Acharya Prashant introduces the Chandogya Upanishad, describing it as a very significant journey to begin. He explains that it is one of the earliest and most expansive Upanishads, composed between the 8th and 6th centuries BC, predating the Buddha. Because it is an older text, it lacks the razor-sharp precision and absolute clarity of later Upanishads. The speaker views the entire Vedic literature as a beautiful process of evolution. This process began with the Vedic Samhitas, which were composed in the Rigvedic times, many centuries before the Buddha, and started with nature worship. The early seers were attempting to please the forces of nature (Prakriti), such as Indra, Marut, and Agni, as seen in the first verse of the Rigveda being dedicated to Agni. The speaker emphasizes that it is not who was worshipped that is important, but that the inquiring mind felt the need to worship something immense and greater than the ego. The speaker connects this to the Shanti Path (peace invocation) of the Chandogya Upanishad, which prays for the strengthening of one's limbs and senses. This strength is not sought for the body's own sake, but for the purpose of liberation. The body is the instrument for the spiritual pursuit. He explains that 'Om' represents the movement from the three restless states of ordinary consciousness (waking, sleeping, dreaming) to the fourth state, 'Turiya', which is silence. 'Om' is a constant reminder of the need to go beyond. The speaker also addresses a question about why new Upanishads are not written today. He clarifies that the conditions for their emergence still exist, as they are always born out of overcoming obstacles. In ancient times, the obstacle was scientific ignorance; today, it is an abundance of knowledge that clutters the mind. He suggests that the works of modern seers and saints are essentially new Upanishads, as the timeless Truth requires new, contemporary expressions. The core Truth is timeless, but its carrier—the language and context—must adapt to the times.