A psycho-spiritual study of consciousness and transcendence in the Upanishads

Introduction This research is foregrounds the psychological quest of a certain category of people who are dissatisfied with their life as it is, as they are in search of a deeper meaning of life and the purpose of being. Ancient Indian systems of psychology and philosophy have through their emphasis on the centrality of consciousness and through the use of subjective methods of investigation, research and experimentation on that the self of the experimenter explored the question which the aim of life poses to humanity. Upanishads or ancient Indian texts record the testimonies of the ancients who investigated the realms of consciousness for answers to the questions that the meaning of life and the purpose of existence poses. This research systematically explores various teachings from a carefully chosen assortment of the Upanishadic teachings that may be of relevance to seekers of Truth in contemporary times. Upanishads also propose the phenomena of self-inquiry as a method of spiritual practice and progress in the growth of consciousness. Building the edifice of their spiritual quest and practice upon the framework that the Upanishads outline; the seekers of Truth who are often perplexed by the lack of clarity about the meaning of life can embark on the path of discipline through the practice of self-inquiry that the Upanishads emphasize. The seekers who live in the Light of and imbibe the practices that are enshrined in the Upanishads, constantly put questions to themselves and verify and validate the facts which they find through their sincere research into the domain of Truth and into the realms of consciousness through and within themselves. This research explores Upanishadic texts and culls out concepts that enable the psychologist and seekers of Truth to carry out their spiritual quest, equipped by the vicarious experiences of the ancient Upanishadic seers. The chapters organized into three,