What is Advaita Vedanta?

Advaita Vedanta as a school of thought has its sacred origins from the emerges from of of the most ancient wisdom texts of humanity, collectively known as the Vedas. There are four texts in the Vedas, which are individually known as Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Veda. Vedanta (Ved- knowledge Anta- On the edge “cutting edge knowledge) portion of the Vedas, and is also known as Upanishad.

The study of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy and texts entails the study of a non-material divine Self, an ultimate universal reality, which transcends realities of a relative order (body, mind, world) and yet is, at the same time, imminent and ever-present in the phenomenal universe as its common underlying reality of all that is ‘seen’ and ‘unseen’. The universe and all its multiplicity are ultimately expressions or appearances of one essential reality known as Brahman, which means that which is ever expanding, infinite and unbounded; in fact, the same one Self (Brahman), illumines the sun, the moon, and the stars. The essence of Brahman cannot be modified or destroyed…it is all pervading and all infusing reality that permeates all that was, is and ultimately what will be.

Thus, Advaita Vedanta conveys an Ultimate Reality (Brahman) that transcends all existence and non-existence; a Reality that is beyond description, cause and effect, independent and eternal. It leaps beyond the anthropomorphic versions of God from religions, and declares Brahman as that spiritual reality which transcends all empirically detectable classifications, limits, confines, boundaries and dualities. For that matter, Brahman is not a “He” or a “She” at all, but rather transcends description or definition, as all descriptions and definitions are ultimately limitations of the unlimited.

The human Self, technically known as Atman, is therefore none other than Brahman, and transcends birth and death, age and disease. Even when we die, our Self will live on and begin new adventures and quests. Learning valuable lessons under-scored by Karma

Advaita Vedanta focuses on the subtle, psycho-spiritual, moral–ethical (dharma), and even mystical-existential dimension of our life, which is, after all, our deepest truth, and influences our day-to-day joy and sorrow, success and failure. To understand this dimension and begin to recognize the presence of this invisible Self alongside our day-to-day mind-based self, is the purpose and goal of spiritual studies.

This study is important when the mundane essentials and necessities in life are. not enough to bring that quality of, Sath, Chith, Ananda into one’s inner being. Advaita Vedanta will help you improve the quality of your mind from the holder of inert thoughts and impulses to housing thoughts that align with divinity itself.