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Kena Upanishad

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Kena Upanishad is a profound spiritual text that delves into the nature of reality and the ultimate truth. The Upanishad explores the concept of Brahman, the ultimate reality that underlies all existence, and the role of the mind in understanding this truth. Through a series of dialogues between a teacher and a student, the Upanishad challenges readers to question their perceptions of the world and their own consciousness.

The language of the text is poetic and evocative, drawing readers into a deep contemplation of the mysteries of existence. The Upanishad invites readers to explore the nature of the self and its relationship to the divine, encouraging introspection and self-discovery.

Overall, Kena Upanishad is a thought-provoking and enlightening text that offers profound insights into the nature of reality and the self. It is a must-read for anyone interested in spirituality, philosophy, or the pursuit of truth.

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The word Upanishad (upa-ni-shad) consists of, "Upa" means "near;" "ni" means "down;" "shad" means "to sit." Thus, Upanishad is to sit down near the teacher to discuss, learn, practice, and experience. There are some 200 or more Upanishads. Some are lost and are only known about because of being referenced in other Upanishads.

Most of the Upanishads were kept secret for centuries, only passed on to others orally in the form of Shloka (a category of verse line developed from the Vedic Anustubh meter).

Kena (Sanskrit: केन) literally means, depending on the object-subject context, "by what, by whom, whence, how, why, from what cause". This root of Kena, in the sense of "by whom" or "from what cause" is found the inquisitive first verse of the Kena Upanishad, "At whose wish does the mind sent forth proceed on its errand?...."

The Kena Upanishad belongs to the Talavakara Brahmana of Sama Veda, giving it the etymological roots of an alternate name of Talavakara Upanishad. The Kena Upanishad is also referred to as the Kenopanishad.

The chronology of Kena Upanishad is unclear; it is ancient and generally placed before the earliest Buddhist Pali and Jaina canons.

The 11 principal Upanishads to which Sankara appeals in his great commentary on the Vedanta-Surtras are: Chandogya, Talavakara or Kena, Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Vajasaneyi or Isha, Katha, Mundaka, Taittirtiyaka or Taittiriya, Brihadaranyaka, Svetasvatara, and Prasna. They are also called the 11 classical Upanishads or the fundamental Upanishads of the Vedanta Philosophy. Apart from these, Maitrayana-Brahmana-Upanishad is also considered as an important Upanishad.

The Upanishadic literature is not a religious scripture and is free from dogma and doctrines. It is not a part of any religion but is a philosophy for all times and for all. German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, impressed by the Upanishads, called the texts "the production of the highest human wisdom".


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