Key Philosophical Ideals

In the video lecture on the End of the Vedas, I discuss some key philosophical ideals that emerge from the Upanashadic tradition including the following: atman/Self; Brahman, dukha, knowledge/Self-realization; dukha, samsara, karma, and reincarnation.  You’ve been assigned to read three of the Upanishads for this week–the Katha Upanishad, the Mundaka Upanishad and the Chandogya Upanishad. Your group assignment this week is to read these with a critical eye looking for examples of the concepts listed above and answer the following questions: What are the three “boons” that Nachiketa asks of Death in the Katha Upanishad? According to the Katha Upanishad, how does one achieve Self-Realization?  How is the Self described in the Katha Upanishad? Explain allegory of the chariot that Death offers Nachiketa in the Katha Upanishad? According to the Mundaka Upanishad, what are the two kinds of knowledge? How does the Mundaka Upanisahd say one gains knowledge of the Self? According to the Mundaka Upanishad, what keeps us in sorrow and suffering and how can we free ourselves from suffering? What is the creation story that Uppalaka tells his son in the Chandogya Upanishad? What is the lesson that Uppalaka teaches his son by having him mix salt in water? Video lecture:  https://www.youtube.com/watch v=OAOSDk2g8NM&feature=youtu.be other article:  http://veda.wikidot.com/mundaka-upanishad-eknath http://veda.wikidot.com/katha-upanishad-eknath