by Swami Krishnananda The Vedas, in their form as the Samhitas,
constitute an introduction to the subject dealt with in the
Vedanta or the Upanishads. The Upanishads are secret teachings
containing wisdom beyond the realm of the earth and revealing
proclamations of the great sages of yore on the nature of
Reality. Among the Upanishads, the Mandukya may be regarded as
the most important, and it is aptly said, Mandukyam ekam eva
alam mumukshunam vimuktaye - for the liberation of the Mumukshu
or seeker the Mandukya alone is enough; and if you are able to
understand the true meaning of this single Upanishad, there may
not be a necessity to study any other Upanishad, not even the
Chhandogya or the Brihadaranyaka, because the theme of the
Mandukya Upanishad is a direct approach to the depths of human
nature. It does not give analogies, tell stories or make
comparisons. It states bare facts in respect of man in general
and Reality in its essential character. A very comprehensive
Upanishad is this, containing only tw