The essence of the philosophical teachings of Hinduism. That which the mind cannot think, but because of which the mind is capable of thinking: this alone you should know as Brahman.

The Upanishads are the sacred Hindu texts that accompany the Vedas, the holy Sanskrit scriptures, condensing their meaning into the form of philosophical teaching – for this reason, they are also known as "Vedanta," which means the "end" or the "final purpose" of wisdom (Veda means "wisdom").

And what does the ancient Hindu teaching consist of? Nothing other than the mission of man to free himself from all the "illusions" of this world (longevity, prosperity, barren mental function, etc.) and through the superlative knowledge of the self to unite with the divine consciousness, which permeates and constitutes the entire universe: "The man who has form dies, but not that which dwells within him."

The best-selling series "Select Titles" from Oxy Publications is enriched with seven new titles, seven new small books of great thoughts, which come to add to the previous 16 titles.

Some scholars place the Vedic period, when the Upanishads took their well-known form, as far back as 4,000 or 5,000 B.C., while others between 2,000 and 1,400 B.C. – certainly many centuries before the Buddhist period, which begins in the 6th century B.C.

Since nothing was written down and all teachings were communicated orally, the Upanishads were also called Srutis, "that which is heard." The term is also used in the sense of revelation, as the Upanishads are considered to be of divine origin, and their texts make no reference at all to an author or scribe.

This edition includes the first three – and most essential – Upanishads.