A universal teaching from an ancient tradition It is the philosophic basis of all Yogas « Return to Page 1

How does Vedanta fit into the Vedas?
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 we gain Knowledge of our Higher Self, there are no more self centered desires and we become open to experience the fulfillment of Life. This fulfillment is the goal of life.

Advaita Vedanta
Though there are sub schools within the Vedanta system, Advaita is the main sub-school of the Vedanta. Other major sub-schools of Vedanta are: Vishishta Advaita (Qualified Dualism) and Dvaita (Dualism).

Salient Features of Advaita:

• Brahman is the Absolute Self, the highest being. It is identical with the deepest part of our being - Atman and at the same time it is the essence of the world.
• Brahman is the basis of this phenomenal world. From that perspective He is called Isvara (Brahman with qualities) or God.
• This Brahman in itself though, is non-empirical and without qualities. Any changes in the empirical world do not affect this Absolute Reality.
• Because we are that ever free Reality, it is only due to our Ignorance that we are bound and we suffer. The purpose of Vedanta is to remove this Ignorance so that we can realize our eternally free blissful nature.
• This can be done by direct realization of the Truth. By practice of ethical values, devotion and knowledge we attain moksha or liberation and merge with the One Absolute Reality or Brahman.

Method 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, and then makes them relevant to daily life. In other talks, she applies the concepts of Vedanta and presents her ideas in a simple way depending on the type of audience.