The Upanishads

This two-volume set features the renowned Max Müller translation of the classical upanisads, originally published in the "Sacred Books of the East." It includes the full text, translated into English and annotated, of key upanisads: Chandogya, Kena, Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Isa, Katha, Mundaka, Taittiriyaka, Brhadaranyaka, Svetasvatara, Prasna, and Maitriyana. These texts are foundational documents recognized as authoritative across Indian religious and philosophical traditions. They have significantly shaped both Indian wisdom and Western thought, influencing philosophers such as Schlegel, Hegel, Schopenhauer, and Schelling. Written by various authors before 500 B.C., the upanisads exhibit a consistent aim: to seek truth through parables, proverbs, similes, and metaphors, employing a method akin to Socratic dialogue without establishing a formal system. While other translations exist, Müller’s edition is celebrated for its scholarly rigor, featuring over 250 pages of introductions that explore the upanisads' significance for contemporary society. These profound writings are essential for Indologists, philosophers, and historians of religion, offering valuable insights for modern readers interested in deep mystical and existential themes.