Introduction
This knowledge which I am giving you has not come through my mind. Some of it is through inner vision or revelation, and the rest through the teachings of the great ones with whom I lived and whose love and blessings I enjoyed. Revelation is that knowledge which flows from the infinite library of the eternal. This knowledge does not come through the senses, or through the mind. This knowledge comes through inner vision and these visions are based on knowledge which is self-evident, which does not need support, which does not need any other evidence. The knowledge of the Upanishads is called shruti, that which was heard or revealed. These scriptures explain very little and it's difficult to understand them without the right explanation. You won't understand certain words which were used in ancient times. Though the scriptures are very terse, tough, and abstruse in their nature, I am making them easy for you to understand. I learned them so many times; I heard the same scriptures from many, many sages; so I found a way of explaining them in a simple way that you can understand. Otherwise it is said, "Don't teach this vidya, (knowledge) of the Upanishads, to anybody and everybody." I am trying to explain them to you in your own language. Then you will enjoy OM THE ETERNAL WTINESS the subject and know about your individual soul and how the individual soul is related to the cosmic soul, and understand what is moksha, or liberation. Is it possible for us to be liberated? I say, yes, right now! Let me tell you something. To hear is very good, to hear attentively is even better, but to understand is truly wonderful. To assimilate the knowledge that you are receiving from the scriptures is difficult unless you prepare your mind for that knowledge called para, knowledge from beyond. This knowledge was re-vealed to the great sages in deep states of contem-plation and meditation. It is not wisdom that has come through any human mind. Today, even if you try, you cannot attain that state. During ancient times, the atmosphere, human life, lifestyle, their thinking, austerities and penance, were entirely different. Today's human being is scattered in the external world. Current activities and research are externally and physically oriented offering us many means and comforts. But then, who is enjoying these means and comforts? I do not know. We are not taught to know and understand ourselves, yet we jump into rela-tionships. We live with others; we have to and this just keeps going on. And this sort of education, which does not impart integrated knowledge, does not help us. When a teacher says something, both the teacher and the student should understand where they are standing as far as consciousness is concerned. What I mean to say is that when we communicate with somebody through words, these words are not understood properly because it's hard to judge from which perspective we are speaking. When Christ was crossing the river Jordan, all his students complained. "Master, you are speaking in parables. We do not understand." During that time his consciousness, Christ-consciousness, was not towards the teaching, but towards formulating that wisdom which he directly received from the infinite library within. The Upanishads are called shruti, revelations. You have the Book of Revelation in Christianity, a similar Book of Revelation in Judaism. In fact, there are two Books of Revelation in Judaism which are very similar. And for being chosen for such a great work, you need not be a disciple. If you have studied the Book of Revelation, you know that John, to whom the revelations dawned, was not a disciple, was not one of the 12 apostles. Why was he chosen for the revelations? Why not the disciples who lived close to Christ, for many, many years? It means that every human being has the potential to attain that state, that stature, where he can receive revelations. This Mandukya Upanishad is the shortest of all Upanishads. It has only 12 verses. It comes from the holy scriptures called the Vedas. It is from the fourth Veda, the Atharva Veda, as is the case with the Mundaka and Prasna Upanishads. In the Muktik-opanishad, it is written, that if one studies only this one Upanishad, the Mandukya Upanishad, one can attain the highest Reality or Absolute Truth, the One without a second. There is no doubt about it. In other Upanishads there are similes used in very mysterious ways. But this Upanishad is very direct, the shortest among all Upanishads, yet profound in its nature. Many of you have heard the word 'Upanishad,' and many of you have studied and attended a few classes on the Upanishads. The word Upanishad comes from its root 'sad, which means to loosen, to destroy, and to attain.
About The Book
the eternal witness "This knowledge which I am giving to you has not come through my mind. Some of it is through inner vision or revelation, and the rest through the teachings of the great ones with whom I lived and whose love and blessings I enjoyed. Revelation is that knowledge which flows from the infinite library of the eternal. This knowledge does not come through the senses, or through the mind. This knowledge comes through inner vision and these visions are based on knowledge which is self-evident, which does not need support, which does not need any other evidence. The Upanishads are called shruti, revelations. Mandukya Upanishad, though the shortest of all Upanishads, is a most revered, profound Upanishad that teaches us how to know four states of consciousness, the waking, dreaming and sleeping states, and Turiya, the fourth state, beyond the first three. In this Upanishad, there is a unique combination of psychology and profound philosophy; a clear exposition and understanding of the four states of consciousness."
About The Author
Swami Rama (1925-1996) was a highly accomplished yogi and self-realized master, representing an ancient unbroken lineage of Himalayan sages. Besides lucidly interpreting the ancient scriptures within a modern context, Swami Rama also personally guided many seekers on the path of meditation conferring on advanced students direct experiences of higher states of consciousness.
Vedas (1180)
Upanishads (494)
Puranas (625)
Ramayana (741)
Mahabharata (357)
Dharmasastras (163)
Goddess (498)
Bhakti (243)
Saints (1505)
Gods (1289)
Shiva (370)
Journal (184)
Fiction (60)
Vedanta (361)
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