Skip to main content

What Is Vedanta?



What Is Vedanta? 

The highest degree of Vedic education, traditionally reserved for the sannyasis (renunciants), 
is mastery of the texts known as the Upanisads. The Upanisads teach the philosophy of the 
Absolute Truth (Brahman) to those seeking liberation from birth and death. Study of the 
Upanisads is known as vedanta, "the conclusion of the Veda." The word upanisad means "that 
which is learned by sitting close to the teacher." The texts of the Upanisads are extremely 
difficult to fathom; they are to be understood only under the close guidance of a spiritual 
master (guru). Because the Upanisads contain many apparently contradictory statements, the 
great sage Vyasadeva (also known as Vedavyasa, Badarayana, or Dvaipayana) systematized 
the Upanisadic teachings in the Vedanta-sutra, or Brahma-sutra. Vyasa's sutras are terse. 
Without a fuller explanation, their meaning is difficult to grasp. In India there are five main 
schools of vedanta, each established by an acarya (founder) who explained the sutras in a 
bhasya (commentary). 


Of the five schools, one, namely Adi Shankara's, is impersonalist. Shankara taught that 
Brahman has no name, form nor personal characteristics. Shankara's school is opposed by the 
four Vaishnava sampradayas founded by Ramanuja, Madhva, Nimbarka, and Vishnusvami. 
Unlike the impersonalist school, Vaishnava vedanta admits the validity of Vedic statements 
that establish difference (bheda) within Brahman, as well those that establish nondifference 
(abheda). Taking the bheda and abheda statements together, the Vaishnava Vedantists 
distinguish between three features of the one Vastu Brahman (Divine Substance): 



 * Vishnu as the Supreme Soul (Para Brahman). 
 * The individual self as the subordinate soul (Jiva Brahman). 
 * Matter as creative nature (Mahad Brahman). 


The philosophies of the four Vaishnava sampradayas dispel the sense of mundane limitation 
ordinarily associated with the word "person." Vishnu is accepted by all schools of Vaishnava 
vedanta as the transcendental, unlimited Purusottama (Supreme Person), while the individual 
souls and matter are His conscious and unconscious energies (cidacid-shakti). 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Sanatan Dharma and what are its core beliefs?

 What is Sanatan Dharma and what are its core beliefs ? Sanatan Dharma, also known as Hinduism, is a religion that originated in ancient India and is still widely practiced today. It is a complex and diverse religion with many different beliefs, practices, and traditions, but there are some core beliefs that are shared by many Hindus. One of the most important beliefs in Sanatan Dharma is the recognition of one ultimate reality, known as Brahman. This ultimate reality is believed to be infinite, eternal, and the source of all existence. Hindus believe that everything in the universe is interconnected and that all things are ultimately a manifestation of Brahman. In addition to recognizing one ultimate reality, Sanatan Dharma also recognizes the existence of many gods and goddesses. These deities are known as devas and devatas and are believed to represent different aspects of the ultimate reality. For example, the god Shiva represents destruction and transformation, while the goddess L
Post a Comment
Read more

Establishment Of Sanatan Dharma

  Sanatan Dharma – The Original Form of Hinduism Sanatana Dharma, also known as Hinduism, is one of the oldest religions in the world. Its origins date back to ancient times, and its establishment as a formal religion is difficult to pinpoint. A simplified explanation of how Sanatana Dharma, also known as Hinduism, was established: Sanatana Dharma is one of the oldest religions in the world, with its origins dating back to ancient times. 1 -  Its beliefs, practices, and traditions have evolved over time, shaped by a range of influences including Vedic scriptures, local customs, and the teachings of various gurus and saints. 2 - One of the earliest known texts of Sanatana Dharma is the Rigveda, which dates back to around 1700 BCE. 3 -  Other sacred texts such as the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Puranas were also written over time, contributing to the growth and development of Sanatana Dharma. 4 - The establishment of Sanatana Dharma is often attributed to the sages and rishis
2 comments
Read more

How does Sanatan Dharma view the concept of God?

 How does Sanatan Dharma view the concept of God? In Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism), the idea of God is complex and has many aspects. There is one ultimate reality known as Brahman, which is infinite and the source of everything. Different gods and goddesses, called devas and devatas, represent various aspects of this ultimate reality. For example, Lord Shiva represents destruction, while Lord Vishnu represents preservation. Devi represents creative energy and power. People can also worship personal gods who have specific roles, such as providing protection, prosperity, or knowledge. Sanatan Dharma also teaches that the divine is present in all living and non-living things, and that the individual soul (Atman) is part of the ultimate reality (Brahman). Overall, the concept of God in Sanatan Dharma recognizes the divine in many forms and emphasizes the importance of understanding and connecting with the ultimate reality.
Post a Comment
Read more