The Hindu Religion
The Upanishads. By Swami Nikhilananda. Allen and Unwin. 359 pp. Index.
The impact of the West on India brought about a revaluation of India's great religious and philosophical beliefs. One result of this has been a stream of books explaining to Western minds the great spiritual truths that lie in the heart of Hinduism. In this book, Swami (Hindu religious teacher) Nikhilananda interprets the basic truths, the Upanishads, of Hindu life and thought. It is an abridged edition, based upon the interpretation of a mystic and philosopher of renown of the eighth century, but is wide and deep in scope.
“Upanishad” is the name given to a series of commentaries on Hindu beliefs. The word means knowledge—“the truth of truth.” This knowledge regarding living beings, the universe and God, cannot be perceived by the senseorgans or by reasoning. Such commentaries on Hindu beliefs go back in history for nearly 5000 years and still exert a profound influence. It could be said that the teaching of the Upanishads is the recognition of an immortal something that participates in the immortal Brahmam the All-pervading One that is God, without assuming personality to Him. Within this ancient teaching is found the theory, or belief of the rebirth of the soul which has a profound influence upon millions of Hindus: "We are all born with a blue-print of our life, mainly prepared by our actions in the previous life. ... To inflict upon the soul eternal punishment for the errors of a few years, or even of a whole lifetime is inconsistent with God’s love for His created beings.-* This is a belief to which all reasonable men will say “amen.” The Hindu® have developed the doctrine of rebirth, in which a soul is born again »n<i again, depending on the merit or demerit of his actions.
The author gives a careful analysis of 11 of the great Upanishads and provides an HKerestiflg commentary through copious footnotes and an extensive glossary The work will be invaluable to students of Hindu religion and ?? any '^ ho are interested 7 * COmparative
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CII, Issue 30278, 2 November 1963, Page 3
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346The Hindu Religion Press, Volume CII, Issue 30278, 2 November 1963, Page 3
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