What is Vedanta?

Vedanta is one of the world's most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. Vedanta is the philosophical foundation of Hinduism; but while Hinduism includes aspects of Indian culture, Vedanta is universal in its application and is equally relevant to all countries, all cultures, and all religious backgrounds.

A closer look at the word "Vedanta" is revealing: "Vedanta" is a combination of two words: "Veda" which means "knowledge" and "anta" which means "the end of" or "the goal of." In this context the goal of knowledge isn't intellectual—the limited knowledge we acquire by reading books. "Knowledge" here means the knowledge of God as well as the knowledge of our own divine nature. Vedanta, then, is the search for Self-knowledge as well as the search for God.

Core Concepts of Vedanta

Brahman - The Ultimate Reality

What do we mean when we say God? According to Vedanta, God is infinite existence, infinite consciousness, and infinite bliss. The term for this impersonal, transcendent reality is Brahman, the divine ground of being. Yet Vedanta also maintains that God can be personal as well, assuming human form in every age.

Atman - The Divine Self

Most importantly, God dwells within our own hearts as the divine Self or Atman. The Atman is never born nor will it ever die. Neither stained by our failings nor affected by the fluctuations of the body or mind, the Atman is not subject to our grief or despair or disease or ignorance. Pure, perfect, free from limitations, the Atman, Vedanta declares, is one with Brahman. The greatest temple of God lies within the human heart.

Goal of Human Life

Vedanta further asserts that the goal of human life is to realize and manifest our divinity. Not only is this possible, it is inevitable. Our real nature is divine; God-realization is our birthright. Sooner or later, we will all manifest our divinity—either in this or in future lives—for the greatest truth of our existence is our own divine nature.

Harmony of Religions

Finally, Vedanta affirms that all religions teach the same basic truths about God, the world, and our relationship to one another. Thousands of years ago the Rig Veda declared: "Truth is one, sages call it by various names." The world's religions offer varying approaches to God, each one true and valid, each religion offering the world a unique and irreplaceable path to God-realization.

Unity in Diversity

The conflicting messages we find among religions are due more to doctrine and dogma than to the reality of spiritual experience. While dissimilarities exist in the external observances of the world religions, the internals bear remarkable similarities.

Vedanta recognizes that different people have different temperaments and inclinations, and therefore require different paths to reach the same ultimate goal. All paths lead to the same summit, though some may be steeper and others more gradual. What matters is not which path one follows, but the sincerity and devotion with which one pursues it.

Four Paths to God-Realization

Vedanta teaches four main yogas or paths, each suited to different temperaments

Bhakti Yoga

The Path of Devotion

The path of love and devotion to God, expressed through prayer, worship, chanting, and surrender to the Divine.

Jnana Yoga

The Path of Knowledge

The path of intellectual inquiry, discrimination between the real and unreal, and direct realization of one's true nature.

Karma Yoga

The Path of Selfless Action

The path of selfless service, performing all actions without attachment to results, dedicating work to God.

Raja Yoga

The Path of Meditation

The path of meditation and mental discipline, controlling the mind through systematic practice to attain higher consciousness.