Friends Event: "Ours is this Self, and it is our World": Asceticism and spiritual practice in the Upanisads

For over two thousand years the Upanisads have been revered as the culmination of all Vedic thought. Spiritual practitioners of various persuasions have studied these works, looking for answers, guidance, or intellectual stimulation. But what do the Upanisads teach, and what type of guidance do these texts offer? This talk will explore the importance of discipline and work in the Upanisads, and examine the role of asceticism and insight as spiritual practice.