Discussion on the Mandukya Upanishad

[Still_Waters]

Right now, I'm re-reading the Mandukya Upanishad with Gaudapada's Karika (commentary) and Sankara's commentary. In the foreword, it says that:

"If a man cannot afford to study all the hundred and more Upanishads, it (the Mandukya Upanishad) will be enough; it is declared in the Muktikopanishad, if he made the one Upanishad the Mandukya, as Shankaracharya also says, it contains the quintessence of all of them."

It was the Mandukya Upanishad that, many years ago, led me to practice "conscious sleep" (chetan nidra, yoga nidra) and remain aware during the entire cycle of deep sleep, dream formation, and the so-called waking state as well as the transitions between the three states and beyond (the turiya). How better to "Know Yourself" than to observe one's self directly during these four stages of consciousness ! That process is very illuminating with awesome implications and is also used by Tibetan Buddhists who compare the process of "dying" to going to sleep.

Now that I am re-reading the Mandukya Upanishad with the aforementioned commentaries, I was wondering if anyone here has read the Upanishad and has any comments to make. After all, it is the SHORTEST of the Upanishads and goes straight to the point of spiritual realization without any mention of rituals or sacrifices.

Aum !