What is Vedanta?

​

Vedanta is the essence, or the gist of knowledge enshrined in the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India which are claimed to be the most ancient in the world. These spiritual principles were revealed to pure-hearted seers (Rishis). Like scientists, these seers discovered the spiritual truths which are both universal scientific in temper and propagated its practice in our day-to-day life. Vedanta is the broadest religious philosophy and teaches a universal way of living.

Essential Teachings: According to Swami Vivekananda - "Each soul is potentially divine, the goal is to manifest this divinity within by controlling nature: external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy -- by one, or more, or all these -- and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details."

​

Vedanta and Hindu Dharma: Vedanta is the philosophical foundation of Hindu Dharma or the Eternal Religion. While Hindu Dharma includes aspects of Indian culture, Vedanta is universal in its approach and application. It is equally relevant to all countries, all cultures, and all religious backgrounds. Vedanta affirms-

​

 1. The unity of Existence,

 2. The divinity of all individual Selves, the children of immortal bliss,

 3. The harmony of all religions as all paths lead to the same Goal,

 4. One should tread on the path sincerely and earnestly.

 5. Freedom is the Goal of life.

 6. The Ultimate Reality is the source and cause of the whole existence.

 7. This Reality is all-pervading, Uncreated, self-luminous, eternal, and the final cause of the universe. It is the only Truth behind all tangible and intangible, sentient and non-sentient, animate and inanimate. Does it mean it is beyond our reach? This Truth is present within our hearts so It is accessible all the time. 

​

Our birthright: Everyone can and should realize God, one's own real nature, one's real identity, as tangibly as ‘a fruit lying on the palm of one's own hand’. By conquering the lower nature one can manifest one's higher nature.

It is the desires for worldly objects that drag one down to the lower nature. These desires cling to one’s heart are to be cleansed. So these desires and expectations are to be renounced and then 'be perfect as the Father in Heaven is perfect'. Through the experience of God, one's doubts about oneself disappear totally, the 'knots of the heart are cut asunder’ and one achieves immortality. The attainment of immortality is not the prerogative of a chosen few, but the birthright of all. This is the conviction of every follower of Vedanta.

​

Realization is essential: From the religious standpoint Advaita Vedanta is monotheistic and from the philosophical standpoint it is Non-dualistic. It also admits all other views such as Qualified Non-dualism, Dualism, etc. According to Vedanta, religion is experiential and not mere acceptance of certain time-honored dogmas, doctrines, or creeds. To know God is to be one with Him. One may study scriptures, engage in rituals, perform social services, or pray with regularity, yet, unless one is lifted to the Divine awareness in one’s own heart, he/she is still a phenomenal being and a victim of distorted identity.

​

Unity in diversity: The Vedanta philosophy asserts that God, the individual Self, and this seemingly diverse universe are essentially one. The apparent distinctions are being created by names, forms, and utilitarian values. These distinctions do not exist when seen from the Ultimate standpoint. According to Vedanta, Existence is non-dual and universal. Therefore, all religions and all isms (Dualism, Qualified non-dualism, and Non-dualism) are so many paths to reach the Supreme Goal and are true. Accordingly, various deities of the different faiths are in fact diverse manifestations of the same God. In modern times Sri Ramakrishna, a God-Man from India realized this Unity in variety in His own life by practicing various spiritual ways one by one and taught to the world through Swami Vivekananda and other disciples.