Greetings and Welcome to the List

[Guest guest]

Dear Dave:

 

Welcome to the list and we are looking forward to your thoughtful questions

and articles. The best source for you to understand Vedanta is go through the

archives of advaitin list at the website:

http://www.escribe.com/culture/advaitin. This searchable archive contains

over 6000 postings on varied topics. Here is a very brief outline of Vedanta

and please understand that this is in no way complete. The fellow members of

the list will be more than happy to answer and discuss any of your questions

on Vedanta. Feel free to ask and this is a friendly group of people who

certainly help you to clear your doubts.

 

Welcome again,

 

Advaitin List Moderators

 

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Vedanta, the philosophy of life derived from the scriptures, is an

elaboration of the path to Self-realization. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

discusses the essence of Vedanta in greater depth. The discussion between

Rishi Yajnavalkya and his wife, Maitreyi elaborates the essence of Vedanta.

The three recognized states to the path of Self-realization are: Sravana,

Manana and Nididhyasana. Sravana is the study of scriptures under a qualified

Guru. Manana means constant reflection upon what has been learnt so that

intellectual conviction may be produced in the mind. Finally, Nididhyasana

implies meditation that helps to cause a direct realization of the unity of

things in God. Knowledge should lead to experience, intellectual conviction

should result in perception. That is why meditation comes in the last stage

of the spiritual journey. Again the scriptures insist that successful

completion of the states are neither necessary nor sufficient for

Self-realization.

The Path to Self-realization - Sravana, Manana, and Nididhyasana: What are

the guidelines to reach the goal of life? What type of life one has to lead

in order to realize God? The answers to these questions are not directly

addressed in the scriptures. It is impossible to outline the path of

Self-realization because such a possibility is a logical contradiction.

Rightly, the acquisitions of knowledge, the cultivation of virtues, the

development of character and the discharging of the duties of the citizen are

the only true concerns of the scriptures. However, there are hints and

suggestions with regard to the essential pre-requisites of spiritual

illumination. It is not the knowledge of scriptures but the realization of

the SELF that brings liberation to the spirit of the human being. The

Sanskrit sloka " Mantravideva asmi na atmavit." illustrates the true

perspective in the quest for knowledge. Infinite knowledge on Mantras does

not lead one to Self-realization.

 

The Bhagavad Gita elaborates the doctrine of Karma-yoga, established in

the Upanishads. The Karma-yoga is the solvent of the Law of Karma. It is an

effective spiritual discipline for persons who seek knowledge of God or

knowledge of SELF. According to this doctrine, all works done in a spirit of

renunciation and sacrifice with no desire for their fruit lead not to rebirth

but to moksha or Self-realization. In nature, the behavior of plants and

trees is in the spirit of renunciation and sacrifice with no desire. The

path to moksha, is no desire! Desires are the root cause of deaths and

births. Work done without any desire for personal gain, becomes spiritual

action. Action should be natural and spontaneous, prompted by the

circumstance. An excellent example of this spontaneity is the blooming of

the flowers during the morning sunlight (J. Krishnamoorthy's Video

Discourse). It is not the renunciation of the action itself, but renunciation

of the gains from such action is important.

[Guest guest]

Thank you List Moderators,

 

Not only for your reply but for the list itself. It's

awesome. I will stay here for a little while, learn

as much as I can about Advaita Vedanta and move on to

another group to learn about their philosophy. I

agree completely with the fundamentals of Vedanta. We

are one, and through recognition of our Oneness flows

Love.

 

Onearewe,

Dave