Loved this book

This book is a great insight into Hindu culture. The first chapter had me hooked, I also enjoyed the voice of the narrator. The style that the book is written in makes it very easy to understand. I recommend this book and will listen to it again I am sure.

4 people found this helpful

Commentry on the Upanishads rather than the story

Any additional comments?

I got this book wanting to listen to the Upanishads - It starts off with the story and gives interpretation which is useful, however the interpretation then seemed to take up the majority of sections rather than focusing on the story. This is where it was probably my mistake with the title 'Essence of...' as the book takes the essence of the teachings and explains them. I only listened to 6 chapters so cannot comment on the book as a whole but as I wanted to hear the original teachings I will seek another source and this book was not for me.

10 people found this helpful

Only general commentary by the author

What disappointed you about Essence of the Upanishads?

i have read some interpretations and I also studied 12 years in a Vedic school. Howevever, this particular way of commentary on Upanishads felt derogatory to me. I did not get any knowledge of Upanishads from this book. But, I got to know a lot about the frustration of the author with the world that we live in.

This is definitely not a book to be read by someone who respects Upanishads and want to learn more about the oldest philosophy on this planet.

this can be taken as a good self-help book based on just the Author`s state of mind.

Regards,

Would you ever listen to anything by Eknath Easwaran again?

na

How did the narrator detract from the book?

don`t know

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Essence of the Upanishads?

all the commentary which is 99% of the book.

2 people found this helpful

I love this book. I have listened 3 times now!

An excellent listen on every level. I have listened 3 t8mea now and each listen was like the first. I know it is one I will come back to time and again. So much wisdom so beautifully shared .

2 people found this helpful

Essential view of enlightenment

Through the impenetrable verses of Kata upanishad Eknath Easwaran lays out the map to self realisation. Anecdotal, entertaining, challenging, inspiring narration of a journey every human being should know about and take upon. It sums up everything Eknath Easwaran as the guru of modern times would want to tell us. Last two chapters stores the literal translation of the original work whose compactness fails most humans unpack it there much needed commentary in the previous 26 chapters.

1 person found this helpful

wonderfully portrayed

very easy to follow version of the upanishads, I am going to listen all over again

Powerful. Critical. Judgemental. Deep. Shallow.

The headline sums it up. You can't really go wrong with the Unpanishads but you can with someone else's reading of them.

The author, which one I'm not sure, makes powerful and deep revelations and simultaneously misses deeper perceptions.

Still an enjoyable listen.

1 person found this helpful

There is no higher truth

This is the best experience of the higher truth of the world within. A perfect harmony of both the author and the reader.