I am pure being, the “clay” to which the universe owes its existence. Just as all objects made of clay are nothing but clay, the universe is nothing but me. And just as clay remains clay despite the appearance of clay objects, I remain pure being despite the appearance of the universe. OM.
Q: What is moksha and how can this state be described?
A: From the perspective of Advaita Vedanta, moksha is the direct realization of the fact that 1) You and the universe/God are non-separate from one another and 2) You and the universe/God are fundamentally identical as brahman, the one true reality. To use a common Vedanta metaphor, this realization is like a wave first understanding that it is non-separate from the ocean and then realizing that it is fundamentally identical with the ocean as water. Here, the wave represents you, the ocean is the universe/God and water is brahman.
So moksha is realizing “I am brahman” (Brihadaranyaka Upanisad 1.4.10). Since brahman is “defined” for instance, as “that which has no sin, no decrepitude, no death, no sorrow, no hunger, no thirst…” (Chandogya Upanisad 8.7.1) then realizing that you are—and always have been—brahman means that YOU are free from birth, death and suffering. This is moksha i.e. freedom (moksha literally means “liberation” or “freedom” in Sanskrit) and it is synonymous with enlightenment (self-knowledge) in Advaita Vedanta.
Enlightenment in this sense refers solely to the direct realization that you are the ever-free brahman. Since you are brahman and always have been brahman, this is just the recognition of an already existent fact, not the attainment of a particular state. By extension, this also means enlightenment is not becoming brahman or merging into brahman. Why? Because you can’t become or merge into the brahman you already are, similar to the way that water can’t become or merge into the water it already is. You can only recognize that you already are brahman and that you’re already free.
All my best – Vishnudeva
Q: What is the practical application of Advaita Vedanta in everyday life?
A: The conclusion of Advaita Vedanta is: Brahman alone is real; the individual person you think you are is illusory; the essence (true nature) of the illusory person is brahman; therefore, you are brahman.
What is brahman? Immortal, unchanging, limitless, self-existent consciousness. As such, it does not suffer when the body and mind suffer.
So what is the practical application of knowing that you’re brahman? Well, when you’ve realized the truth of Vedanta for yourself (that you are brahman), the illusory world doesn’t suddenly disappear. It continues on just as before.
But the difference is that instead of going about your life riddled with the anxiety caused by believing that you’re the body-mind, you can live your life knowing that no matter what happens to the body-mind, you are always completely okay (because you are really brahman, not the body-mind). When this is clear, you no longer have to rely on the state of the body-mind (or it’s external circumstances) for security and peace of mind. You understand that as brahman, security and peace are your very nature (insofar as you are ever-present, unchanging and undisturbed by the world). Bringing this knowledge to the forefront of your mind when you’re presented with life’s difficulties is the practical “application” of the self-knowledge gained from Advaita Vedanta.
All my best – Vishnudeva
Q: What does the term “samsara’ mean in Hinduism?
A: Hinduism is very diverse, with numerous different religious sects and philosophical schools. So you’re going to get different answers depending on who you ask. To be clear, I am answering from the perspective of Advaita Vedanta, particularly Advaita Vedanta as taught by Shankara, Swami Dayananda and Dayananda’s students.
Swami Dayananda defines samsara as “the life of becoming.” In other words, it is 1) Identifying with the body and mind, thinking it is who you are and 2) Subsequently believing that the mortality and suffering of the body and mind belong to you. Further, you believe that the qualities and character of the body and mind define who you are.
Because of this you are always trying to become something other than what you are. Perhaps you want to be happier, perhaps you want to become immortal to escape death. Or perhaps you want something more mundane like a slimmer waistline and a more respectable position at work. Either way, feeling like you need to be something other than what you are, that you’re not good enough as you are, or that you’re somehow lacking is a painful cycle: this is samsara.
This painful cycle of thinking that you’re the body-mind continues (perhaps over lifetimes if the theory of reincarnation is true) until you see directly realize that instead of being the flawed, mortal, ever-changing and limited body-mind, that you’re the immortal, changeless, limitless brahman (the very essence of the entire universe) that is always perfect just as it is.
But you asked “What is samsara?” not “how do I end it?” so I’m getting ahead of myself. That’s an answer for another day.
All my best – Vishnudeva
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
End Of Knowledge 