India has millennia-long tradition of spirituality and metaphysical thought. In its worldview, the Absolute/Supreme Reality defies all verbal descriptions though it is visualizable in countless ways. The Upanishads, accordingly, are diverse expressions of the one vision of this very Reality. The Mundaka, however, holds a special place in the writings of the genre: not because of its emphasis on shraddha (belief) often in one's guru, but primarily for its vehement denunciation of the Vedic ritualism. Which perhaps explains ...
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India has millennia-long tradition of spirituality and metaphysical thought. In its worldview, the Absolute/Supreme Reality defies all verbal descriptions though it is visualizable in countless ways. The Upanishads, accordingly, are diverse expressions of the one vision of this very Reality. The Mundaka, however, holds a special place in the writings of the genre: not because of its emphasis on shraddha (belief) often in one's guru, but primarily for its vehement denunciation of the Vedic ritualism. Which perhaps explains why sannyasins (the renunciate monks) treat this Upanishad as a spiritual authority for the way of life they have chosen to live. Here is a brilliant, critical interpretation in contemporary idiom of the Mundaka Upanishad, showing how a seeker can cogitate/meditate upon the Supreme Reality or, in other words, how one can have the transcendental experience of cosmic Consciousness. The book looks afresh at some of the perpetually puzzling questions that Mundaka addresses questions, like for instance: What is the nature of Brahman, the one Casual Reality? How can a seeker know it? Who can be eligible for its knowledge? Offering an indepth, analytical commentary on this time-honoured text, Swami Muni Narayana Prasad presents at once appropriate metaphors, analogies and, these besides, backgrounds to the varying contexts that not only elucidate various philosophical terms and concepts in all their underlying shades of meanings, but also provides rich insights into this Upanishad. Complete with the original Sanskrit text and its Roman transliteration, this work is a must for all keen on discovering the essential meaning of the Upanishadic thought and meditating upon ''wisdom's ineffable core". AUTHOR DETAILS: Swami Muni Narayana Prasad is the Regulating Secretary of the famous Narayana Gurukula, a guru-disciple foundation set up by Nataraja Guru, the disciple-successor of Narayana Guru. A disciple of Nataraja Guru who was initiated as a renunciate in 1984, Swami Muni Narayana Prasad has travelled round the world teaching Indian philosophy, with special emphasis on the Upanishads. He has been associated with the philosophical magazine, The Gurukulam as editor for twelve years and continues to be one of its chief contributors. The author of many works, his publications in English include Basic Lessons on India's Wisdom, Karma and Reincarnation, Vedanta Sutras of Narayana Guru and Commentaries on the Katha, Kena, Prashna, Taittiriya and Aitareya Upanishads.
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