Written Messages

 

Paris 

1 May 2021

 

Synopsis of the Penguin classic ‘The Upanishads’ translated and edited by U.K. scholar par excellence, Valerie J. Roebuck.

 

Thirteen Upanishads have been presented.

I - Isavasya Upanishad .

Essence : Purnamadam ----- Purnameva Vasisyate. Mathematics of the Unlimited : Wholeness always prevails as WHOLE & HOLY.

 

II – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.

1.     Only ‘THAT’ Existence is Reality as Swa-Ha (Dissolution of ‘I’-ness).

2.     Dama-Daana-Dayaa (Austerity/simplicity - Charity -  Compassion).

 

III - Chhandogya Upanishad.

1. Story of Sage Uddaalak and his young  son Swetketu — Thou art that, ‘You’ are nothing !

2. Jabala story.

 

IV - Taittiriya Upanishad.

Vowel Sound ‘A-U-M’ dissolving in ‘Sound of Silence’!

 

V - Aitareya Upanishad.

Connection of Life at Brahma-Randhra or Fontanelle.

 

VI - Kausitaki Upanishad.

Third dimension: Joy of ‘No-mind’. Not the corridor of opposites: Pleasure-Pain of the mind.

 

VII - Kena Upanishad.

‘Knowing’ following the fusion of ‘knower’ and the ‘known’.

 

VIII - Katha Upanishad.

Learning the Art of Living from the Lord of Death (Yama).

 

IX – Swetasvatara Upanishad.

Essence is: Saamkhya Philosophy of Sage Kapilacharya or Swadhyay teachings of Kriya Yoga.

 

X - Mundaka Upanishad.

Essence is Shaven head — as a symbol of renunciation and of being ascetic.

 

XI - Prasna Upanishad.

Essence is to question (Prasna): who is the questioner — the ‘I’-ness - leading to non-movement of ‘I’ — the psychological time, thus coming to an end.

 

XII - Maandukya Upanishad. Maanduka means ‘frog’.

Essence is that thought must move in discontinuity like frog-jumps.

XIII - Maitri Upanishad.

Essence :  1) Buddha’s main four teachings. 2) Be a lotus : not getting wet inspite of being in water. 3)  Jagriti-Swapna-Susupta-Turya — four Human states of living.

 

 

 

Jai Valerie J. Roebuck