WHAT IS VEDANTA

[Guest guest]

OM

The following is from the Sri Sivananda Daily Readings - a series of

one-page readings emailed one page a day, formed by Sri Swami

Venkatesanandaji from over 77 books by Sri Sri Swami Sivanandaji,

the series on Vedanta is now starting. Please join by going to:

dlsmd/join

 

SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 8 OCTOBER

WHAT IS VEDANTA

 

 

Om. Vedanta is that bold philosophy which teaches the unity of life

or oneness of consciousness. It is that supreme philosophy which

boldly proclaims, with emphasis and force, that this little jiva

(human being) is identical with the eternal or absolute. It is that

sublime philosophy which elevates the mind at once to magnanimous

heights of Brahmanhood, divine splendour and glory, which makes a man

absolutely fearless, which destroys all barriers that separate man

from man and which brings concord, unruffled peace and harmony to

suffering humanity. It is the only philosophy that can really unite

(on the basis of one common self in all) a Hindu and a Mohammedan, a

Catholic and a Protestant, an Irishman and an Englishman, a Jain and

a Parsee, in a common platform and in the core of their own hearts

also. It is the only philosophy that, when properly understood and

practised, can put a definite stop to world wars and all sorts of

dissensions, splits and skirmishes that exist in nations and

communities.

 

Vedanta is a magnetic healing balm for the wounded and the afflicted

in the dreadful battlefield of this dire samsara (phenomenal

existence). Vedanta is the divine collyrium which removes the

cataract of ignorance and gives a new, inner eye of intuition or

wisdom. Vedanta is the direct, royal road to the domain of felicity;

it is the supreme abode of immortality and eternal bliss. I is a

panacea, a 'cure­all' for those who are being burned by the three

fires and the five afflictions of this miserable mundane existence.

It is the Himalayan herb that can bring immediate life to a dying

man. It lifts a man, at once, to the status of Emperor of emperors,

King of kings ­ even though he has nothing to eat; even though he

is clad in rags.

 

Vedanta gives real spiritual strength; it inspires, renovates,

vivifies, invigorates and energises. It eradicates ignorance ­ the

root cause for human sufferings. It puts a stop to the never ending

wheel of birth and death and confers immortality, infinite knowledge

and bliss. It gives hope to the hopeless, power to the powerless,

vigour to the vigourless and joy to the joyless.

 

Vedanta is the only universal, eternal religion. Vedanta means 'end

of the vedas' or the essence of the teaching of the srutis

(scriptures).

 

OM