Know the Upanishads Quotes

“The Upanishadis an antidote to narrow outlooks, as it reminds one repeatedly: “O Immortal One, you do not have this body alone but all the bodies are your body. Leave the idea of the small family, as the whole world is your family. There is none for you to hate as you are in all, and all, including the plants and animal kingdom, exist because of you only.”
― Ramanuj Prasad, Know the Upanishads

“Kathopanishad: This is one of the most beautiful and popular Upanishad. Some understand this as ‘Kata’ for ‘Katha’, which is derived from the recension of Krishna Yajurveda - Taittiriya Brãhmana. The sublime doctrine of the Vedãnta, presented in this Upanishadis very attractive and appealing. This has won the appreciation of many inquirers, including French and German scholars. It is one of the best books on Vedãnta philosophy and poetry of ancient Hinduism. Swami Vivekananda often used to quote from this Upanishad. No other Upanishad has so much of thought elevation, depth of expression, and beauty of imaginations that this Upanishad possesses.”
― Ramanuj Prasad, Know the Upanishads

“In the repetition of AUM there are four stages. ‘A’kãra, ‘U’kãra, ‘M’akãra and there is a silence before the next repetition and meditating upon the silence is Vedãntic meditation. The teacher emphasises the grasping of that silence, which is Awareness - the Ãtmã, the Self. The practice and success in the effort requires the grace of the Lord, guru and shãstra and the teacher grants his blessings to the student for success to cross over from samsara to the shores of Immortal Brahman, which is beyond ignorance.”
― Ramanuj Prasad, Know the Upanishads

“The word shãnti is chanted thrice to take cognisance of three types of obstacles that can come in the way of a practitioner (a sãdhaka): Obstacles arising from one’s own body-mind complex. Obstacles from the immediate surroundings. Obstacles from supernatural forces.”
― Ramanuj Prasad, Know the Upanishads

“The word Upanishad can be split as upa-ni-shad. The meaning of the split-up is as follows: Upa - near go to the teacher of knowledge. Ni - the destroyer. Shad - of the samsara (which indicates mortality, old age, disease etc. In a nutshell, it indicates the cycle of birth and death.).”
― Ramanuj Prasad, Know the Upanishads

“One should make the effort to create a positive thrust in the phenomenal world in one’s own favour and also to cultivate the mental strength for forbearance.”
― Ramanuj Prasad, Know the Upanishads