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''Essence of the Upanishads'' is a translation and commentary on the Katha Upanishad, an ancient Indian scripture. Written by Eknath Easwaran, the book was originally published in the United States in 1981, entitled ''Dialogue With Death''. Foreign (non-English) editions have also been published in several languages.〔 name=dwdgerman/>〔 name=dwdhungarian/>〔 name=dwdbahasan/>〔 name=dwdkorean/>〔 name=PUBPAGEforeign> Foreign editions of Nilgiri Press Books, http://www.easwaran.org/page/150, accessed 17 April 2010. 〕 The book has been reviewed in newspapers,〔 name=latimes81/>〔 name=sekar09/> magazines,〔 name=willoughby93/>〔 name=haas81/>〔 name=hecht10/> and elsewhere.〔 name=dwdbrussatxx/> ==Topics covered== The majority of the book is a commentary on the Katha Upanishad, divided into 12 chapters in two major parts entitled "Dialogue With Death" and "The Journey Through Consciousness." The second edition contains a new preface by the author. All US editions of ''Essence of the Upanishads'' (''Dialogue With Death'') contain the author's English translation of the Katha Upanishad (a 22 page appendix〔The translation comprises 19 pages in the 1st edition (pp. 247-265), and 22 pages in the 3rd edition (pp. 265-286)〕). The translation is described as "made particularly for use in meditation"〔''Essence of the Upanishads'' (2009), p. 264.〕 (see the author's method of Passage Meditation). The third edition includes a previously unpublished introduction〔See 3rd edition (''Essence of the Upanishads'', 2009), "Editor's Note," p. 10.〕 in which the author states:
Part One, entitled "A Dialogue With Death," contains two chapters of commentary: :1. ''An Inward Journey''. Describes the confrontation of Nachiketa and his father, leading to his father's exclamation, ''"I give you to Death!"''; Explains that this is a journey "within," and describes Nachiketa's meeting with Yama (Death), who offers him three boons; Nachiketa chooses forgiveness, ever-present vitality, and immortality. :2. ''Two Paths''. Explains Yama's teaching about the human being as possessing five layers of consciousness, and being required by life to continually make choices between the pleasant (''preya'') and the beneficial (''shreya'');〔Preya and shreya are distinguished in Katha 1.2.3. Radhakrishnan, ''The Principal Upanishads'' (1994, p. 607), supplies the Sanskrit text as "''anyac chreyo anyad utaiva utaiva preyasteubhe nānārthe puruṣam sinītaḥ / tayoḥ śreyaḥ ādadānasya sādhu bhavate, hīyate 'rthād ya u preyo vṛṇīyate''", which he translates as "(Yama said): Different is the good, and different, indeed, is the pleasant. These two, with different purposes, bind a man. Of these two, it is well for him who takes hold of the good; but he who chooses the pleasant, fails of his aim."〕 introduces image of the body as a chariot, and the senses as five unruly horses. Part Two, entitled "The Journey Through Consciousness," contains ten chapters of commentary. Most correspond to particular concepts from the Katha that are expounded by the author: :3. ''City of Eleven Gates''. "If the body is a city... we are the ruler.... Unfortunately, however.... we begin to identify ourselves with the walls and gates." (pp. 59-60) :4. ''Gross and Subtle''. Distinguishes the "gross" physical body (''sthūla-sharīra'') from the "subtle body" (''sūkshma-sharīra''), that "corresponds roughly to what we call the mind - our feelings, desires, intellect, and will" (p. 73) :5. ''A field of Forces''. The Upanishadic conception of the mind as regulated by conditioned, automatic ways of thinking (''samskaras'') is explained as analogous to viewing the mind as a field of forces. Also explains the Upanishadic concept of energy (''prana''), and describes its relation to health. :6. ''Will and Desire''. Presents ways that the human "will-quotient" can be gradually trained to match, and then co-opt, the power of desire. :7. ''Clear Seeing''. Provides practical insight into psychological constructs, both Western and Indian, such as the 'higher' and 'lower' minds, 'manas,' 'buddhi,' and 'citta.' :8. '' Stream of Thought''. Introduces theoretical concepts about the mind with their practical consequences: the quantum nature of thoughts ("...between two successive thoughts there is no connection at all"), the speed of thinking and how it can be regulated, acting versus reacting, and managing one's likes and dislikes. This section ends with a description of the "still mind" as the goal of meditation. :9. ''Shadow and Self''. Speaks of a real and very grand identity within everyone, which people are generally not aware of, but which can be realized. :10. ''Death and Dreaming''. Deals with the process of dying, and of death, as states that people can learn to transcend. :11. ''Waking Up''. Describes what the author calls the "unitive state," again emphasizing that people can strive to reach such an exalted state through practical means. :12. ''Lesson of the Lilac''. Summarizes the import of the book. Says the author: "Life is too short to play for nickels and dimes... This book was written for men and women with the daring and dedication to break the bank." 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Essence of the Upanishads」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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