The Upanishads | June 29, 2004

The Upanishads are a collection of writings composed between 600 and 200 BCE. The word Upanishad is Sanskrit and means “to sit down near to”. It refers to the tradition of that time of wisemen teaching their insights to their followers who would sit with them and listen to their teachings. The Upanishads are philosophical texts concerned with learning about Brahman (the all-pervading life-force) and the relationship between Brahman and the universe. In these teachings the ideas of karma, samsara and moksha are introduced for the first time. Almost all the Upanishads are concerned with the relationship between atman (the individual soul) and Brahman (the universal soul).