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The Upaniṣads are rich and complex Sanskrit Hindu scriptures dating back to the 8th century BCE and are a staple of world religion courses across the globe. Where most survey textbooks present a cursory overview of these texts, Signe Cohen provides a nuanced but accessible exploration of the thirteen Classical Upaniṣads that will benefit both scholars, students, and general readers alike "The Upaniṣads are central Hindu philosophical and religious texts, composed in Sanskrit from the 8th century BCE onwards that focus on the identify between a person's inner self, ātman, and the cosmic divine force, brahman. According to the Upaniṣads, the knowledge of the mystical identity between ātman and brahman can lead to immortality and liberation from rebirth. The Classical Upaniṣads: A Guide is an accessible guide to the older Upaniṣads, written both for college students and for a general audience with an interest in Indian religion, philosophy, and culture. This volume explores the historical, geographical, and social context of the classical Upaniṣads, discusses issues of dating, authorship, and transmission of the texts, and analyses central ideas in the Upaniṣads, such as ātman, brahman, karma, reincarnation, mokṣa, knowledge, and sacred sounds (mantras). This book also discusses the importance of the Upaniṣads for Hinduism and Indian culture, as well as the reception of the Upaniṣads in the West"--
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