Publications on Practical Wisdom in Light of Vedic Scriptures
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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…
Sacred Texts are Valid Means of Knowledge – Part 9
Previous part 8 answered “just how valid are ancient sacred texts in modern society” and how they can free us permanently. However some minds are intoxicated by intellectual superiority….
What is Limitlessness (ananda)? How am I THAT?
Neema Majmudar, a brilliant Vedanta exponent, elucidates how one's nature is Limitless right now. For context how how this applies to you, below gives further elucidation how one can…
How Valid are Vedas Scriptures In Modern World? – Part 8
Last part 7 introduced to purpose of the Vedic scriptures answering who is the “I” which everyone begins their conversations with. Now doubt arises in student's who begins to question…
What is Need for Sacred Holy Texts or the Scriptures? – Part 7
In previous part 6 conversation, teacher explained one of most integral teachings leading to vision of Oneness; how individual (microcosmic; vyaṣṭi) and TOTAL (macrocosmic; samaṣṭi) are are of the…
Equation Which Connects Individual ‘I' & Universal Consciousness (Brahman) – Part 6
In previous part 5 conversation, the teacher gave way for student to ask one of most important questions which bridges the apparent gap between self and God. Student asked,…
The Knower, a Self-Conscious Being – Part 5
Students were introduced orders of reality in Part 4 – which has now sparked doubts. So one of students asks… “Do you mean to say we have no independent…
Four Classes of People (Entangled & Liberated) – by Sri Ramakrishna
Purpose of this evergreen article by Sri Ramakrishna is to help us discover how to get out of our own created samsara. People may be divided into four classes:…
Rope-Snake Analogy Using Logic: How Falsehood Becomes Truth
– Article inspired by Onudhyan Blog. You've arrived on an anticipated retreat in a luscious tropical forest. Thrilled to be here, mosquito spray handy, what else to do then…
Reconciling Orders of Reality and Oneness – Part 4
In last sentence of Part 3, teacher briefly introduced two new terms ” subjective” and “empirical” orders of reality. This begins to explain how we can have “orders of…
Subjective Perception and Orders of Reality – Part 3
In last sentence of Part 2, the teacher concluded with an important concept in Vedanta “orders of reality“. But didn't explain… Now the inquiring Vedantic student asks, “What do…
Brahman is Beyond All Means-of-Knowledge, Or Is It?
Brahman (Consciousness) is beyond all means of knowledge. No scientific instrument can detect it. Because every instrument IS made out of Brahman — being the content of everything, including…
What is Real and Not-Real? – Part 2
Part 1 needs to be understood for this part to make sense. Student posed a question “What is real and what is not real? How do you decide their…
Limitless Existence Consciousness (Satcitananda) – Part 1
By seeming coincidence, three sincere truth seekers found themselves before the presence of a well known wise person (jnani or jivanmukta) of the land. Soon enough there was an…
Karma Yoga Prayer (The Essence of Karma Yoga Spirit In Action)
Still unsure what is Karma Yoga and how is it applied? This prayer will help… “ With gratitude for all I have been given, I offer my every action…
If You Enjoy What You Do, Life Is Very Simple
Living does not simply mean dragging oneself around from day to day, from bed to work, back home and to bed again. The whole process repeats itself until the…
12 Spiritual Practices (Sadhanas or Yagyas) from Bhagavad Gita
Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, mentions 12 types of powerful spiritual sadhana's (spiritual practices or yajnas) one can choose to purify one's mind and strengthen one's relationship…
Is there ‘Creation’?
Nothing can ever be created. Matter cannot be created. To say “something is created” is to imply it’s not already within Creation. Which sets up an unsolvable equation; duality…
That I attempt to be different, Is samsara.
“That I attempt to be different, is saṃsāra”. To see how this is true, let's first ask… What is saṃsāra?… It is mistakenly seeing one's own thoughts and emotions…
What is samsara?
Samsara is limitation one experiences and caused by not knowing difference between REAL (Self; atman) and UNREAL (Not-Self; anatman). A samsari seeks freedom in the world through acquisition (beauty,…
Objectivity vs Subjectivity
What is the difference between objectivity and subjectivity? A statement is said to be objective when it is based on facts and it can be proven via either direct perception…
Inquiry Into Various Vedanta Definitions
THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE Something cannot come from nothing. This material universe evolved out of consciousness. Consciousness is both the substance of which the creation is made and the intelligence…
Brief Introduction to 3 Gunas
The creation comes into existence with the emergence of the 3 guṇas: Sattva, Tamas and Rajas. Sattva is intelligence and knowledge. Tamas is a heavy dense energy. It's matter,…
What is the Meaning of Namaste?
In India, many greet each other with the word “Namaste” – this is joined usually by a slight bow and palms touching in front, sort of like a prayer…