The term 'Vedanta' in Sanskrit means 'the ending (summary) of the Vedas' . The Vedas are probably the oldest and the most exhaustive philosophical writings known to mankind, dating to more than 3000 years old. There are 4 texts of Vedas written - Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva, and all the four proclaim the universality of the One Supreme Power (OSP) driving this entire cosmos, variously known as 'Brahman' or 'Atman' in Vedanta. This concept of OSP is the USP (unique spiritual point !) of Vedas !! I have not known of any other faith or religion in this world which profess such equality in all living beings .
The Vedas and their summaries (Vedanta or Upanishads) if understood and practiced properly provide a clear and ideal path for improving the standard of life of all humans, applicable to people from all nationalities and cultures irrespective of the differences in religious faiths followed. It does not preach dedication and surrender to any particular God or Prophet. This is what makes it a science and probably an art too of the highest levels of philosophical thoughts in this planet. I would tend to call it an 'artistic science' of philosophy. It is a science as it provides clear principles and paths to attaining self realization. It is an art too as there are many paths defined depending on the nature of the individual. I would provide reasons on why I see it as an artistic-science in my postings later.
Of course, Vedas are part of the scriptures of the ancient and still vibrant and active religion of 'Sanathana Dharma' also popularly called Hinduism. People may have questions on the pantheon of Gods represented in Hinduism and how Vedas do not preach dedication to any particular religious belief or God. My answer is that Vedanta is a set of spiritual theories whereas Hindu religion (as other religions) is philosophy combined with rituals and practices.
More on religion in my next posting.
Hari Om.
Vedanta is pure knowledge on the 'Dharma' of human life, the purpose of our life in this world and the paths of attaining the highest levels of spirituality - the Brahman. The sources of Vedanta are the Holy texts of Vedas from Bharat (India) written about 3000 years ago. My intention is to reflect and write about the ultimate philosophical truths of Vedanta as I understand from the many books read and discourses attended. Hari Om.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
An Intro
Om Namaha
Sri Gurubhyo Namaha
Sri Chinmaya Sadguruve Namaha
Hello,
I am a born Hindu from a conservative religious family. Growing up in India, I took for granted many of the Hindu religious rituals and observations, until as destiny would have it, I happened to get a the book on Bhagavad Gita by Swami Chinmayananda. I was probably in college then and the Bhagavad Gita book with its sanskrit wordings as well as its wonderful deeper meanings by Sri Chinmayananda was presented as a gift to my father by one of his office friends. I am not sure if my father had a chance to read it fully, but I started reading it more of a curiosity at that time, never realizing how much I would be hooked on it. It did not happen all of a sudden or overnight, it was a process descending on me for many years. The first time I read the Holy book cover to cover, it mesmerized me with a different outlook on the outer world that we are not normally accustomed of. When I relocated to a different part of the country (India) for job and started my lonely life there, the Gita and Sri Chinmayananda's eye-opening explanations for each verse and his overall guidance gave me enough mental strength to carry on with my life away from home.
I have been having that book with me ever since, referring to it anytime I am at cross roads with the incidents in my life. It has been many years now after my first intro to the Holy Gita, but I am nowhere in a position to say I am well verse on it. It has been an ongoing learning process.
After moving to the US a few years ago, me and family lived in different parts of the country (US) and there came upon a situation where I had the option to settle down anywhere in the US and work from home. After shortlisting a few places based on several factors, me and my family chose Plano, near Dallas (TX)as the appropriate place for us (hopefully !). One of the important factors in that decision was the Chinmaya Mission centre called Chinmaya Saaket near Plano (http://www.chinmayasaaket.org). As soon as we relocated to Plano, we lost no time in enrolling into the Chinmaya mission activities including Balavihar for my daughter. We started attending Sunday sessions every week and listen to discourses on Vedanta by the local Swamiji in Saaket. My daughter who has been growing up in the US since she was 2 yrs old, has been getting a good introduction on Hindu faith, epic stories and the Hindu mantras (slokas) through the Balavihar.
The Chinmaya Saaket center here has opened a world of Vendatic life for me and my family now. It has introduced to me hundreds of great books on varied topics such as Updanishads, treaties by various great philosophers of India such as Sri Adi Shankara, Sri Ramanuja etc. and of course the great writings of Sri Chinmayananda himself.
It is upto us now to faithfully delve into the spiritual world of Vendata, understand its prophesies, weave its principles into our daily life and serve this world with a vision within us of that Brahman (Aham Brahmosmi !) who is the all pervading Infinite Consciousness in this cosmos.
The more I read on the Vedanta, the more I am convinced this is not a religious preaching, this is a science and art of life - I would tend to term it as an 'artful science' on way of life ! I will try to write more on it in the next posting.
All philosophies are abstract topics and very difficult to comment upon it. Only erudite scholars with masterly skills on english like Swami Chinmayananda or Swami Vivekananda could successfully accomplish such writing. More importantly it needs sufficient knowledge (Jnana !) to understand such topics as Upanishads and write commentaries on those. Adi Shankara by the time he left this mortal world into immortality at the age of 32 had reached what could be called the summit of Vedantic knowledge and wrote treaties of them for the benefit of the rest of the world ! Such men carved out the super powers inherent in them through Jnana Yoga and meditation. Very few people in this world could do that.
My effort through this blog is just an attempt to repeating and writing what I read, hear and understand on Vedanata through books, Satsangs etc. I will try to bring out the truths in them as I understand (they are all truths - it is just that I may not realise their meaning easily !) and put it in writing as best as I can. If my blog helps in atleast encouraging some of the readers in exploring more into the vast ocean of Vedantic knowledge, I will be blessed.
Sri Gurubhyo Namaha
Sri Chinmaya Sadguruve Namaha
Hello,
I am a born Hindu from a conservative religious family. Growing up in India, I took for granted many of the Hindu religious rituals and observations, until as destiny would have it, I happened to get a the book on Bhagavad Gita by Swami Chinmayananda. I was probably in college then and the Bhagavad Gita book with its sanskrit wordings as well as its wonderful deeper meanings by Sri Chinmayananda was presented as a gift to my father by one of his office friends. I am not sure if my father had a chance to read it fully, but I started reading it more of a curiosity at that time, never realizing how much I would be hooked on it. It did not happen all of a sudden or overnight, it was a process descending on me for many years. The first time I read the Holy book cover to cover, it mesmerized me with a different outlook on the outer world that we are not normally accustomed of. When I relocated to a different part of the country (India) for job and started my lonely life there, the Gita and Sri Chinmayananda's eye-opening explanations for each verse and his overall guidance gave me enough mental strength to carry on with my life away from home.
I have been having that book with me ever since, referring to it anytime I am at cross roads with the incidents in my life. It has been many years now after my first intro to the Holy Gita, but I am nowhere in a position to say I am well verse on it. It has been an ongoing learning process.
After moving to the US a few years ago, me and family lived in different parts of the country (US) and there came upon a situation where I had the option to settle down anywhere in the US and work from home. After shortlisting a few places based on several factors, me and my family chose Plano, near Dallas (TX)as the appropriate place for us (hopefully !). One of the important factors in that decision was the Chinmaya Mission centre called Chinmaya Saaket near Plano (http://www.chinmayasaaket.org). As soon as we relocated to Plano, we lost no time in enrolling into the Chinmaya mission activities including Balavihar for my daughter. We started attending Sunday sessions every week and listen to discourses on Vedanta by the local Swamiji in Saaket. My daughter who has been growing up in the US since she was 2 yrs old, has been getting a good introduction on Hindu faith, epic stories and the Hindu mantras (slokas) through the Balavihar.
The Chinmaya Saaket center here has opened a world of Vendatic life for me and my family now. It has introduced to me hundreds of great books on varied topics such as Updanishads, treaties by various great philosophers of India such as Sri Adi Shankara, Sri Ramanuja etc. and of course the great writings of Sri Chinmayananda himself.
It is upto us now to faithfully delve into the spiritual world of Vendata, understand its prophesies, weave its principles into our daily life and serve this world with a vision within us of that Brahman (Aham Brahmosmi !) who is the all pervading Infinite Consciousness in this cosmos.
The more I read on the Vedanta, the more I am convinced this is not a religious preaching, this is a science and art of life - I would tend to term it as an 'artful science' on way of life ! I will try to write more on it in the next posting.
All philosophies are abstract topics and very difficult to comment upon it. Only erudite scholars with masterly skills on english like Swami Chinmayananda or Swami Vivekananda could successfully accomplish such writing. More importantly it needs sufficient knowledge (Jnana !) to understand such topics as Upanishads and write commentaries on those. Adi Shankara by the time he left this mortal world into immortality at the age of 32 had reached what could be called the summit of Vedantic knowledge and wrote treaties of them for the benefit of the rest of the world ! Such men carved out the super powers inherent in them through Jnana Yoga and meditation. Very few people in this world could do that.
My effort through this blog is just an attempt to repeating and writing what I read, hear and understand on Vedanata through books, Satsangs etc. I will try to bring out the truths in them as I understand (they are all truths - it is just that I may not realise their meaning easily !) and put it in writing as best as I can. If my blog helps in atleast encouraging some of the readers in exploring more into the vast ocean of Vedantic knowledge, I will be blessed.
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