What is Vedanta? There are many long and deep descriptions about the meaning of Advaita Vedanta and its origins. A beautiful explanation can be found on our mother website of the International Vedanta society (ivsweb.org). I invite you to go ahead and read and then contemplate what is described there.
I, on the other hand, am not intending to give a long description about Advaita Vedanta, but share with you what it has meant for me and why I have been inspired to dedicate my life to sharing this knowledge.
Sri Bhagavan has said "The biggest problem in the world is not AIDS and nor is it cancer or nuclear bombs, the biggest problem in the world today is lack of love." It is this lack of love which is the root cause of all problems which we are facing today. How do we overcome that root problem? We must realise Truth.
The Truth is that we are all One by nature, our very essence is one and the same with all things of the universe. There is One existence which is infinite by nature, that means that it is without beginning and without end, without birth and without death. So everything which exists is not separate but is all One. When we go inside in meditation and transcend the mind we will realise that Truth.
It is this Realisation which is the goal of human life, this is what is stated in the scriptures. If we go to the root cause of each and every human action we will find this inspiration to realise truth. Satchitananda is the True nature of the Self, this means Existence, Knowledge and Bliss absolute. What is the main motivation of people's actions? Peace, joy, love, knowledge and freedom, if you go to the very root cause of each and every action, everything can be classified by those main motivations, those qualities which are our essential nature. What does this mean? This means that at the very core of each and every action of man is the search for the Self. The problem arises when we seek our Self outside. How can we find those things outside of our self? We cannot! Anything and everything found outside is only temporary, to find the absolute we must go inside.
This is Vedanta, go to the root, go to the source and everything will be found.
This realisation is possible for each and everyone of us, if only we have the strength of determination to go against the flow and go to the source. The important thing is to realise that it is possible here and now.
Swami Vivekananda has declared, "If this is true then what else can matter, if this is not true then what do our lives matter!"
Bhagavan has given us this Sadhana, these 12 spiritual practices for this reason. Immerse yourself in your practice and find WHO YOU REALLY ARE!
Written by Jahnavi Ma who is the main contact person for the International Vedanta Society in the UK.
Swami Vivekananda has declared, "If this is true then what else can matter, if this is not true then what do our lives matter!"
Bhagavan has given us this Sadhana, these 12 spiritual practices for this reason. Immerse yourself in your practice and find WHO YOU REALLY ARE!
Know your Self and be free from suffering.
International Vedanta Society UK
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