Upanishads & Vedānta Sūtras

The Upaniṣads are the earliest Vedic source texts wherein can be found the roots of all later Hinduism.  It is in these texts that we find notions such as yoga, karma, moksha, ātman, reincarnation, bhakti, etc., first clearly expressed. All later Hindu schools of yoga trace their origins back to the Upaniṣads, so they stand as the foundation of all traditional Hindu spirituality. The Upaniṣads are also the main canonical texts for the variegated Vedānta traditions, which base their various understandings of the relationship between Brahman, the Absolute Truth, the ātman, the individual soul or consciousness in all embodied beings, and the world. 

This course will engage the most famous and oft-quoted selections from the primary Upaniṣads – reading passages from the longer and more archaic Upaniṣads, such as the Brihadāranyaka and Chāndogya, as well as the entirety of the shorter Upaniṣads, such as the Katha and Iśa.  We will find the earliest seeds of Indian philosophy in these texts, as well as beautiful metaphorically delivered expressions of the spiritual quest. 

Module 1: Introduction

In the introduction to the course, we will have a brief discussion on the Vedic background and the Brihadāranyaka Upaniṣads.

Module 2: Chāndogya, Taittirīya, Aitareya & Kaushītaki

In module 2, we will read and discuss the Chāndogya, Taittirīya, Aitareya & Kaushītaki Upaniṣads.

Module 3: Kena & Praśna

In this module, we will read and discuss the Kena and Praśna Upaniṣads.

Module 4: Kaṭha

The module will cover the Kaṭha Upaniṣad.

Module 5: Iśa & Svetashavāra

In module 5, we will read and discuss the Iśa and Svetashavāra Upaniṣads.

Module 6: Mundaka & Māndukya

In Module 6, we will read and discuss the Mundaka and Māndukya Upaniṣads.

Module 7: Vedānta Sūtras pt. I

In this module, we will explore the first five sūtras of the Vedānta Sūtras text.

Module 8: Vedānta Sūtras pt. 2

In the final module of this course, we will go through selected verses aimed at providing a sense of how dualism and non-dualist positions can be construed from the Upaniṣadic corpus.

Students who take this course will:

• Absorb their minds in some of the earliest spiritual insights and teachings in the literary history of humanity.
• Engage some of the sūtras of the Vedānta Sūtras.
• Get a sense of how different verses from the Upanishads lead to the formation of different Vedānta lineages.
• Get a better understanding of the philosophical origins of dualist, non-dualist, and other Vedānta traditions.
• Find the earliest seeds of Indian philosophy, as well as beautiful metaphorically delivered expressions of the spiritual quest.

*Please note, this is a pre-recorded course and may mention old course requirements such as final quizzes and certificates of completion. We no longer offer final quizzes or issue certificates of completion.