Philosophy Notes

"Message of the Vedas." Message of the Vedas. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2013. "Upanishad (Hindu Religious Text)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2013. "What Do the Vedas Teach Us ? from the Chapter "The Vedas", in Hindu Dharma : Kamakoti.org:." What Do the Vedas Teach Us ? from the Chapter "The Vedas", in Hindu Dharma : Kamakoti.org:. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2013.
"Upanishads." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 7 Feb. 2013 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Upanishads." Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 7 Feb. 2013 <http://www.encyclopedia.com> PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/faithandreason/gengloss/metaph-body.html>.

Series of texts produce in first millennium BCE, India Brought about the ideas of karma/ reincarnation They criticized the vedas (other ancient hindu texts that predated the Upanishads) o The vedas talked about spirituality, sacrifices, worship/meditation o They basically taught how to achieve purity of the heart Upanishads dont go toward worship o They look for a principle of reality (called brahman) Brahman is the source of the visible world that undergoes a contionus process of being created/sustained/destroyed It is hidden by maya (illusion) Upanishads look to identify the Brahman with the Atman o Essential core of the inner self o Basically to know your individual self is to know ultimate reality This is the reason meditation/ yoga are promoted Most individuals are trapped by maya o To escape it, one must focus on reality

But not to the point where it becomes selfish Upanishads promote self-control and detachment, but one must still perform their social duties The Upanishads were brought into the western world in 1893 by swami Vivekananda The Upanishads mainly look toward the metaphysics side of philosophy o Metaphysics is about principles such as the nature of reality and out understanding of it o The Upanishads main goal is to find our atman, which will provide ultimate reality