Upanishad
Sanskrit philosophical text
An Upanishad is one of a collection of ancient Sanskrit texts that form the philosophical foundation of Hinduism.
Composed between roughly 800 and 200 BCE, the Upanishads explore concepts like the nature of reality, the self (atman), and ultimate truth (Brahman).
They represent the concluding portions of the Vedas and are sometimes called Vedanta, meaning "end of the Vedas." The word itself suggests sitting near a teacher to receive spiritual instruction.
Ancient Indo-Aryan language
- mantraRepeated focus phrase
- rishiEnlightened Hindu sage
- ashramHindu spiritual retreat
- oral traditionCulture passed by speech
chanting · recitation · sacred text · scripture · hymns · sutras · shanti · invocation
Release from rebirth cycle
- liberationRelease from constraint
- self-realizationAchieving personal potential
- meditationFocused attention practice
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
dharma · karma · samsara · renunciation · detachment · asceticism · tapas · samadhi
Supreme cosmic reality
- AtmanHindu eternal essence
- monismSingle-substance metaphysics
- dualismPhilosophy of opposed pairs
- metaphysicsPhilosophy of existence's nature
ontology · self-inquiry · neti neti · maya · non-duality · consciousness · reality · existence
Revered authority figure
- discipleCommitted follower of teaching
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- instructionGuidance for action
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
transmission · questioning · parable · allegory · secret doctrine · esoteric · initiation · lineage
Sanskrit
Ancient Indo-Aryan language
oral tradition · chanting · recitation · sacred text · scripture · hymns · sutras · shanti · invocation
moksha
Release from rebirth cycle
- liberationRelease from constraint
- self-realizationAchieving personal potential
- meditationFocused attention practice
contemplation · dharma · karma · samsara · renunciation · detachment · asceticism · tapas · samadhi · prana
Brahman
Supreme cosmic reality
metaphysics · ontology · self-inquiry · neti neti · maya · non-duality · consciousness · reality · existence · essence
guru
Revered authority figure
- discipleCommitted follower of teaching
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- instructionGuidance for action
wisdom · transmission · questioning · parable · allegory · secret doctrine · esoteric · initiation · lineage · parampara