How Are the Upanishads Useful?

Acharya Prashant: The questioner is asking, “Don’t Vedanta and Upanishads too contain words and information? And the mind is prone to forget any information. How is remembering the information contained in the Upanishads useful for self-realization?” You seem worried that the mind will forget the information that comes to you via the Upanishads. You probably want to memorize it and keep it with you forever. On the contrary, that’s not at all the objective of the Upanishads. The Upanishads do not want you to carry them in your mind by way of memory for too long. Let’s understand.

You see, why does one require Vedanta or Upanishads at all? There has to be a reason. If you’re otherwise and already perfectly fine, then why do you require anything additional? You’re living your life in your particular way, and all is well with you; then you do not need to read anything, or do you? The Upanishads are not a thing of fashion or a thing of compulsion; you do not go to them just because a lot of people do. Neither must you go to them because religion or tradition demands so.

There has to be a substantial reason if you are to go to the Upanishads. The reason is your worried mind. The reason is your taxed and loaded mind. Right? You’re anxious, you’re stressed, you’re confused, you’re agitated, or you are depressed. In either case, your mind is not healthy. Sometimes you find yourself excited; sometimes you’re dejected and desolate; sometimes you are extremely hopeful, and sometimes you’re the epitome of nihilism. And with this, and due to this diseased and centerless mind, one goes to the Upanishads. And the Upanishads themselves make it amply clear right at the outset. They say, “You are diseased in many ways—that’s why you have come to us.”