Katha Upanishad
In this section, we will explore the Katha Upanishad. It is a treatise on Hinduism and Vedanta, which form the foundations of Hindu philosophy.
one of the most popular texts in Hinduism and has been translated into many languages over the centuries. A significant portion of the text is dedicated to a dialogue between a student and a teacher with a philosophical bent on how to achieve liberation from saṃsāra (rebirth).
The Katha Upanishad is a part of Hindu Vedanta literature. It is a dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama.
Nachiketa comes to Yama and asks him what the meaning of life is and what death means. Yama tells him that it is not possible for anyone to know this, but Nachiketa persists and so Yama tells him about this Upanishad.
Yama mentions there are three types of knowledge:
Knowledge can be learned from a teacher.
Knowledge can only be attained by experience.
The knowledge that one discovers on one’s own.
Nachiketa asks Yama to explain what “Self” really means. The Self, according to this Upanishad, is not different from Brahman, which is eternal and everlasting bliss.
Here below is an excellent presentation from Swami Sarvapriyananda
