Taking a Stand As Awareness
INQUIRER: What does “taking a stand as Awareness” mean? Heard James Swartz mentioned in. RESPONSE: Taking a stand as awareness means to assume your true identity — after having…
Binding vs Non-Binding Vasanas: Freedom from Likes and Dislikes
INQUIRER: About this statement, “It is important to accommodate all persons and circumstances [CH13 of Bhagavad Gita]. It is also foolish to like or dislike any person or circumstance…
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 I am looking closely at sat-cit-ananda and would love some insights to this knowledge. RESPONSE: Firstly to define each word……
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?
There are two main schools of non-dual Vedanta: advaita and vishishtadvaita (विशिष्टाद्वैत). Advaita says that the fundamental nature of reality is nothing other than limitless conscious existence. Vishishtadvaita, or…
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
What distinguishes Atman (Self) from Brahman (Awareness)? In the Vedanta equation: Awareness + Maya = Ishwara. And on the other side: Atman + Ignorance = Jiva (individual soul). RESPONSE:…
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, Emptiness 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, empty-ness,…
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…