From the Upanishads by Ananda Wood

From the Upanishads by Ananda Wood is focused on the approach of Shri Shankara’s Advaita Vedanta tradition, as interpreted by Shri Atmananda, a modern advaita philosopher who lived in Kerala State, India, 1883-1959. The book is a collection of retellings from selected passages of the Upanishads. In these retellings, the original texts have been freely interpreted and often modified, to make them more accessible to a modern reader. For those who are interested in the original texts, a companion volume, called Interpreting the Upanishads, shows how particular concepts and passages have been interpreted in the retellings. Download the ebook here (279 pages):

From The Upanishads by Ananda Wood

About Shri Shankara’s Advaita Vedanta tradition

Shri Shankara’s Advaita Vedanta tradition is a profound and influential school of thought within Indian philosophy, founded by the great philosopher and theologian Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE. Advaita, meaning “non-duality,” posits that the true essence of reality and the self is Brahman, the ultimate, unchanging reality, devoid of attributes and distinctions.

This tradition emphasizes the idea that the apparent diversity and multiplicity of the world are illusory. According to Shankara, the phenomenal world is characterized by Maya, an illusory power that causes humans to perceive the world as real and separate from Brahman. The ultimate goal in Advaita Vedanta is to transcend this illusion and realize one’s own identity with Brahman, achieving liberation (Moksha).

Shankara’s teachings revolve around the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma Sutras, which he interpreted through his commentaries, establishing a strong philosophical foundation for Advaita Vedanta. His work includes a detailed analysis of the nature of reality and consciousness, the relationship between the individual soul (Atman) and Brahman, and the path to spiritual liberation.

Advaita Vedanta’s approach to spiritual practice involves Jnana Yoga, the path of knowledge, which emphasizes the importance of discrimination between the real and the unreal, self-inquiry, and deep contemplation. Shankara’s teachings have profoundly influenced not just Indian philosophy but also various spiritual movements worldwide, offering a unique perspective on the nature of existence and the path to ultimate truth and freedom.