Articles on Advaita Vedanta – Non-Duality
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Three Gunas and Three Bodies (with Visual Map)
INQUIRER: How do the 3 gunas connect with the 3 bodies (causal, subtle, and physical)? I think this answer is that the three gunas are present in each of…
Sat Chit Ananda Meaning
Inquirer: In my continued study of the Bhagavad Gita and various Upanishads, I am looking closely at sat-cit-ananda and would love some insights to this knowledge. What does it…
Does Ishvara Knows It's Truth is Brahman?
Is Ishvara aware that it is Brahman (Consciousness)? I know Ishvara is: The dharma field (manifest universe) and came into being by the power of Maya within Brahman. Not…
What I am Supposed to Do? What is My Duty (Svadharma)?
INQUIRER: It became clear to me that to be really peaceful and content, I need to be in alignment with the way things are, finding my mission. The quest…
Stay Anchored in Truth
INQUIRER: Can we possibly go back to the issue of fear, the irrational, the unwholesome fear, the one that is labeled as hindrance to spiritual growth. I was thinking…
What is Death for the Wise Person (Jivanmukta)? – Part 43
In previous discussion, student began asking features of a liberated one while living. Although not the only, prominent feature being non-injury owing to much prior hard work to cleanup…
How Do I Practice Self-Knowledge on My Own?
INQUIRER: I understand the [Vedanta] teaching, but I am not ‘finished’. I don’t seem to get it in any way that makes a difference. I am still seeking, still…
Practice Karma Yoga to Purify the Mind
INQUIRER: Thus far can we say that vasanas are likened to what is in psychology known as the sub-conscious or sometimes un-conscious, but without taking aboard previous incarnations, being…
Difference between Advaita & Vishishtadvaita?
Vedanta, one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, has given rise to several influential sub-schools, each offering unique perspectives on the nature of reality, the self, and…
Event of ‘Enlightenment' Versus Self-Actualization
INQUIRER: Confusion #1: I read (elsewhere) “Don’t mistake understanding for realization”. Confusion #2: Read about people who can provide a date and time to their awakening/realization. Comment? RESPONSE: Possibility…
Who Is the Detached Observer?
INQUIRER: Question 1: Who/what is the entity that is capable of inquiring into and perceiving the apparently real instruments of “my” subtle body during waking consciousness; the detached observer…
Dealing with Vedanta Doubts
INQUIRER: I was recommended John Wheeler's book “You Were Never Born.” Suddenly there was this subtle switch and it became clear that I was already what I was looking…
The Cycle of Rebirth Caused by Universal Ignorance
INQUIRER: Tell me if I’m correct… The Samskaras (impressions/tendencies/habits) are products of karma (performed actions). And karma is product of Samskara, because it's obvious our actions (karmas) are driven…
Vasana and Samskara
Is there any fundamental difference between vasana and samskara? RESPONSE: Vasana and samskara are essentially the same thing. Vasana are the impressions that are left on one’s psyche from…
Understanding Waking Consciousness
INQUIRER: I’m trying to clear up my understanding of waking consciousness. What exactly is the makeup of the unrealized waking state re: reflected Awareness? Is it the mirror in…
Atman and Brahman
Introduction: The Fundamental Question Many seekers often arrive at a crucial question: What truly distinguishes Atman (your individual Self) from Brahman (the ultimate Reality, Consciousness)? This question frequently arises…
What is an Ideal Seeker of Truth – Part 42
In previous discussion, we saw the role of prayers and rituals doesn't contradict knowledge of oneself as the Whole. They both cultivate the mind but also serve as form…
Role of Prayers and Rituals – Part 41
In previous discussion, we debated a malformed conclusion that Absolute reality, being the substance of all-that-is, is somehow an experience to be obtained in the future. However our pupil's…
Mystical Experience or Knowledge – Part 40
In previous debate, it was suggested that everyone has already glimpsed wholeness. A feeling of home-coming. A sense of completeness. “I don't want anything to be different right now”….
Fallacy of Nothingness Teaching – Part 39
Previous discussion reconciled God's Will and individual's free will. The next question was inevitable considering it's wide-spread status. It's to do with notion that existence is a void or…
If God is Everything, Explain Immorality & Violence – Part 38
In the previous discussion, we demonstrated there's no essential difference between this world you live in and experience every moment and the Cause of this universe. How was this…
Is the Universe a Part of God? Am I a Part? – Part 37
The previous discussion demonstrated logically that Ishvara (God) can't have any attributes of it's own. Not even divine attributes like love, compassion, benevolence… as is often assumed. Why not?……
How Can Lord Be Without Attributes or Qualities? – Part 36
In prior discussion, we elaborated there's no question of Lord being in a different place called heaven. This assumption contradicts omnipresence, which means there's no place where His presence…
All-Loving God in Heaven – Part 35
In previous discussion 34, it was shown as long as we think we are finite individuals — the vastness of the universe will dwarf us. The smallness a person…
Limitless Consciousness and God – Part 34
It was pointed out in conversation 33, that knowledge of One without a Second, is not meant to create indifference towards your daily world engagements. It's not supposed to…
If World is Mithya, Why Help Others? – Part 33
We explained in conversation 32 that Advaita Vedanta teachings are not tautology (useless repetitions). What is Advaita Vedanta? It's a means of knowledge, through words, which reveals the absolute…
Difference Between Brahmā (Creator) and Brahman
A short article in response to a common question: What is the connection with Brahman and Brahmā (also called Brahmaji)? Brahmā (ब्रह्मा) is not to be confused with Brahman…
Is Advaita Vedanta an Intellectual Exercise? – Part 32
It was explained in last conversation 31 that word “self”, when used in Vedanta, is unlike word “hot” or “cold”. Concept of “hot” is only true in relation to…
If Self Is Not an Object, How Can It Be Known Then? – Part 31
In last session 30, the student doubted Vedanta's means of knowledge to remove ignorance. Student claimed only experience can provide knowledge of self (Awareness). Basis of doubt was, “You…
Is Supreme Truth an Experience or Knowledge? – Part 30
In part 29 we addressed two concerns. Role of the guru. And if absolute Truth, as revealed in Upanishads, is just another point of view. Let's revise them before…
Purpose and Role of a Vedanta Teacher – Part 29
In part 28, we attempted to correct a deeply ingrained false notion. A silent killer. It's the cause of belittling thought as, “I am a victim. Powerless. Not in…
Is the Individual Helpless? Where Is Our Freewill? – Part 28
In previous part 27, it attempted to show that the world which you experience everyday, consists of an endless combination of forms and color, sounds, tastes, smells and feelings….
One Consciousness, Many Minds – Part 27
In previous part 26, a common assumption was corrected, “If one mind is liberated from the false notion of separateness, then all minds should also be liberated”. It was…
Individual Mind, Individual Ignorance – Part 26
In previous part 25, we highlighted an important word “mithya”. Without fully understanding it, we can never reconcile Oneness and world of multiplicity. World is mithyā, a dependent reality….
Can Maya Affect Consciousness? – Part 25
In previous part 24, student thought maya and consciousness are two different entities. Teacher explained there is no question of two-ness. Just like the skill of singing is never…
Connection Between Consciousness & Maya – Part 24
In previous part 23, we've seen that maya is dependent on the Limitless One (brahman) for it's existence. Māyā is the totality of all names-forms which enjoy their reality…
What is Ontological Status of Maya – Part 23
In previous part 22, we heard how maya's veiling and projecting power works. They work in tandem. Veiling power (āvaraṇa-śakti) causes partial knowledge. For example, if we see the…
Maya's Veiling and Projecting Power – Part 22
In previous part 21, we asked “What causes projection of ignorance?” The cause of ignorance is partial knowledge and the effect is partial ignorance or projection. Suppose I say…
What Causes Projection or Ignorance? – Part 21
In previous part 20, we demonstrated how superimposition produces a genuine response in the world. Despite the value-neutral status of rope, the victim jumps in fear, mistaking it as…
Reality of Maya's Superimposition – Part 20
In previous part 19, we've established that a superimposition is when name-form is projected onto an unchanging base. For example… Ring has a name called “r-i-n-g”. It also has…
How Maya Superimposes ‘On' Existence – Part 19
In previous part 18, we've seen that even after knowledge of oneness takes place, the world doesn't change it's dualistic nature. Only the person's relationship with the world changes….
Does World Disappear Upon Advaita Vision? – Part 18
In previous part 17, we saw that even though Limitless One is the cause of the universe, it is not involved in the creation, sustenance nor destruction of the…
Is Creation an Action Done by the Creator? – Part 17
In previous part 16, we saw that the all-pervading One (Isvara) is both creator and creation. Just like a spider which spins the web, drawing silk from within itself…
Creator and His Creation – Part 16
In previous part 15, we saw how different objects in the universe resolve into the One cause. Just how all furniture resolves into One wood. Meaning wood is the…
All is One? But I See Many. Cause and Effect – Part 15
In previous part 14, student attempted to reconcile statement “Ishvara is knowledge” and ignorance. How can the two co-exist! This was clarified by saying that “knowledge” refers to that…
What is Origin or Cause of Ignorance (Avidya)? – Part 14
Previous part 13, discerned difference between Consciousness (Brahman), and world of matter (jagat) which either has status of sentience (creatures) or insentience (rock). Follow conversation attempts to resolve where…
Difference Between Consciousness & Sentiency – Part 13
In previous part 12, we resolved contradiction how can relative-words reveal absolute-reality, when words themselves are limited. Now nature of question turns to resolving differences despite all being One……
How Can Mithya Texts Reveal Satyam Reality? – Part 12
From previous part 11, the student continued raising doubts about Vedas authority. For example, how are Veda texts superior to other sacred texts? Why should I believe Vedanta has…
How is Vedanta Superior to Other Philosophical Texts? – Part 11
In previous part 10, student began debating the teacher with some important questions whether we can ever capture the truth, considering it's beyond our mind/senses. Now student debates how…
If Truth is Beyond Mind – How to Discover It? – Part 10
Previous part 9 answered an important doubt, “What makes our Vedic scriptures so relevant and why should I trust them? Why not find out the truth for myself? Why…