Analects of Swami Sivananda

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3.

 

(iii) The Great Path

 

31. Vedanta is the ancient road that leads from death to Immortality.

It is a real road to knowledge of Brahman or the Absolute.

32. Vedanta is an art of living to be practised all through one's life.

33. Vedanta philosophy is so much talked about but so little

understood and practised.

34. Vedanta is neither an abstract doctrine nor a bundle of dogmas. It

is a philosophy of life which aims at the realisation by man of the

ineffable splendour of his real essential divine nature.

35. The teachings of the Upanishads are based on the experiences

essentially transcendental in their nature.

36. Vedas are inspiring. They are the breath of God. They are eternal.

37. Emancipation lies in the annihilation of ego or the llttle self-

aoorgating self. This is the central teaching of Vedanta.

38. Practice of Advaita Vedanta destroyes the feeling of duality.

39. It is by deep meditation and Vairagya (dispassion, detachment)

that the unity of the Self is intuitively realised.

40. STudy is helpful and so is devotion, but the final essence of the

philosophy of Advaita Vedanta is the feeling of non-duality.

41. Vedanta is not pessimistic. It is the highest pinnacle of optimism.

42. Vedanta elevates you. Vedanta inspires you. Vedanta transforms

you. Vedanta fills you with wisdom, peace, joy, bliss, energy and

strength.

43. Practice of Vedanta leads to practical living, realisation of

truth.

44. Vedanta must belived daily. It is not meant only for the

theoretical discussion.

45. Try to understand correctly the true purpose of the Upanishads.

This is Sravana or hearing of the Srutis.

46. Strengthen your conviction as stated in the Upanishads by

reflection. This is Manana.

47. REalise the Truth or Brahman by Nididhyasana (constant and

profound meditation).

48. Only through the Atmic Enquiry one can attain quiescence of mind

and Atma-Jnana (Wisdom of the Self).

49. You can attain perfection and freedom if you transcend your narrow

individuality and identify yourself with the Whole or Brahman.

50. Realise the Infinite Brahman to be your own self. Then alone you

will be liberated from all bonds.

 

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