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The Mandukya Upanishad is part of the Atharva Veda and belongs to a relatively remote period. Though short, it sums up the entire metaphysical vision of the doctrine of the Upanishads.
The Upanishad, which is of great initiatory interest, acquires greater value through the addition of Gaudapada's karikas (Verse commentary), some of which are an integral part of the Upanishad.
Gaudapada divides this work into four parts, naming them:
1. Agama Prakarana, based on the scriptures or Shruti.
2. Vaitathya Prakarana, based on the phenomenal or apparent character of experience.
3. Advaita Prakarana, based on non-duality.
4. Alatashanti Prakarana, based on the extinction of the "burning ember".
Through it Gaudapada unveils for the first time, clearly and concisely, the Asparsha yoga or vada (path, way), the metaphysical yoga or the pathway that leads not to unite with the God-person, but to integral Liberation (Turiya).
Raphael's commentary is intended as an explanation for the Western researcher, who may be unfamiliar with the vast philosophical themes of Hinduism and Buddhism, and is more accessible than Shankara's extensive, deep and incisive commentary expounded in the Mandukya Upanishaad with Gaudapada's karikas. From it, numerous Shankara's passages are quoted alond the text.
About the author
Gaudapada, having touched the highest peaks of realization, saw that the ultimate Reality can neither be born nor die, and with the support of the Principle-Narayana was able to reveal for the first time to human beings the Teaching already present in the Shruti: Ajativada, the doctrine of 'Non-generation', and the Asparshayoga, the yoga of 'No-support or no-relation.' In order to enounce the Ajativada and the Asparshayoga Gaudapada chose to comment the Mandukya Upanishad. This Upanishad deals with the three states of Being (Virat, Hiranyagarbha, Ishvara) and the Fourth state (Turiya) which represents the absolute Reality. Because of its doctrine and philosophy, it is the most meaningful and profound Upanishad of the Advaita Vedanta and represents by itself the very foundation of metaphysical realization. The Mukti Upanishad says: 'If the goal is the attainment of the supreme Truth, the Mandukya Upanishad is altogether sufficient.'
