Vivekananda on the Vedas (part 102)

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Parts 1 to 101 were posted earlier. This is part 102. Your comments are welcome... Vivekananda Centre London

Earlier postings can be seen at http://www.vivekananda.btinternet.co.uk/veda.htm

 

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ON THE VEDAS AND UPANISHADS

By Sister Gayatriprana

part 102

 

 

iii) Old Association of Ideas and Blind Beliefs Must Give Way to Superconscious Experience of the Principle Underlying Personality

The one central idea throughout all the Upanishads is that of realization. A great many questions will arise from time to time, and especially to the modern person. There will be the question of utility, there will be various other questions, but in all we shall find that we are prompted by our past associations. It is association of ideas that has such tremendous power over our minds. To those who from childhood have always heard of a personal God and the personality of the mind, these ideas will, of course, appear very stern and harsh; but if they listen to them and think over them, they will become part of their lives and will no longer frighten them. The great question that generally arises is the utility of philosophy. To that there can be only one answer: if on the utilitarian ground it is good for people to seek pleasure, why should not those whose pleasure is in religious speculation seek for that? Because sense-enjoyments please many, they seek for them; but there may be others whom they do not please, who want higher enjoyment. (35)

Vedanta is necessary because neither reasoning nor books can show us God. He or She is only to be realized by superconscious perception, and Vedanta teaches us how to attain that. You must get beyond the personal God (Ishwara) and reach the absolute Brahman. God is the perception of every being; He or She is all there is to be perceived. That which says I is Brahman, but although we, day and night, perceive It, we do not know that we are perceiving It. As soon as we become aware of this truth, all misery goes; so we must get knowledge of the truth. Reach unity; no more duality will come. But knowledge does not come by [ceremonial] sacrifice, but by seeking worshipping, knowing the Atman. (36)