VEDANTISM:
Vol4 CW of
SV Nov 16, 2014
2nd lecture in the Colombo to Almora series: pg 116
From Colombo next stop was Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
Welcome address: Hindus were oppressed by the Christians
into forced religious conversions. Thus Swamiji’s visit v propitious and
timely.
Swamiji’s reply - A crash course in Vedantism.
Hindu/Hinduism :
- Indus mispronounced as Hindus
- includes all settlements on east of the Indus River viz, Hindus, Christians, MuslimsPharsees…
- to differentiate from other religions – Hindus follow Vedanta of the scriptures VEDAS
- Vaidikas/Vedantists – proper name instead of Hindus.
- Followers of Vedanta – Monists, Dualists, Qualified Monists, Shaivites, Vaishnavites, Shaktas, Sauras, Ganapatyas.. etc
Scripture: - VEDAS :
- Eternal knowledge of God as God is eternal
- Are authority in themselves
- No beginning nor end
- Karma Kanda (Ritual/Sacrificial portion)- changes with necessity of times and
- Jnana Kanda (Spiritual Portion) – unchanging – VEDANTA
Author of Vedas:
- Many Rishis
- Mantra-Drashta – Seer of thoughts
- Spiritual discoverers
Types
of scriptures:
o
Srutis: Upanishads
–
§
final
authority
§
Jnana
Kanda – unchanging n eternal
§
Spiritual n philosophical ideas
§
Soul , heaven , eternal principles- never change
§
These ideas are worshipped in very household as
symbols..!!!!
o
Smritis:
§
not the final authority
§
books written by sages
§
dependent on time and restrictions vidhi/nishedh
§
manner, custom and regulations
o
Puranas:
§
To popularize the religion of Vedas
§
Lives of great kings, saints, sages
§
To illustrate the eternal principles
o
Tantras:
§
Like the Puranas
§
Incorporates sacrificial ideas of Karma Kanda
o
So many scriptures -> So many sects ->
Should have been more..!!!
Essential Principles of VEDANTA:
1. MAYA –
a.
Q of
creation ~ projection not creation, infinite in time
b.
Law of cycles – Srithti/ Sthiti /Pralaya –
eternal creation – never rest
c.
1 moments Rest = total annihilation acc to BG
d.
Time + Space + Causation within this cycle
e.
Eternal wave like motion
f.
Therefore beginning n end is wrt 1 particular
cycle
g.
Creator = Brahman
h.
Good and Bad acc to Eternal Karma Theory
i.
Reincarnation
2.
Life is Eternal:
a.
Believers- Hindus, Buddhists, Jains
b.
Child is ushered as a burden of his infinite
past
c.
Law of Karma
d.
I can be happy if I will + I can be pure if I
want to be
3.
What is Soul?
a.
Study of external nature –
material->materialization
b.
Spirituality is through human soul, the heart
c.
Without beg or end,
d.
Immortal.
e.
All powerful (omnipresence and omniscience)
f.
Brotherhood of Universal Life
i.
All living creatures have soul
ii.
Difference is only in manifestation
iii.
Lowest worm is my brother
iv.
Brotherhood of Man extended to Brotherhood of Universal Life
g.
Atman or Self and not soul (in English lang soul
– MIND ~ Manas)
h.
Atman is NOT mind (Sukshma Sharira or Subtle
body) or body (Sthula Sharira or Gross body)
i.
Birth + death
with mind ~ Sukshma Sharira
j.
When all knowledge is attained and perfection is
achieved it CHOOSES to discard or keep the mind and remain Ever Free for all
eternity
4.
Heaven n Hell of Vedanta
a.
NOT infinite
b.
Heaven is a bigger version of this world with
finer enjoyments
c.
Important positions – Indra – reward of good
work – worse for the Soul
d.
Gods born as human beings after good work is
over
5.
Earth
a.
KARMA BHUMI
b.
One attains liberation from this place
c.
Heaven not worth attaining to
6.
GOAL
a.
MUKTI aka FREEDOM, eternal BLISS
b.
Free from internal and external nature
c.
Conquer Nature, sex idea (body and age), life n death,
enjoyment n sorrow
d.
Become bliss unspeakable, indestructible
7.
How to Attain the Goal?
a.
Cultivate intense LOVE n BHAKTI
b.
Subsequently KNOWLEDGE will dawn which breaks
the ignorance and
c.
Result is FREEDOM
8.
GOD
a.
Personal –
i.
Creates
ii.
Preserves
iii.
Destroys
iv.
Relationship exists with individual soul
v.
Omnipresent – ultimately live in Him
b.
Impersonal -
i.
No creation <-/-> bondage
ii.
No knowing <-/-> mind
iii.
No thinking <-/-> weakness coz of mind
iv.
No reason <-/-> reason belongs to mind
v.
Advaita – no distinction between man or woman
c.
Theory of
Ishta –
i.
many sects but in the end they all come together
ii.
Inclusion of all exclusion of none
iii.
Any sect that hates others or preaches “ours is
the only way” can never love God or preach about love.
9.
ADVAITA
a.
Ethics system ensures
b.
Love all as yourself
c.
Everywhere n everyone is manifestation GOD
d.
Strength/ No Superstition / Glory of own Soul /infinite
– eternal-deathless – POWER
e.
Whatever you think - you will be
f.
Teach the CHILDREN the idea of SOUL from childhood
–
i.
bold
ii.
all conquering
iii.
all suffering
iv.
strong
v.
all power
vi.
all purity
vii.
all wisdom
viii.
all freedom
ix.
Glory of Soul
Commands of Swamiji:
1.
Kali Yuga work/tapas - Daana –giving and
helping others
a.
Spiritual knowledge – saves soul from many
births
b.
Secular knowledge leading to spiritual knowledge
c.
Saving of life
d.
Food n drink
2. Be a Spiritual
Man
a.
Life of renunciation, spirituality, all
suffering and love infinite.
3. SPREAD the
knowledge of VEDANTA
4.
Beware of Jealousy –
a.
Everyone wants to command n no one wants to obey
b.
Learn to be a servant and then you will be a fit
master
c.
We also also do great deeds such that others
will look upon wit blessings and pride on us as their ancestors.
(c) Nandini Mitra Banerjee Nov 16, 2014
