The Vedas, sanskrit meaning "knowledge", are a body of religious texts originating from ancient India. The texts are the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism; considered by Hindus consider to be apauruṣeya, meaning "not of a man, superhuman" and "impersonal, authorless".
The Vedas consist of three volumes: The Dhammapada, The Upanishads, and The Bhagavad Gita.
The Dhammapada is a collection—traditionally, sayings of the Buddha, one of the greatest of these explorers of consciousness. Its messages gathered according to some dominant characteristic like a symbol or metaphor—flowers, birds, a river, the sky—which makes them easier to commit to memory.
The Upanishads are like slides, the Dhammapada is more like a field guide; lore picked up by someone who knows every step of the way through these strange lands. He can't take us there, he explains, but he can show us the way: tell us what to look for, warn about missteps, and advise us about detours. Most important, he urges us that it is our destiny as human beings to make this journey ourselves. Everything else is secondary.
The Bhagavad Gita gives us a map and guidebook. It gives a systematic overview of the territory, shows various approaches to the summit with their benefits and pitfalls, offers recommendations, tells us what to pack and what to leave behind. It asks and answers questions about how to live effectively in a world of challenge and change.
I am #currently_reading the Vedas after receiving an intriguing recommendation, and sharing of his reflections, from @Mark Cappellano. He suggested the translations by Eknath Easwaran.
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