Vedanta

Sri Ramakrishna pointing out the harmony of religions.

Vedanta may be described as guidelines on:

• How to approach life and existence.
• Defining the aim of life, and
• How to achieve this aim.

It is a philosophy, a science and a technique that is primarily outlined in the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, among other scriptures. Swami Vivekananda summarised the Vedantic principles as follows:

1. Each soul is potentially divine.
• Vedanta presents God as being one's own infinite self.
• This is what the scriptures refer to as Brahman or Atman. That is, the spark of the Divine which is ever present within oneself.
• There is no separateness as humans and God are not seen as isolated entities.


2. The goal is to manifest this divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal.
• The aim of life, according to Vedanta, is thus to realise this truth: that God is within oneself and to 'experience' God.
• Moksha, or complete liberation from ignorance, is the final step when realisation of this truth occurs.


3. Do this either by work or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy - by one or more, or all of these - and be free.
• To realise God, much effort is required on the aspirant's part.
• One may direct one's energies and control the senses by selfless work, spiritual practices, meditation and study of scriptures.


4. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines or dogmas, or rituals or books, or temples or forms, are but secondary details.
• Knowing that one's real self - the Atman - is eternal and free from pain, suffering and the woes of this world gives one strength. This is the message of Vedanta.
• When one is aware of this Atman, of the deep and limitless resource hidden within, then one realises that anything is achievable. There is no longer a dependence on the physical body and limited mind.
• Religion is about knowing and letting one's true self bloom and blossom.
• It is evident that the Vedanta philosophy itself imposes no strict rules. It does not prescribe what one should eat or how to cook or what to wear. Nothing is condemned, not even enjoying the world and sense pleasures.
• The only warning given is NOT to stagnate.
• The whole of life then becomes a gradual unfoldment of the infinite possibilities hidden in every one.

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