Brief Introduction To Vedanta

Brief Introduction to Vedanta

Vedanta is a subjective science thatprovides rational insight into human life.Vedanta does not offer solutions to life’sproblems; it gives techniques to dissolveproblems.Vedanta does not portray pessimistic oroptimistic picture of life; it is a realisticapproach to life!Vedanta is the view of life as perceived byenlightened, wise men of all ages. It is nota conservative, religious outlook of life.

The Vedanta Teachers The mantra-s of Rig VedaThe UpanishadsBhagavad-GitaVeda Vyasa’s Brahma Sutra/Vedanta SutraGauda Pada’s KarikaAdi ShankaracharyaSwami Vidyaranya of Srigeri MuttSwami Vivekananda, Swami Chinmayananda

Vedaanto naama Upanishad pramaanam – theknowledge found in Upanishads is Vedanta.Pramaa karanam pramaanam – means ofknowledge.Bhagavad-Gita is also acclaimed by many as ascripture on Vedanta.Adi Shankaracharya established the view ofAdvaita Vedanta through his commentarieson Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita.Advaita means Non-Dual. The Absolute Truth– Brahman is Non-Dual – One without asecond.

Who is God?A.N. Whitehead (Science and the Modern World):“Religion is the vision of something that standsbeyond, behind and within the passing flux ofimmediate things; something which is real andyet waiting to be realized; something which is aremote possibility and yet the greatest ofpresent facts; something that gives meaning toall that passes and yet eludes apprehension;something whose possession is the final goaland yet is beyond all reach; something which isthe ultimate ideal and the hopeless quest.”

Who is the soul (Jiva)?Jiva (individual soul) is experienced as ‘I’ – thesubject of all experiences.It is possible to doubt the existence of an objectbut is never possible to doubt or deny thesubject.“A man may doubt of many things, of anythingelse, but he can never doubt of his own being.”– Bradley (Ethical Studies)

JivaJagatJagad-ishwara- Individual Self (soul)- World (matter)- God (Cosmic Soul)Soul (Jiva) is God of limited matter (BMI)Cosmic Soul (Jagad-ishwara) is God of totalmatter (world)Without identifying with BMI, soul (jiva) is UltimateSelf (Brahman)Without identifying with world, jagad-ishwara isUltimate Self (Brahman)The goal of Vedanta is to realize that soul (jiva)and Cosmic Soul (jagad-ishwara) are essentiallyONE.

Life is divine and one in all, known as Brahman which iseternal and immortal.Brahman expressing through matter (BMI) is referredas Jiva (the individual soul).Soul -Jiva has two forms of identification: gross matter– Body; subtle matter – Mind. This identification isEgo.From the standpoint of the soul Jiva, the total grossmatter is the world and the creator of this is God(Ishwara). Both are the manifestations of Brahman.The world of matter is inseparable from spirit. God(Ishwara) himself appears as the world of mattersince soul -Jiva perceives it through matter (BMI).Recognizing the homogeneous presence of Brahmanand raising above identification with matter (BMI) isthe state of enlightenment – Liberation Moksha

Great Statements Consciousness is the Absolute PrajnanamBrahma This Self is Absolute Ayam Atma Brahma You Are That Tat Tvam Asi I am the Absolute Aham BrahmasmiC B; A B; C B AAtman Brahman Consciousness

Practice of VedantaCharacteristics of a student:1. The ability to distinguish between eternal andtemporary values - Discrimination Viveka2. The renunciation of the desire to enjoysensual pleasures in this and in the otherworld - Dispassion Vairagya3. The cultivation of virtues like restraint of mindand body, withdrawing the senses fromobjects of desire, fortitude, concentration andso forth – Shama-adi-shat-sampatti4. The desire for freedom - Mumukshutvam

Practice of VedantaThe method of gaining the Self-Knowledge:1. Formal study of Vedanta under the guidanceof a competent teacher- Listening(shravanam)2. Stage of reflection – independent thinking inorder to convince oneself what is taught tohim (mananam)3. Constant and uninterrupted meditation withview to make knowledge, an immediate anddirect experience (nididhyasanam)

Brahman is one in manymanifestationsIndram mitram varunam agnim aahuhAtho divyas sa suparno garutmaanEkam sad vipraa bahudhaa vadantiAgnim yamam maatarishvaanam aahuh- Rig VedaAgniryathaiko bhuvanam pravishtoRoopam roopam prati-roopo babhoovaEkastathaa sarva-bhootaantaraatmaaRoopam roopam prati-roopo bahischa- KathopanishadMayaa tadam-idam sarvam jagad-avyakta moortinaaMatsthaani sarva-bhootani na cha-aham teshu-avastitah- Bhagavad-Gita

Atman is the imperishable SelfNa jaayate mriyate vaa vipaschitNaayam kutaschinna na babhoova kaschitAjo nitya shaashvatoyam puraanoNa hanyate hanyamaane shareere- KathopanishadAntah-shareere jyotir-mayo hi shubrahYam pashyanti yatayah ksheena-doshaah- MundakopanishadAham aatmaa gudaakesha Sarva boothaashaya-sthitahAham-aadischa madhyamcha bhootanaam-antameva cha- Bhagavad-Gita

Realizing the Self throughKnowledgeAatmaa vaa arey drishtavyah shrotavyahmantavyah nididhyaasitavyah- Brihadaaranyaka UpanishadNa chakshushaa grihyate naapi vaachaaNaanyair-devais-tapasaa karmanaa vaaJnaana-prasaadena vishuddha-sattvastuTam pashyante nishkalam dhyaayamaanah- MundkopanishadNa hi Jnaanena sadrsham pavitramiha vidyateTat svayam yoga samsiddhah kaalenaatmani vindati- Bhagavad-Gita

Knowledge leads to LiberationBodhonya-saadhanebhyo hi saakshaan mokshaika saadhanampaakasya vahnivat-jnaanam vina moksho na sidhyati-Atma Bodha (Shankaracharya)Jnaanam labdvaa paraam shaantim achirenaadhigacchati- Bhagavad-GitaJantoonaam nara-janma-durlabhamAthah pumstvam tato viprataaTasmaat vaidika-dharma-maarga parataaVidvadvatvam asmaat paramAatmaa-anaatma vivecanam savanubhavoBrahmaatmanaa samsthitihMuktirno shata-janma-koti-sukritaihPunayair-vinaa labhyate- Vivekachudamani

Swami Vivekananda, Swami Chinmayananda . Vedaanto naama Upanishad pramaanam – the knowledge found in Upanishads is Vedanta. Pramaa karanam pramaanam – means of knowledge. Bhagavad-Gita is also acclaimed by many as a scripture on Vedanta. Adi Shankaracharya establi