The Importance of Study in Higher Knowledge

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The institution of monasticism was well understood even in times of the most ancient Upanishads also. Most Hindu knowledge texts, when they shift to emphasizing monasticism, it happened around the Buddhist time. The Brea Dharan Akupanishad actually talks about how one can become a monk. One Gita says that ideal student being mentioned as a pious religious household.

Swami Sarvapriyananda teaches the Mundaka Upanishad which one of the major Upanishads belonging to the Atharva Veda. Mundaka means ''shaved'' like a shaved head. The teachings revealed in this Upanishad are meant to leave the student clean, or shaved of the veil of ignorance. Indeed, the study of this Upanishad has been traditionally confined to the shaven-heads, or the sannyasins, who have renounced everything and devoted themselves exclusively to contemplation. The book consists of 64 Mantras (verses) split across Mundakas (parts) and Khandas (sections) as follows: Mundaka 1 - Khanda 1 - 9 mantras (1.1.1 - 1.1.9) Mundaka 1 - Khanda 2 - 13 mantras (1.2.1 - 1.2.13) Mundaka 2 - Khanda 1 - 10 mantras (2.1.1 - 2.1.10) Mundaka 2 - Khanda 2 - 11 mantras (2.2.1 - 2.2.11) Mundaka 3 - Khanda 1 - 10 mantras (3.1.1 - 3.1.10) Mundaka 3 - Khanda 2 - 11 mantras (3.2.1 - 3.2.11) Reference books: 1. Mundaka Upanisad translated by Swami Gambhirananda - https://www.vedanta.com/store/mundaka-upanisad-with-the-commentary-of-sankaracarya_moreinfo.html (or) 2. Eight Upanisads Vol. 2 translated by Swami Gambhirananda - https://www.vedanta.com/store/Eight-Upanishads-Commentary-by-Shankara_moreinfo.html