Among the most important Hindu philosophical traditions, Vedanta is built on the Upanishads, the highest exponent of Hinduism. Seen as the ultimate section of the oldest Hindu texts, the Vedas, the texts fell under discussion at this year's world summit. They hold profound ideas on the way of spiritual freedom, consciousness, and actuality, reality, attitude.

Origins and Historical Context 

written between 800 and 500 BCE, the Upanishads are older than oral customs. Upa (near), ni (down), and shad (to sit) define the Sanskrit source of the word "Upanishad".. This literally translates to "sitting down near" a teacher in order to gain wisdom.

More than 200 Upanishads are known today, yet very few (10 to 14) are considered principal. The better-known Upanishads are:

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad  

Chandogya Upanishad 

 Isha Upanishad  

Kena Upanishad  

Katha Upanishad  

The Mandukya Upanishad   

Core Teachings 

Brahman and Atman 

The central theme of the Upanishads can be glossed in terms of two great concepts:

Brahman: The ultimate reality – the unchanging source and sustainer of this entire Universe. Atman: Each being has a true self or soul, ultimately identical to the Brahman.

The greatest Siddha of consciousness is the Chandogya Upanishad (6.8.7), by the utterances it employs, namely, "Tat Tvam Asi," that indicates our actual nature as divinity. Coincidentally, the well-known phrase from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.4.10) is "Aham Brahmasmi": I am Brahman.

Beyond Dualism 

The Upanishads challenge the understanding of dualism and separation on the individual level and the cosmic level. In Isha Upanishad (verse 6-7): 

"Whoever sees all beings in the self and the self in all beings does not shrink away from anything... When a person understands that all beings are nothing but the Self, what delusion or sorrow can remain?"

The Four Mahavakyas  

The "great statements" that summate the Upanishadic wisdom: 

 "Prajnanam Brahma" (Consciousness is Brahman) – Aitareya Upanishad 3.3 

"Aham Brahmasmi" (I am Brahman) – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10 

"Tat Tvam Asi" (That Thou Art) – Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7 

"Ayam Atma Brahma" (This Self is Brahman) – Mandukya Upanishad 1.2  

 Alongside Practical Wisdom for Seekers

 These texts give practical orientations for spiritual aspirants:

On meditation: The Katha Upanishad (2.3.10-11) mentions a famous chariot metaphor, where the body is the chariot, the intellect the charioteer, the mind applies the reins, and the senses are the horses. By controlling the senses via the mind, the aspirant can reach the highest destination. 

On moral conduct: The Taittiriya Upanishad (1.11.1) says: "Speak the truth. Practice virtue. Never neglect the study of the Vedas. Having brought to the teacher the wealth that he desires, do not cut off the line of progeny."

On detachment: The beginning of the Isha Upanishad states: "Whatever exists in this changing universe is pervaded by God. Enjoy what has been given to you, but do not covet the wealth of others." 

Relevance Today

For modern seekers, the Upanishads offer:'

A non-doctrinaire path to spirituality that privileges direct experience above blind faith. Mechanisms of self-inquiry and meditation whose efficiency is indifferent to cultural locality. 

A panoramic view of reality resonant with current ideas in consciousness studies.

Such wisdom from the Upanishads does not recognize any religious divide. As said in the Mundaka Upanishad (3.2.8): "Just as flowing rivers disappear in the ocean, losing their name and form, so a wise man, freed from name and form, reaches the divine."

One might start with the smaller works such as the Isha or Katha Upanishad since they express fundamental ideas in a clear language to begin an inquiry of the Upanishads. More than only an intellectual exercise, the exploration of Upanishadic knowledge is transformative and calls us to see our deeper identity beyond the ego-self boundaries.