What is Vedanta?

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The word Vedanta means the essence, the gist, or the conclusion of the knowledge enshrined in the Vedas especially in the Upanishads. Vedas are the most ancient and sacred scriptures of India believed to be about 8,000 years old. It is the oldest, broadest, and most rational philosophy to discover the ultimate reality. It teaches a universal way of living and accepts all paths are valid paths to realize God if done earnestly and sincerely.

The pure-hearted seers (Rishis) sought the ultimate Truth, the secret Reality with an open and earnest heart. The spiritual principles were revealed to such earnest seekers which are called Vedas. Vedas, then were passed on to many generations through oral tradition and later recorded. These seers were like spiritual scientists who discovered these spiritual principles which are universal in nature, rational in approach, and immensely practical for our everyday lives.

Essential Teachings: Rigveda says- "That which exists is One; sages call it variously. Swami Vivekananda put it in a nutshell- "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."

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Vedanta philosophy is the philosophical foundation of Sanatana Dharma, the Eternal religion ordinarily known as Hindu Dharma. Hindu Dharma includes aspects of Indian culture, and Vedanta is universal in its approach and application.  It is equally relevant to all countries, all cultures, and all religious backgrounds. Vedanta affirms the following-

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1. The unity of Existence,

2. The divinity of all individual Selves

3. The many paths lead to reach the same Goal,

4. Sincerely and earnest yearning is essential for progress.

5. The Goal of Life - Freedom, Devotion, Knowledge, and Bliss.

6. Ultimate Reality is the source and cause of the whole existence. This Reality is Uncreated, self-luminous, all-pervading, and Eternal. 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? No. This is the essence of and closest to us. This Truth is present within our hearts so It is accessible to all. 

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Cause, the way, and our Birthright: Everyone is Divine. It is as tangible a truth as a fruit lying in the palm of one's own hand. But it is the desire for worldly enjoyment that drags one down to the lower nature. These desires are to be cleansed either by renouncing them from one’s heart or by deifying them or by surrendering everything to God. Real nature manifests itself in the absence of the lower nature. Through the experience of God, one's doubts about oneself disappear totally, the 'knots of the heart are cut asunder’. One achieves immortality, one becomes 'perfect as the Father in Heaven is perfect'.

Not only everyone can realize one's own Real nature, one's Real identity, or God but also it is our birthright to do so. This attainment of immortality is not the prerogative of a chosen few, but the birthright of all. This is the teaching of Vedanta.

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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.

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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 vanish when realized from the Ultimate standpoint. Existence appears as Non-dual, Qualified non-dual, and Dual according to one's mental status. They are various expressions of the same reality. Therefore, all expressions are true and all religions are true and those are so many paths to reach the Supreme Reality. Accordingly, various deities of the different faiths are in fact, diverse manifestations of the same Divine or God. In modern times Sri Ramakrishna, a Godman 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. 

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