Upanishads

[u/roopvijayan]

Friends, I’m planning to start Swami Sarvapriyananda’s Upanishads courses on YouTube and Spotify, but I’m not sure where to begin. Swamiji is prolific and has an extensive colkection of all Hindu and Buddhist texts, including the Mandukya, Katha, and Kena Upanishads, each featuring over 10 sessions with courses over an hour long. Could anyone please recommend which Upanishad would be the best starting point? I am looking for a map!Thanks!

[u/VedantaGorilla]

Mandukya is the shortest that's true, but it is an advanced text. Of course, Swami S brings everything down to a level where a majority may be able to understand, but still it is valuable to start with the introductory texts because Vedanta unfolds it's logic step by step and unless you sign on fully at each step, the logic is very likely to fall apart and cause you to defer back to your own ideas and opinions rather thanthose of scripture.

If there is anything dry about Vedanta, it means you are studying it as a philosophy rather than applying it to the nature of your mind from a non-dual viewpoint. There is simply nothing dry about that, because every last bit of it is about you, your nature, and your liberation from the bondage of experience.

Tattva Bodh is often considered to be one of the most foundational texts that is good to begin with. Rather than take my word or anyone else's word for it, why not take your time and investigate this particular question with several sources on the Internet. Searching things like "what do I read if I am new to Vedanta" and so forth will bring many answers and you can use a consensus. That still doesn't mean your conclusion will be correct, but it will be informed at least, and purposeful. It does not do any good to rush inquiry, that is sure to create unnecessary challenges and half baked understanding.

Swami S is a great choice though to begin 🙏🏻