What is Vedanta?

Vedanta means Spiritual Wisdom.
Vid means to know. Veda means knowledge and anta means the end and aim of the knowledge; the spiritual wisdom which comes out of Realization of Reality. It is not confined to any particular scripture; it includes all the spiritual teachings of the saints of all ages and places. It is a federation of faiths and a commonwealth of spiriual concepts.

 

Vedanta includes the following fundamental principles:

Truth is one; sages describe it variously. In other words, God is one; people worship Him in different forms. Every human being in his/her true nature, is Divine. The ultimate goal of every human being is to realize this Divinity. The ways to realize this divinity are innumerable. They are called the Yogas. As Sri Ramakrishna declared, "As many faiths, so many paths."

 

Vedanta is a way of living and realizing. It gives full freedom to each individual to evolve morally and spiritually according to his or her own faith and conviction.

 

Modern Vedanta is based on the teachings of Sri Ramkrishna and Swami Vivekananda. It includes various truths found in all religions of the world, including the teachings of the world's great saints and sages. A Vedantin is one who accepts and respects all religions as true paths to the same goal.

 

 

Recommended Readings:

Jnana Yoga - by Swami Vivekananda The Four Yogas of Swami Vivekananda Condensed and Retold - by Swami Tapasyananda The Science & Philosophy of Religion - by Swami Vivekananda Meditation and Spiritual Life - by Swami Yatiswarananda