Talks on Upanishadsby Swami Sarvapriyananda of Vedanta Society Upanishads[Source: Wikipedia]The Upanishads (Sanskrit: उपनिषद् Upaniṣad [ʊpən̪ɪʂəd̪]), a part of the Vedas, are ancient Sanskrit texts that contain some of the central philosophical concepts and ideas of Hinduism, some of which are shared with religious traditions like Buddhism and Jainism. Among the most important literature in the history of Indian religions and culture, the Upanishads played an important role in the development of spiritual ideas in ancient India, marking a transition from Vedic ritualism to new ideas and institutions. Of all Vedic literature, the Upanishads alone are widely known, and their central ideas are at the spiritual core of Hindus. The Upanishads are commonly referred to as Vedānta. Vedanta has been interpreted as the "last chapters, parts of the Veda" and alternatively as "object, the highest purpose of the Veda". The concepts of Brahman (ultimate reality) and Ātman (soul, self) are central ideas in all of the Upanishads, and "know that you are the Ātman" is their thematic focus. The Wisdom of the Upanishads 1 The Wisdom of the Upanishads 2 Beyond the Known and the Unknown - The Wisdom of the Kena Upanishad
