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Vol. XXXVII, 2014
Īśāvāsyopanişad
215
The first line of this Upanisad proclaims the spiritual unity of all existence by stating that entire universe is pervaded by Divine Consciousness, the Supreme Brahman, or the God. Thus, the whole world belongs to the Supreme Brahman. It teaches to share with others and enjoy the life and be contented with what one has. Over utilization of the resources of the world would result in depriving others from their legitimate requirements. A person who utilizes the resources beyond his basic needs is considered a thief. This Upanişad reconciles between path of action and knowledge [Jñāna and Karma), action and renunciation - the path of pravrti and nivrtti, and Vidyā and avidyā (wordly knowledge and Spiritual knowledge). Its message is that every individual should feel the existence of the Supreme Self in everything in the universe and everything in one's own self. This realization only can dispel the feelings of hatred and disharmony and bring ultimate peace and limitless happiness.
The real beauty of this Upanisad lies in the fact that it has been commented by all the schools of Vedantic tradition. There are 51 Sanskrit commentaries written by different schools of Vedānta. Every Vedantic school has seen its basic principles in this Upanisad and interpreted accordingly. īšāvāsyopanisad has inspired all the great thinkers of modern Indian thought. It has been commented by scholars of all regional languages of India.
Mahatma Gandhi thought so highly of this text that he remarked "If all the Upanisads and all other Scriptures happened all of a sudden to be reduced to ashes, and if only the first verse in the Isopanišad were left in the memory of the Hindus, Hinduism would live forever".
The learned editors have made great contribution to Vedānta philosophy through their exhaustive introduction and their own ph analysis of each verse of Iśāvāsyopanisad. Introduction includes philosophy of Upanişads in nutshell, detail information about Išāvāsyopanişad, its philosophical and spiritual importance, basic doctrines of almost all Vedantic schools are given. Editors have taken pain to trace out time and dates of commentators and their contribution, which is very important from research point of view. Word by word English translation and verse meaning given by editors is very helpful to understand the text. Analysis of each verse is really an English commentary by the learned editors. Its brings out the philosophical and spiritual importances of entire Upanisad.
This monumental work is an outcome of 16 to 17 years efforts of the
