The Message of the Upanisads

by Ranganathananda

From the
The spiritual insights of the Upanishads are an exception to the tyranny of time. Subsequent scientific advances have not only unaffected their truth-value, but have helped to reveal the rational basis of their insights and enhanced their spiritual appeal. This is no wonder, because these insights are the products of an equally scientific investigation into a different field of experience, namely, the world of man's inner life.

The Message of the Upanishads is a study, verse by verse, of three of the principal Upanishads in the light of modern thought and modern needs. Though constituting a small portion of the total Upanishadic literature, the Isha, Kena and Katha Upanishads yet contain a lucid exposition of the essential ideas of this sacred literature.

The book consists of lectures given by Swami Ranganathananda in the Vivekananda Hall of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture in Kolkata between May 2, 1962 and January 19, 1963. Swami Ranganathananda was the 13th President of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission.

Genres: Hinduism, Spirituality, Nonfiction

631 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Swami Ranganathananda (1908–2005), born Shankaran Kutty, was a Hindu monk of the Ramakrishna Math order. He served as the 13th president of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission.

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Ra...

Reviews

[The Conch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Swami Ranganathananda's book is extreme pleasure as it lift your mind over mundane affairs. This book is compilation of lectures of Swamiji based on three major Upanishads such as Isha, Kena and Katha.

Further, apart from entire book, one of the major attraction is appendix. Reading the conversation between renowned biologist Mr.Julian Huxley and Swamiji is thrilling. Swamiji bombarded arguments of Julian point by point and ultimately Mr.Julian declared that few issues he could not agree with him no more.

In addition one can get opportunity to get acquainted with few great books like Philosophy of Physical Science by Arthur Eddington, The Vedantic Buddhism by Jennings, Science in the modern world by Whitehead, The Living Brain by G.Walter etc.

[Narahari Bhandari]

start to read first time by this book.

[Ramki Sitaraman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Amazing book on exposition of Upanishads together with Modern science. A must read book. Excellently explained with no dogma or any restrictions.

[Venkat Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb exposition of Isha, Kena, and Katha Upanishads.

The book presents an integral vision of life where the sacred shakes hand with the secular. The Upanishads implore the people belonging to all time and clime to come face to face with Truth, and get over all limitations and trivialities.

This book is a study, verse by verse, of the first three of the principal Upanishads, namely Isha, Kena, and Katha. The first contains 18, the second 35, and the third 119 verses. Though constituting a small portion of the total Upanishadic literature, they yet contain a lucid exposition of all the essential ideas of this immortal literature.

This book highlights the wonderful insights from these three Upanishads for the contemporary world.