Spiritual Paramananda, Swami: The Upanishads. V1. 01-Apr-2012

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The Upanishads are philosophical texts considered to be an early source of Hindu religion. Traditionally, these texts are considered to be authorless, and are categorized as Sruti. The Upanishads are found mostly the concluding part of the Brahmanas and in the Aranyakas. All Upanishads have been passed down in oral tradition.
Historians believe the chief Upanishads were composed over a wide period ranging from the Pre-Buddhist period to the early centuries BCE, though minor Upanishads were still being composed in the medieval and early modern period. The Upanishads were collectively considered amongst the 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written by the British poet Martin Seymour-Smith. Their significance has been recognized by writers and scholars such as Kant, Schopenhauer, Emerson and Thoreau, among others.

This book includes the Isa, Katha and Kena upanishads with explanations by the author to make them understandable for wersterners.

From the Preface:
So far as was consistent with a faithful rendering of the Sanskrit text, the Swami throughout his translation has sought to eliminate all that might seem obscure and confusing to the modern mind. While retaining in remarkable measure the rhythm and archaic force of the lines, he has tried not to sacrifice directness and simplicity of style. Where he has been obliged to use the Sanskrit term for lack of an exact English equivalent, he has invariably interpreted it by a familiar English word in brackets; and everything has been done to remove the sense of strangeness in order that the Occidental reader may not feel himself an alien in the new regions of thought opened to him.

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