Part 2/10:
Schrödinger first encountered Indian philosophy around 1918 through German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, who greatly esteemed the Upanishads. Schopenhauer described them as the most uplifting study available, stating they encapsulated the essence of existence. The Upanishads explore the relationship between Brahman—the universal self or ultimate reality—and Atman, the individual self or soul. A fundamental teaching within these texts posits the identity of Brahman and Atman; essentially, they declare that all is one.