A Constructive Survey of Upanishadic Philosophy c4.s3.3

c4.s3.3

17. Of the mystical philosophers, Triśaṅku seems indeed to have been a man of great insight, as may be seen from the little scroll that he has bequeathed to us in the Taittirīya Upanishad. Nor must we forget that Maitri himself, the promulgator of the Maitri Upanishad, was a great God-realiser, as may be seen from his description of "the Ātman as realised" in that Upanishad. Rāthītara, Pauruśiṣṭi and Nāka Maudgalya has each of them left to us the virtue which he regarded as of supreme importance, namely, Truth, Penance, and the Study of the Vedas. Mahīdāsa Aitareya seems to have been a philosopher interested in eugenics. His problem was the prolongation of human life, even though he tried to realise it ritualistically (S. 13. a). Āruṇi must have witnessed, if not practised, the fasting philosophy of ancient times (S. 13. b). The sage Kaushītaki was the inventor of the doctrine of Prāṇa as Brahman. He seems to have been an ancient "satyāgrahin," and to have practised the virtue of non-begging. He was the author of the doctrine of "Three Meditations," namely on the Sun;