Introduction To Vedanta Part 2 Vedanta Society of

Introduction To Vedanta (Part – 2) Vedanta Society of Iowa March 22, 2014 1

What is Vedanta ? ØCulmination/Essence of Veda Ø Karma Kanda -> Jnana Kanda ØProclaims “Truth/Reality is One” Ø Ekam Sat, Vipra Bahudha Vadanti ØSelf/God/Brahman ØBasis (Philosophy) of Hinduism 2

Why Study Vedanta? Ø To realize Ø “what am I” Ø “what is the nature of this World” Ø “what is God” Ø To remove all Delusion/Ignorance Ø To be eternally Happy & Wise Ø To revere everything as Divine Ø To experience Oneness/Equality in everything 3

How to study Vedanta? (Acc. to Adi Sankaracharya) 1. Anubandha-Chatushtaya (अनबनध ØFour (4) preparatory factors -चतषटय 2. Sadhana-Chatushtaya (स धन -चतषटय ) ) ØFour (4) means of developing fitness for Sadhana 3. Shravana-Manana-Nididhysana (शरवण -मननन द धय सन ) ØThree (3) fold process of Sadhana 4

Anubandha-Chatushtaya 1. Prayojana (’परय जन ’) – Purpose ØCessation of all miseries ØAttainment of eternal bliss 2. Vishaya (’व षय ’) – Subject Matter ØTo be established in “One Truth/Reality” 3. Sambandha(’समबनध ’) – Connection Ø Connection with the Subject Matter 4. Adhikari (’अध क र Ø Qualifications to acquire ’) – Fitness 5

Sadhana-Chatushtaya 1. Viveka (‘व वक (’ Ø Discrimination between Eternal and Non-Eternal 2. Vairagya (‘वर गय (’ Ø Detachment from Non-Eternal 3. Shamadi-Sat-Sampatti (‘शम द समपतत ’) शट- 4. Mumukshutva (‘ममकषतव ‘) Ø Acquiring six (6) treasures 6

Shamadi Shat-Sampatti 1. Shama (‘शम’) Controlling Mind 2. Dama (‘दम(’ Controlling Sense Organs 3. Titik. Sh. A (‘त त कष (’ Enduring pain/pleasures without reaction 4. Uparati (‘उपरत (’ Withdrawing Mind from external stimuli 5. Shraddh. A (‘शरदध ’) Unwavering faith in Scriptures & Words of Guru 6. Sam. Adh. Ana(‘सम ध न One pointed focus ’) 7

Three (3) fold process of Sadhana 1. Ø Ø 2. Ø Ø 3. Ø Ø Shravana (‘शरवण ’) Hearing from Guru (Qualified Spiritual Teacher) Develops faith in the Scriptures Manana (‘मनन’) Reflecting on what’s heard from the Teacher Removes doubt Nididhysana (‘न द धय सन ’) Meditating on what’s heard from the Teacher Complete assimilation of Truth 8

9 A Q&