Wisdom of the Rishis: The Three Upanishads: Ishavasya, Kena & Mandukya

by Sri M., Karan Singh (Foreword)

The Upanishads do not concern themselves with mere theories. They raise direct questions regarding the source of thought, the essence of our being and are as relevant today as they were 2000 years ago.The Isavasya proclaims the all-pervasiveness of this totality of consciousness which is here called Isha, the Lord, and urges one to let go the narrow and self-centered identity we are caught up in and rejoice in the flow of the infinite wholeness of Life.The word Kena means Who. This Upanishad concerns itself with the question of ones ID. Is there a separate I or is it merely a term used to describe the totality of cognizance. Is there an I beyond the limited, self-centered ID?The Mandukya examines the same idea but in a different way, exploring the states of consciousness all human beings experience namely, the waking state, the dream state and the deep sleep state, and postulates that there is a common experiencer in all these states, a witness, not affected by the states and which is the totality of consciousness called Turiya represented by the Pranava, OM.PrefaceThe Upanishads represent the high watermark not only of Hindu Philosophy but of spiritual literature anywhere in the world. These marvellous discourses and dialogues between self-realized seers, known as Rishis, and one or more disciples, contain powerful and eloquent statements regarding the ultimate reality in its multifarious facets. They have been well described as providing an ‘ecstatic slide show of reality, a privileged glimpse of the unitive vision in which all thing are one in a world aflame with God’. They contain some of the most eloquent passages such as – ‘I have seen that Great Being shining like a thousand suns beyond the darkness; it is only by knowing that being that we can achieve immortality’ and again, ‘Hear O children of immortal bliss, you are born to be united with the Divine; follow the path of the illumined ones and be united with the Supreme Being’.The universal truths articulated in the Upanishads have formed the basis for numerous commentaries down through the centuries, beginning with the luminous insights of Adi Shankaracharya. In our own times Sri Aurobindo, Sri Krishnaprem, Dr Radhakrishnan, Swami Ranganathananda, Eknath Ishwaran and other great seers and sages have produced commentaries and interpretations on various Upanishads. The Upanishads are enduring and unfailing sources of inspiration, and their impact grows with each successive reading. One of my favourites is the Mundaka which I have translated and upon which I have attempted a short commentary.The author of this book, Sri Mumtaz Ali, popularly known as ‘M’, has spoken extensively upon the Upanishads, based on his personal experience. The fact that a person born a Muslim should have such a deep insight into the Hindu tradition proves once again that the spiritual path accepts no boundaries. The three Upanishads upon which M has commented are among the most important – the Ishavasya, which is always given pride of place in any list of Upanishads, the Mandukya which expounds the deeper symbolism of the sacred symbol Aum, and the Kena where we have the marvellous allegory of the Devas who thought they had won a victory, whereas actually it was the victory of the divine Brahman. In this Upanishad we come across Shiva and Yaksha, whose identity the Devas are unable to comprehend, and are also introduced to Uma, Haimavati, the many splendoured daughter of the Himalayas, who appears as the mediator between the Devas and the Supreme Brahman.In these talks M has expounded in a clear and cogent fashion various aspects of these three great texts. I have pleasure in commending this book to spiritual seekers and students of Hinduism around the world.-- Dr. Karan Singh

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Philosophy

162 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2005

About the author

Sri M (born Mumtaz Ali Khan), who was born a Muslim, was attracted to Vedic teachings at an early age. He met his Guru at the age of 9 and left home at 19 to live in the Himalayas, where he met many saints and sages before living with his Guru for three years. M has been associated with the famous Rishi Valley School as a former trustee of the Krishnamurti Foundation. Rather than choosing any specific religion or tradition, M teaches the universal essence of all religions.

M is founder of the Satsang Foundation. When asked about the Foundation and its purposes, he responded, “Satsang, which in Sanskrit, translates to holy company. Satsang is important because it is in keeping holy company that we overcome all circumstances and distractions, attain our true purpose of life, and uplift the world. By keeping holy company, not only with saints and sages and with other sincere spiritual seekers, but most importantly and with our True Self, our own Soul, we achieve deeper access and ultimate union with the Divine Essence. That is the goal of all prayer, meditation and spiritual practice, as well as all religions.”

He is a spiritual teacher and Guru to many and he teaches Kriya Yoga, the Upanishads and Sri Vidya Upasana. He lives in Madnapalle, Andhra Pradesh (near Bangalore) and travels around India and the World teaching and taking students on regular Yatras to sacred places.

Reviews

[Arun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple & straightforward, just what I've been looking for. Essence of the 3 upanishads to my hearts content :)

[Archana Amaragandhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary of the Upanishads for a spiritual seeker. As Sri M quotes, he has shown the path by simplifying the abstract and helping us understand the theory. Assimilating the said Truth and advancing further experientialy depends on the spiritual aspiration of the seeker. This book has made me want to take two honest steps forward into the unknown. For that, salute and respect.

[ANKIT MALIK · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good book for beginners and written in simple language so that you can understand it easily.

Get knowledge of 3 upnishad in summary form and after each upnishad you will find Question and answer related to upnishad that will be very helpful to clear your doubt.

[Srikanth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and concise explanation of 3 of the main Upanishads. Nowhere does the author use pompous or glorified language to translate the verses. Also, the explanations are as simple as it can get. I would definitely recommend this book to someone curious to know about the Upanishads.

[Santosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sri M delivers the essence of these 3 Upanishads in a very simplified manner. I am sure I didn't understand them fully, but thanks to Sri M... I am closer to understanding them.

What I really liked is .. he makes it clear that answers are to be achieved through enquiry and not reading.

[Vipul Musani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clear and very concise and yet deep so I took ample time to finish it. I would have liked it more if the shloks were given in Sanskrit also as the were given in English and it’s easier to read them in original if both are given.

[Craig Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST read !!

This book is a MUST read! Sri M made understanding the Upanishads so much easier w this book. I could read this several times and learn something new each time and get a much deeper understanding of it too thank you

[Govind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sri M does it again by making one of the greatest works of Literature and philosophy easily understandable to prospective seekers with His compassionate writing skills. Simple yet Profound!

[Urvashi Tandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a capsule of relevant material from the three upanishads. An attempt has been made to explain the gist of the learnings in a very lucid manner. An excellent piece of work by a master.

[Sabri Celil Önemli · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be pitty if you havent read the wisdom of Himalayas in your life.. a well explained upanishads from a himalayan yogi

[Vijayshree Menon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is very simple and elegantly explained.

[VIVEK N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great wisdom in such simple and straightforward manner so that it can be easily understood by common people as well. Loved it.

[Vishnu Ajit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good.

[Vikram Patil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fine book to understand about spirituality

[Elaina Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sri M. has a way of making ancient Vedantic philosophy feel immediate and personal. It helped me grasp that there were layers to peel back. I began to see my identities for what they are—tools serving me at my current stage of development. I am clear that Wisdom of the Rishis is not a casual read. But it is available to me. It allows me to soak in what I can connect with today. I know that as I create more space within myself, I will access new layers of depth in this work. It encouraged me to ask 'Who am I?' beyond my job, my history, or my roles. A deep dive into consciousness.

[Mridula മൃദുല · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guruji M has tried the best to put the complex Upanishads into simpler ideas....still, the reader needs more concrete basis and blessings to completely follow the Upanishads.

[Dhruva R.Tilwalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upanishads

Relatively easy read book.
Grasping is a separate matter.
That will require intense Sadhana.
repeated reading and hopefully a Guru

[Sujin Balakumaran · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best commentary I have read about Upanishads. Also in a very simple language with lot of examples.

[Binoj Mukundan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Something solid for the beginners of Vedanta.