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 gunas or qualities — Sattva, Tamas and Rajas. Sattva is intelligence or knowledge. Tamas is matter, the substance of…
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…
Original Purpose of Vegetarianism According to Vedic Culture
Vegetarianism is an example of the application of the value for ahimsa (non-injury). Many arguments in favour of a vegetarian diet can be made, but the basic argument supporting…
What’s It Like to Live the Vision of Non-Dual ONENESS?
When one realizes oneself to be unborn-ordinary-actionless-non-dual Awareness… and that Awareness is everything that is. It does not mean that the world suddenly goes “poof” into a whirlpool of…
Beauty and Logic of Living Life as Karma Yogi
“Now listen to the wisdom of yoga which will free you from bondage to action. In this yoga, no effort is wasted, nor are any unsuitable results produced. Even very little karma yoga protects one…
What is Advaita Vedanta (Nondualism) About?
Firstly, what does Vedantic knowledge do for you? It gives permanent freedom from sense limitation and incompleteness that has guided and motivated your every pursuit in life. It provides…
Enlightenment is Not an Event Because It’s Not Subject to Time
According to Upanishads (the original source of non-dual texts), Brahman/Atman/Self is an ever true fact. Thus that which was true before, true now and true in the future —…
What are the Vedas?
Vedas are divided into 4 sections: (1) Rig Veda, (2) Yajur Veda, (3) Sāma Veda, (4) Atharva Veda. Each each section is further divided into 2 parts. Part 1 called…
James Swartz Interviews on Vedanta (Non-Duality)
Four interviews by James Swartz – a scholar of Vedic philosophy…
Why a Wise Person Won’t Argue Against an Ignorant Person
What a wise person (jnani) knows directly – can be summarized in below Adi Shankaracharya’s words. Which is why there is NO GAIN for a jnani to argue or…
‘I’ – The Subtlest of the Subtlest
Bhagavad-Gītā says that we have five sense organs of knowledge (seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, tasting); these are very subtle. Example: Organ of seeing is a lot more subtle then…
Moving from Jiva-Srishti to Isvara-Srishti
Persons false notion about reality is called jiva srishti (Jīva-Sṛṣṭi). It is seeing what is NOT. It is subjective notions born of Ignorance. It is misapprehension/projection onto Ishvara (God)….
When Fruit of ‘I am Brahman’ is Denied (viparīta-bhāvanā)
A common question by a person with Self-Knowledge: “Having done shravanam and manana, it’s clear I am Brahman. But in my behavior I do not find myself, ‘I am…
Bhaja Govindam: Advice to a Fool Caught in Samsara of Life
Bhaja Govindaṃ was written by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya. Bhaja govindaṃ is one of the minor compositions of the spiritual giant, Adi Shankaracharya. It is classified as a prakaraṇa grantha,…
Advaita Vedanta in a Nutshell (Aparokshanubhuti by Adi Sankara)
Our ancient teachers have left behind a treasury of useful and convenient means of understanding Vedānta, the science of life, contained in the prasthana traya. Mainly in the Bhagavad Gīṭa,…
7 Stages of Enlightenment (Panchadasi by Swami Vidyaranya)
Following seven stages present an order every human being, including you, goes through or is going through — until one recognizes the Absolute Truth — otherwise called enlightenment. Ignorance…
Purpose of Studying the Scriptures (Śruti)
Śruti (Scriptures), the Vedas is the only means of knowledge to understand nondual Brahman – I am the limitless reality I seek. Above statement doesn’t exclude Scriptures from other…
How is Advaita Vedanta Different?
Have you ever stopped to think about the nature of your existence? Advaita Vedanta, a profound Indian spiritual tradition rooted in the Indian scriptures, offers a universal and pragmatic…
Does a Liberated Person Also Experience Happiness from Objects?
Object-happiness (viṣaya-ānanda) is a name given to a phenomenon that naturally occurs in the subtle body. Brahman is of the nature of sat-cid-ānanda (Existence-Awareness-Fullness). Although Brahman pervades the entire…
Who Gains Self-Knowledge? Consciousness, Subtle-Body or Reflected Consciousness?
Firstly, in this context, self-Knowledge is NOT referring to moksha (permanent freedom, enlightenment, liberation). It is a means to moksha. Self-knowledge is a though keeping with what-is — that is…
Real vs. Unreal: How to Get Out of Maya’s Crocodile Jaws
Advaita Vedanta declares, “Brahma satyam, jagat mithyā, jīvaḥ brahma eva na aparaḥ” — Brahman (the limitless Consciousness) alone is real, the world (as we perceive it) is mithyā (not…
How To Apply Knowledge of Vedanta in Daily Life?
Understanding the Core Obstacle The biggest obstacle to effortlessly and permanently enjoying your true nature as Brahman (awareness) — is the identity of self is intimately mixed-up with your…
10 Basic Qualifications for Liberation
This is not a popular topic because most of us are wanting shortcuts. Unfortunately like all valuable things in life, freedom is earned by diligent work. To make the…