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The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 101: a modern, practical guide, plain and simple.
Are you searching for something? Another way? A better way?
Then you really need to read this book.
Dr. Matthew Barnes, chemist, biochemist, doctor, and bestselling author of The Emerald Tablet 101 and The Tao Te Ching 101 presents his interpretation of the first of the ten primary Hindu Upanishads, and he does so in a way that is simple, straightforward, and easy to absorb.
In this work, you’ll learn how
✓ View life and all that occurs within it from a different perspective.
✓ Discover, connect with, and experience the different layers of your consciousness.
✓ Implement proven ways of experiencing That which resides beyond physical reality.
✓ Decode the purpose of life.
Whether you are well on your way in your spiritual journey or just beginning, The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 101 will help to expand your perception of what you are already experiencing and show you how a subtle shift in your mindset is all that it takes to discover all that you have been hoping for. Possibly more.
What are you waiting for?
Scroll up and grab your copy now.
Then you really need to read this book.
Dr. Matthew Barnes, chemist, biochemist, doctor, and bestselling author of The Emerald Tablet 101 and The Tao Te Ching 101 presents his interpretation of the first of the ten primary Hindu Upanishads, and he does so in a way that is simple, straightforward, and easy to absorb.
In this work, you’ll learn how
✓ View life and all that occurs within it from a different perspective.
✓ Discover, connect with, and experience the different layers of your consciousness.
✓ Implement proven ways of experiencing That which resides beyond physical reality.
✓ Decode the purpose of life.
Whether you are well on your way in your spiritual journey or just beginning, The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 101 will help to expand your perception of what you are already experiencing and show you how a subtle shift in your mindset is all that it takes to discover all that you have been hoping for. Possibly more.
What are you waiting for?
Scroll up and grab your copy now.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2021
59 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 7, 2023
Easy read
I liked the book for its simplicity. What could make it better is a few quotes from the source (Upanishads) and it’s translation to make the message stick well. Nevertheless, the book is just as described in the title…a modern practical guide.
I liked the book for its simplicity. What could make it better is a few quotes from the source (Upanishads) and it’s translation to make the message stick well. Nevertheless, the book is just as described in the title…a modern practical guide.
January 23, 2022
I am glad I run this book and hope to put it into practice. Which one to read next?
Thanks
Fran
With love
These reviews are too demanding that is why I seldom do them despite enjoying what I read
e
Thanks
Fran
With love
These reviews are too demanding that is why I seldom do them despite enjoying what I read
e
January 12, 2025
As someone currently reading the major Upanishads, my advice is, read a real translation first. This book would be more appropriately titled "Modern Thoughts on The Brihadaranyaka." Not "Brihadaranyaka 101", because it takes too many liberties to be an intro to the source.
I enjoyed Barnes' work here, initially giving it 5 stars. Then I read Easwaran's actual translation of sections of the Brihadaranyaka, and had to change Barnes to 3 stars, because it's misleading to use The Brihadaranyaka 101 as a title, and to lay out the book implying it's a translation, when it's really a well-written prose exploration of themes. So my critique is not of his ideas but of his sales pitch. Barnes' use of chapters and verses implies that these correspond to the source material when they barely do, and often not at all. For example, Ch 4 v 33 in the actual translation: "I give you another 1,000 cows! Please teach me more of the way to Self-Realization." In Barnes: "Is this easy? Yes and no, but it is worth it. Realize your connection; realize that you are not separate...." I am not cherry picking, this is a fairly typical sample of the level of disconnect.
Barnes' ideas seem on-track to me in general re: the themes, and I like his writing style. His intro gives a great history and overview. But when I buy a book called The Brihadaranyaka 101, I think I'll be reading some version of the original source -- close enough to add to my list of completed Upanishads. Instead, I see I'm just reading his take on the broad ideas of the original. And to his credit, he says as much in his intro: "My aim was not to create an academic, scholarly interpretation. ... my aim was to deliver the "Big Picture" in a way that I believe most modern readers will find easier to grasp." And perhaps he has, but it's so loosely done that I can't in good faith buy or recommend his other works on source texts, because I'm not confident how much is true to the source and how much is Barnes' own thoughts. I can say I've read his take on the source ideas, but not the source itself.
I enjoyed Barnes' work here, initially giving it 5 stars. Then I read Easwaran's actual translation of sections of the Brihadaranyaka, and had to change Barnes to 3 stars, because it's misleading to use The Brihadaranyaka 101 as a title, and to lay out the book implying it's a translation, when it's really a well-written prose exploration of themes. So my critique is not of his ideas but of his sales pitch. Barnes' use of chapters and verses implies that these correspond to the source material when they barely do, and often not at all. For example, Ch 4 v 33 in the actual translation: "I give you another 1,000 cows! Please teach me more of the way to Self-Realization." In Barnes: "Is this easy? Yes and no, but it is worth it. Realize your connection; realize that you are not separate...." I am not cherry picking, this is a fairly typical sample of the level of disconnect.
Barnes' ideas seem on-track to me in general re: the themes, and I like his writing style. His intro gives a great history and overview. But when I buy a book called The Brihadaranyaka 101, I think I'll be reading some version of the original source -- close enough to add to my list of completed Upanishads. Instead, I see I'm just reading his take on the broad ideas of the original. And to his credit, he says as much in his intro: "My aim was not to create an academic, scholarly interpretation. ... my aim was to deliver the "Big Picture" in a way that I believe most modern readers will find easier to grasp." And perhaps he has, but it's so loosely done that I can't in good faith buy or recommend his other works on source texts, because I'm not confident how much is true to the source and how much is Barnes' own thoughts. I can say I've read his take on the source ideas, but not the source itself.
March 30, 2024
A Guide that is Helping Me Tie Things Together
I came from a very devout Christian family. However, even as a kid, religion confused me. Mainly, I could not understand why we were right and everyone else was wrong. This confusion has carried on into adulthood.
Matthew Barnes' books are clearing up this confusion a good bit.
This first book in the Upanishads series has helped. However, I do look forward to reading the others in this series for (hopefully) more clarity.
I came from a very devout Christian family. However, even as a kid, religion confused me. Mainly, I could not understand why we were right and everyone else was wrong. This confusion has carried on into adulthood.
Matthew Barnes' books are clearing up this confusion a good bit.
This first book in the Upanishads series has helped. However, I do look forward to reading the others in this series for (hopefully) more clarity.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews