Vedanta: universal teachings from an ancient tradition

What is it?

• Vedanta is the underlying philosophic principle of Eastern religion.
• It is a method of self-analysis, which leads one beyond the trappings of the mind to the substratum of thought, experience and existence.
• It is the philosophic basis of all yogas.
• It is a non-dualistic (Advaita) belief system rooted in the ancient scripture of India called Vedas.

The spring of joy is within us - it is our very nature. How to reach this state of Divine Consciousness is the focus of the teachings. Vedanta affirms that we can know our true self by a direct personal experience.

The paths are stated clearly and there is no dogmatic assertion but Truth that is confirmable by our own experience.

What the word means
The word 'Vedanta' comes from the Sanskrit root word 'vid' - to know. It literally means "the end of the Vedas." The Vedas are the oldest scriptures known and are compiled into four books. The first part of each Veda is concerned with actions and worldly gain, while the latter portion, called the Upanishads, is concerned with Self-Knowledge. Once this is gained, there is nothing more left to be desired and one experiences the fulfillment of Life. This is the end - the goal of life - so the teaching is called Vedanta.

Thus, the study of Vedanta is a journey toward reaching this deep understanding of ones' own true nature. The teachings are profound, yet simple; logical, yet warming the heart with love; completely personal, yet universal, and above all, very relevant in today's world.

The Style of Teaching
The traditional approach follows a verse-by-verse method of instruction passed down from generation to generation in the ancient gurukula or ashrams (spiritual centers). In some of her talks Shubhraji teaches the Sanskrit verses from original texts, then makes them relevant to daily life. However, in other talks, she may simply apply the concepts of Vedanta in a more informal manner; this style of lecture is intended to explain the philosophy or how to handle current issues faced in contemporary life.

The Audience
Shubhraji's audience is diverse and her talks are easily understood even by people who have no prior exposure to Hindu culture or Vedanta.

Vedantic Texts
The three main texts, called 'Prasthana traya' in Sanskrit, are the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras. Originally passed down orally, these were only written and compiled about 1500 B.C.E.

The Upanishads
These contain the quintessence of Indian philosophy. They are in a conversational style between a Realized Master and a mature receptive student in the serenity of the Himalayan valley. The texts are sacred revelations and form the core of subjective inner contemplation for a spiritual seeker.

Bhagavad Gita
A Sanskrit poem of seven hundred and one verses, The Gita or Divine Song, is the most popular scripture found in almost every Hindu home. Many commentaries and translations in numerous languages have been written on the Gita. It is an ageless book of wisdom and right living. It draws the main ideas from the Upanishads and presents them in a way that an average person in the world can understand and live. The Bhagavad-Gita is a scripture set against the background of the battlefield. Before the battle begins Lord Krishna, the incarnate God- the Perfect Master- drives Prince Arjuna's chariot between the two armies, to review the enemy - who are none other than his own cousins. Arjuna is a fearless and competent warrior. War was inevitable because his cousin refused to give back the kingdom to Arjuna and his brothers after their thirteen years of exile. The Gita is about good and evil. It is a study of the human personality. It deals with how we should live in this world and how we can transcend our confusions of the mind to reach complete freedom and peace. It is not just a story, but it is directly applicable to our life.

Brahma Sutras
These are aphorisms - which reveal the fundamentals of Vedantic philosophy. Sri Ved Vyaasa wrote them around 1500 - 2000 B.C. A commentary by Sri Adi Sankara on the Brahma Sutras provides great insight and depth into each verse. The Brahma Sutras are an extremely advanced text only taught to very senior students of Vedanta.