About the Vedic Tradition

Vedanta is not merely a philosophy – it is a timeless tradition, born of the Vedas, and ultimately, from the Source – the very Creator. It reveals a vision of non-duality (Advaita) through three foundational texts: the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma Sutras.

Yes Vedanta exists to systematically unfold the profound methodology of these teachings – guiding the sincere seeker to arrive at the same clarity, realization, and inner freedom as the sages who first saw the truth.

This isn’t a belief system or a new ideology. It’s a means of knowledge that reveals the absolute reality – right here, right now. Liberated while living. Awakened to what-is.

We are not an institution, not a business.

We welcome everyone – regardless of race, gender, religion, or nationality.

The Ideal Student

Our ideal student is one who is actively engaged in the world. One who faces common work place, family and personal challenges. One who needs guidance on how to live this perennial knowledge in the complex modern age – whether in India or the Western cultures. You have humility, critical-thinking, curiosity and willingness to do whatever it takes until last breath. You are hungry for knowledge and personal transformation. You enjoy systematic, step by step approach in learning, each lesson building upon the previous. You want concrete ideas, instead of flowery abstracts. You desire palpable change in your perception of the world, self and reality.

swami-chinmayananda-dayananda-paramarthananda-advaita-vedanta-classes-courses-lectures
Yes Vedanta teaches wisdom from lineages of Swami Dayananda (Arsha Vidya) and Swami Chinmayananda schools.

 

Cost

Most essential to life like sunlight, air, plants are all free. While man made non-essentials, cost. Ironic indeed! In the same way, eternal self-knowledge is essential, thus remains free. If insist, donations may go here. Otherwise main payment student can provide is your attention and willingness to learn from start to end of session.

Reason for the Name 

The word Vedanta comes from the ancient wisdom of the Vedas, pointing to the ultimate knowledge that liberates you from all limitations. It reveals the truth of who you are – whole, complete, and free. Saying “Yes” to Vedanta is saying yes to freedom, yes to truth, and yes to the highest purpose of human life. Yes Vedanta!

Teaching Lineage

Teaching style and language usage is based on Swami Dayananda (Arsha Vidya) and Swami Paramarthananda. There is also strong influence of Chinmaya International Foundation (Kerala) – specifically of Swami Advayananda.

About the Teacher – Andre Vas

Acharya Andre Vas - Advaita Vedanta Non-duality Spiritual Teacher - Melbourne Australia
Acharya Andre Vas expounding Advaita Vedanta Classes at a Retreat

“By eighteen, it was a clear two-part vision: to face life's challenges with unshakable persistence and to build financial security that would provide lasting peace of mind. This vision became my north star as I poured every ounce of energy into a wholesale-retail venture. The business journey resembled a rollercoaster – exhilarating successes followed by gut-wrenching setbacks, negotiations that tested my resolve, and expensive decisions that kept me awake at night. By my thirtieth birthday, the scorecard showed remarkable success: owner of a multi-million dollar enterprise that had secured my financial future. [Timeline: Wholesale-Retail 2003-2018.  Internet Hosting company 2007-2011. Automotive performance co. 2011-2026.]

Yet standing at this summit of achievement, the fulfillment I hoped for remained elusive. The internal voice seeking more continued its restless whispers. While the external world transformed dramatically, my inner experience about self remained unchanged.

The real turning point was when I visited Arunachala to pay respects to Ramana Maharshi who I revered for a long time. He was to me the pinnacle of enlightenment. It was there I stumbled upon a 25-day program by James Swartz (who learned from Chinmaya/Dayananda/Paramarthananda), expounding the essence of Bhagavad Gita's non-dual vision. Its detailed methodology left me shaken – realizing how little I knew. Bubble of pride burst.

Appreciating the vastness of Vedanta, I continued studies for another 2 years with enriching courses from Chinmaya International Foundation in Kerala, 3 years mastering Swami Paramarthananda's teachings, and 7 years learning with Neema Majmudar, a disciple of Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

Besides teaching Vedic wisdom, keeping my mind sharp with Sanskrit (studied two years at Australian National University) – have an appetite for metaphysics, biology and computers (esp. programming). Personal growth and self-knowledge are deeply fulfilling, and I'm eager to share these insights with you. ”

Gallery of Kindred Spirits

advaita vedanta mandukya upanishad retreat
vivekachudamani advaita vedanta non-duality adi shankara retreat india
Atma Bodha Spiritual Retreat Thonse Health Center - Andre Vas
Bhagavad Gita Zoom Online Classes - Non-Duality Advaita Course Lessons

Feedback from Students

  • Your understanding of the knowledge is amazing…

    I am also a disciple of Swami Dayanandaji. I was going through your website. And I must say I am impressed. Your conviction, dedication, bhavana and understanding of the knowledge is all amazing.
    Yogesh

  • You have certainly given me clarity

    Namaskaram AndreJi, You are a brilliant teacher of Vedanta. You have certainly given me clarity on many concepts! I appreciate you and your work very much, thank you thank you. Pranam
    SriSaraswati

  • What a blessing…

    Your brilliant, ingenious teaching style combined with your personal experience of what and how it worked for you and what didn't work made made this week a gem! What a blessing to sit with such a skillful teacher in a sangha of willing students.
    Shaan

  • Each week, listening multiple times and taking notes…

    Tattva Bodha series has been incredible, following your Gita teachings. Each week, listening multiple times and taking notes. I plan to return to lesson 1-31 after I have soaked in 31. I hope to join your fabulous class soon!
    Rachel M.

  • You can immediately give a crystal clear answer…

    I admire how you teach. When a question is asked, you can immediately give a crystal clear answer without any doubt. You can then immediately pick up the thread of your lesson material again. Fascinating! The focus, energy and calmness that you radiate are such beautiful qualities of yours. The universal love that flows through you and that you radiate to everyone…. so palpable and heartwarming.
    Saskia

  • My heart is filled with so much gratitude…

    Hi Andre. I'm continuing to listen to the latest set of videos you uploaded and .. oh my god, how brilliantly you are expressing the knowledge. So much to ponder at this point for me. I hope you don't find me annoying but my heart is filled with so much gratitude and love for you that I need to release it. I need to say it. I need to praise you. Thank, thank and thank you for your “work”. At this point, these videos are the ones hitting the most for me – Drg- Drsya Viveka. Thank you Isvara for bringing you into my life. You're my teacher, my guru for life. My heart is full.
    Claudia

  • Attention to detail…

    I want to send my sincere gratitude for helping me realize that I'm already, and has always been, free. I've been following you on YouTube for a couple of years. Through you, found and read some Swami Dayanandas books. It has slowly but steadily dawned on me (the intellect) who I really am (or what “I” is and is not). You have a very precise and clear way of communicating the teachings and I love the attention to detail (being a detail freak myself).
    Tobias

  • Compared to Swami Sarvapriyananda…

    I have been listening to Swami Sarvapriyananda whose teachings I find quite accessible.  Your teaching styles are similar, but very different.  He is more composed and goes slower than you, repeating the same thing in many different ways so that you finally get a grip on the concept.  You, coming from a different background, are so much quicker, enthusiastic, dynamic in your teaching, using reference to ordinary living which makes the teachings seem closer somehow.
    Aspirant

  • Every single word makes sense…

    I am able to see the God in me more clearly after the session yesterday. I am able see that the content of the consciousness is consciousness itself. I loved the examples you gave – the distance between the consciousness and the content, the bucket with water, etc. Every single word of yours makes sense. It has been a tremendous 20 hours or so.  Everything makes sense. Aham Brahmasi. I see Him who is always omnipresent, unchanged.
    Anand

  • Clear, pragmatic…

    You have clearly been well educated and I feel there is a link between Neema's style and your own. Clear pragmatic knowledge, no spiritual “fluff”, no “nonsense”. The world is full of fluff masquerading as practicality! Just direct analysis and experiential enquiry. Nothing more, nothing less.
    Ben

  • Doubts cleared…

    Thanks for clearing all my doubts and thanks for being one of the waves in the ocean of water to guide another ignorant wave (body-mind). My mind has grasped the knowledge that there is actually only H2O (awareness), and the problem of not holding this understanding permanently, lies with the ignorance of mind. You helped me to understand the basis of Vyavaharika Reality & Grace of God which kept me grounded so that I don't error due to ego of the mind. I will always keep in mind the tendency/habit of having danger of attracting towards Samsara, so will keep doing Nidhidyasanam till last breath.
    Raj

  • Strict adherence to rendering correct import of slokas…

    You are the only one I came across who are so focused to reveal the essence of Gita in its true nature, next only to Swami Prabhupada. There is a very strict adherence to rendering the correct import of the slokas, without veering away. That makes you a very rare and unique spiritual teacher. I get from you what the Gita stands for; nothing more nothing less, and that is a faculty not many possess. If readers disagree, please point to me someone who is more direct and non-extravagant as this Acharya is.
    ToobMe

  • Renewed enthusiasm about Non-Duality…

    Just to let you know that I am a great follower of your online lessons… My enthusiasm to re-learn the Advaita Vedanta according to your explanation is increasing and am finding a great understanding to apply it in my daily living. I wish to thank you for your great efforts in presenting such awesome knowledge to a level of my understanding as a whole.
    Dorissa

  • Most important class I've taken on this lifetime…

    Thanks again for making this text so understandable and applicable to our daily lives. I feel this is the most important class I've taken on this lifetime, and feel beyond grateful and blessed to have the opportunity to be guided to a clear understanding of my true nature.
    Yoika

  • Thought-provoking…

    At the outset, I'd like to express my profound happiness on learning about Yes Vedanta and your noble mission and cause. It's just adbhutam! Your website is also so informative, impressive and open! I've already spent a number of hours listening to the Bhagavad Gita lectures, and find them so thought-provoking. I admire and respect you immensely.
    Madhu

  • Accurate and exemplary understanding…

    I have been a staunch follower of Advita Vedanta. And I’ve grown up with Mahabharata and Ramayana. Knowing what I know, I can tell that the speaker is a “punyatma” . A Divine soul. And possesses accurate and exemplary understanding of Vedas the kind of which is uncommon even in India. Thank you for enlightening us here.
    Aspirant

  • Wonderful job of explaining…

    The teacher did such a wonderful job of explaining everything so clearly that the only prerequisite required to keep up was to have been born and lived a little while. So good, highly recommend attending if you were only contemplating it.
    Ashley

  • I have seen hundreds…

    You are very wise at a young age. Very unique and interesting vedantic/spiritual talk, and I have seen hundreds! Please continue on your path. You will bring the truth/vedanta to many lost souls.
    Rahul

  • Your explanation of self-knowledge is brilliant…

    I would like to let you know that your attitude to teaching Vedanta is excellent. I am 74, originally from Paris, living in South Devon, UK, retired linguistics teacher, had a full life of experiences and constant study. Your latest explanation of atma-satyam [self-knowledge] is brilliant. It is reassuring to see a young person like you RE-presenting Vedanta in the West.
    Josie

  • Your classes have been invaluable…

    I wanted to say thank you for all that you have already done and for all that you do within this transactional reality. Your classes have been invaluable to me in my journey into Vedanta. I learned so much in your classes and have been living it to the best of my ability within my life and practice…growing every day in the knowledge.
    Ray

Favorite aphorism:
काव्य-शास्त्र-विनोदेन कालः गच्छति धीमताम्, व्यसनेन च मूर्खाणाम् निद्रया कलहेन वा
kāvya-śāstra-vinodena kālaḥ gacchati dhīmatām, vyasanena ca mūrkhāṇām nidrayā kalahena vā
“The wise spend time in poetry and learning… while fools waste time in vices, sleeping or fighting.”