Introduction To Vedanta Part 3 Vedanta Society of

Introduction To Vedanta (Part – 3) Vedanta Society of Iowa April 26, 2014 1

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What do the Scientists say about Human Beings ? Ø Ø The most advanced species in the evolution cycle among 8. 4 million species The most integrated personality with analytical reasoning & critical thinking ability What do the Sages say about Human Beings ? Ø Ø Human birth is one of the 3 rarest of events We come from God, we live in God and we go back to God What are the 4 -Main Values of Human Life ? Ø Dharma, Artha, Kama & Moksha What is the problem with Human Beings from spiritual point of view? Ø Ø We’ve forgotten our True/Divine nature We look upon everything around us as Matter and not Spirit What is the Ideal attitude of Human Beings? Ø Ø Ø Ø To know, It’s God who has become all the living and non-living beings To know, we are all children of God To serve others, with the idea of serving God To know, every experience in life is meant to be a lesson for us To know, nothing is isolated, every thing/event is interconnected To feel the presence of God in and through every act To see God in everything 2

Sankaracharya’s Teaching 1) Anubandha Chatustaya – setting purpose/resolution q q 2) Sadhana Chatustaya – sense-restraint & mental purification q q q q 3) Is liberation from the endless suffering your goal of life? Do you know what qualifications are necessary for the Spiritual Practice? Have you been able to: discern Real (God) from the Unreal (Objective World)? develop dispassion for objective world? practice restraint of senses & mind? practice patience and forbearance? develop faith in the Scriptures & the Guru? develop one-pointed focus? develop intense longing for liberation? Sravana, Manana & Nididhyasana – main sadhana q q q Have you : been hearing the Truth from the Guru? been repeatedly reflecting on & reasoning the Truth to remove doubts? been able to assimilate the Truth completely with single minded focus? 3

Sankaracharya’s Teaching Sadhana Chatustaya sense-restraint & mental purification q q q q discern Real (God) from the Unreal (Objective World)? develop dispassion for objective world? practice restraint of senses & mind? practice patience and forbearance? develop faith in Scriptures & Guru? develop one-pointed focus? develop intense longing for liberation? 4

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