End Of Knowledge

Tag: Advaita Vedanta

  • Steady Wisdom: Day 53

    Steady Wisdom: 108 Verses On Changing My Thinking

    DAY 53

    I am devoid of thought, even when engaged in thought; I am devoid of the sense-organs, even though I have them; I am devoid of intellect, even though endowed with it; and I am devoid of the sense of ego, even though possessed of it. 
    -Ashtavakra Samhita 18:95
    Meditation

    I am not a thought.  I am not the sum of my sense perceptions.  I am not the reasoning faculty of my mind.  I am not even the sense of “I.”  All of these things are transient objects that are known to me and I am not what I know.  I am the self, untouched by them all. 

    And yet, thoughts, sense perceptions, etc. are all me because they have no existence apart me, existence itself.  They depend on me but I do not depend on them.  How inexplicable but liberating is that!  OM. 

         Read Series Introduction 

  • Is Vedanta Only For Philosophers?

    Q:  Is Advaita Vedanta only for philosophers? How can the average person practice Advaita Vedanta in his or her daily life in a way that it is easy to follow and not be drawn other ideologies?

    Vishnu:  No. I don’t consider myself a philosopher and I’ve studied and “practiced” Advaita Vedanta for over a decade. Don’t take my word for it though. Just go to an Advaita Vedanta satsang and see for yourself. Spoiler alert: It is going to be filled will average, everyday people. Why? Because everyone is looking for truth, not just philosophers.

    You practice Advaita Vedanta in your daily life by:

    1) Living a life committed to dharma (in this case, dharma means right living).

    2) Consistently applying the teachings of Advaita Vedanta to your mind until they help you directly realize your total non-difference from brahman, the non-dual absolute reality. After that, there’s nothing to practice. Sure, you continue to live a life committed to dharma.  But once you’ve seen the truth of your own nature, it’s not something you can practice. It’s just what you are.

    Advaita Vedanta is not there to convince you to follow it’s teachings. Rather, it says you’re just fine as you are (but you just don’t know it!). If what Advaita Vedanta has to say appeals to you, you won’t need to be convinced to commit to it.  Nor will you look for answers in other ideologies (not that Advaita Vedanta is an ideology).

    So if what Advaita Vedanta has to say speaks to you on a deep, inner level, then you’ve found the right teaching. If not, start looking for the one that does!

    All my best – Vishnu

  • Steady Wisdom: Day 48

    Steady Wisdom:  108 Verses On Changing My Thinking

    DAY 48

    Untouched by suffering, beyond all illusory appearances and free from doubt and indecision, I am all-pervasive; I am not the body which is unreal. 
    -Aparokshanubhuti V.26
    Meditation

    I am not the body nor the mind, both of which are illusory appearances projected onto myself, the one, all-pervasive reality.  Because I am not the body or mind, I am free from doubt, indecision and suffering.  I am the one, limitless reality.  OM. 

    Read Series Introduction

     

  • Steady Wisdom: Day 47

    Steady Wisdom: 108 Verses On Changing My Thinking

    DAY 47

    I am immutable, formless and unperturbed consciousness.  I am unaffected by the appearance of the body and mind. 
    -Ashtavakra Samhita 1:17
    Meditation

    What reveals the forms of the body and mind?  Me, pure consciousness. Does consciousness assume the forms that it illuminates?  No, therefore I am formless.  Is consciousness perturbed by the forms it illuminates?  No, therefore I am unaffected by the appearance of the body and mind. OM. 

    Read Series Introduction

  • Steady Wisdom: Day 45

    Steady Wisdom: 108 Verses On Changing My Thinking

    DAY 45

    I have no parts.  I am actionless.  I am the self of all.  By nature I am eternal and self-evident.  I am the immortal, changeless self.
    -Brahma Jnanavali V.12
    Meditation

    I am one alone, free of all divisions, despite the appearance of the body, mind and world, the same way that water is one alone, free of all divisions, despite the appearance of ripples, waves and foam.  Like an actionless movie screen onto which a film is projected, I am the actionless “background” of pure existence onto which the false universe is projected. OM.

    Read Series Introduction