The Upanishads
The Upanishads represent the loftiest heights of ancient Indo-Aryan thought and culture. They form the wisdom portion or Gnana-Kanda of the Vedas, as contrasted with the Karma-Kanda or sacrificial portion. In each of the four great Vedas-known as Rik, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva-there is a large portion that deals predominantly with rituals and ceremonials, and which has for its aim to show man how by the path of right action he may prepare himself for higher attainment. Following this in each Veda is another portion called the Upanishad, which deals wholly with the essentials of philosophic discrimination and ultimate spiritual vision. For this reason, the Upanishads are known as the Vedanta, that is, the end or final goal of wisdom (Veda, wisdom; anta, end) The name Upanishad has been variously interpreted. Many claim that it is a compound Sanskrit word Upa-ni-shad, signifying "sitting at the feet or in the presence of a teacher"; while according to other authorities, it means "to shatter" or "to destroy" the fetters of ignorance.
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About the Author
Swami Paramananda was a senior monk in the Ramakrishna Order for 34 years until his passing in 1940. The youngest monastic disciple of Swami Vivekananda, he founded the Vedanta Centre in Boston, Massachusetts in 1909 and later Ananda Ashrama in La Crescenta, California. In the same year, he established a women's monastic community and ordained an American woman, Sister Devamata, to teach Vedanta from the platform. His ashramas continue to flourish to this day, although they have become independent of the Ramakrishna Order.
Swami Paramananda translated the Bhagavad-Gita (9780911564037) and the Upanishads, and has authored numerous books such as: Path of Devotion (0911564004), The Way of Peace and Blessedness (0911564063), Reincarnation and Immortality (0911564055 or 8178233304); Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers (9780911564334), and many others.