the effect of forcing me to say “if they can be so right about this, then this, too, must have foundations” (or something like that). Therefore, I have been challenged. And of course, that the book has taught me something goes without saying - yes, I feel as a young boy learning to swim: though I may still be in the shallow end of evangelism, I have reached a new precipice of knowledge. I have learnt utterly from this book, and could - even if it did not challenge me, I could recommend it and remain engaged by it on that basis just so. A very interesting read, I thank the monk who gave this to me in exchange for my small donation.

[kz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really dig a lot of the things this book had to offer. Even though I’m not really religious. Put in a modern context this book has a lot to say about materialism and what civilization strives for in the modern day. I really should’ve read the Bhagavad-gītā first though, so that’ll be one of the next ones I read as it’s been on my shelf for awhile now. I plan to come back to this book one day.

[Ankit Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read if you want to know about the absolute truth. Good for those who are still in the perception that there is no personal form of the God. This will clear there doubt and they will look at the things in a totally new and true way.

[Alek Modi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this yesterday. Excellent book for clear understanding of authorized vs unauthorized knowledge as well as power of prayers to undersand the spiritual knowledge as well as how to apply that in our day to day lives. Small book and quick read!

[Dev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such ancient knowledge, with the help of which one can cross the vast of ocean of life and skies to go back to Godhead, can only be understood by the commentry of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

[Rajesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

[M●13RA · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

[Deepak Imandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its a collection of 18 sutras/mantras describing the way, the devotion needs to be towards the Godhead. Interesting and calming.
Reading more from this author surely this year.

[Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

So nice summary of Bhakti tradition. This Upanisad is very clear about the personal aspect of the absolute.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, beautifully presented example of Dvaita Vaishnava philosophy from A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

[Shreya Agrawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book has it all. It has all the clarity of who God is. This commentary and translation by His Divine Grace is the most authentic. JUST GO FOR IT!

[Arjun Kumar]

M

[Karuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reading is advisable in combination with a guidance from a learned guru.