The word "Vedanta" literally means the end [anta] of the Vedas. It is considered to be one of the most complete systems in Indian philosophy. Ordinarily it refers to the Upanishads, which were the concluding part of the Vedic literature. The Upanishads speak of the mystical experience of the sages, which were later on formulated into speculative thought.
Historically one can speak of three periods in Vedanta. The first period is the creative presentation of the Upanishads. The next period consists of the systematisation and harmonisation of the Upanishadic teaching represented by the Brahma Sutras. And finally the third stage consists in the exposition, elaboration and diversification by the commentaries on the Brahma Sutras. We shall say a word about each of these periods.
First phase The Upanishads came to be written.
Second Phase The Systematisation of the Upanishads through the Sutras .
Third Phase The Commentaries on the Sutras were written by various theologians.
The Upanishads hold that the ultimate reality could not be comprehended through logical reasoning. True knowledge consists in the direct experience of the ultimate reality. Thus in the Upanishads we see a shift in focus, from the cosmic gods of the Vedas to the self of man in the Upanishads. The self of man itself in understood in two ways: the outer self of man which consists of his body and his senses and the real self of man which consists of pure consciousness. This real self is called atman. This atman is identical with the self of all beings and therefore with Brahman or God. And the realisation that the self is Brahman is the highest of knowledge.
The Vedanta Sutras or the Brahma Sutras were written by Badarayana. These sutras were short saying or aphorisms that summarise the thought of the Upanishads. But the sutras were not clear in their teachings. They were more ambiguous than the Upanishads and therefore there arose a need for commentaries on the sutras.
Hinduism is a collection of the spiritual beliefs of the Indian people followed by nearly 85% of the country's population. ... This allowed the Indian society to remain unchanged for centuries. Consequently, when Indian people felt unhappiness with their lives they did not seek to change society instead they sought change from within themselves. ...
Hinduism is a broad polytheistic religion that contains several different ideas, values, beliefs, and philosophies. ... Vedanta, the basis of Hinduism, asserts that Brahman, the "impersonal" God and the universal soul, is the Absolute Truth. ... Vedanta states that the individual human soul (jiva-atman) originates and merges with the Brahman. There are three different philosophies on this concept. ... Upanishads are also called Vedanta (the end of the Veda) firstly, because they denote the last phase of the Vedic period and secondly, because they reveal the final aim of the Veda. ...
Swami Ramatirtha says: "Vedanta brings you a religion which is found in the streets which is written upon the leaves, which is murmured in the brooks, which is whispered in the winds, which is throbbing in your veins and arteries, a religion which concerns your business and bosom, a religion which you have not to practise by going to a particular church, mosque or temple only, a religion which you have to practice and live in your every day life about your hearth, in your dining room, everywhere you will have to live that religion." Vedanta teaches us this knowledge. ... Swami Jitatmananda...
Hinduism has contributed towards the implementation of many of the distinguishable aspects of Indian society such as India's well-known caste system, its inferior status of women and cultural enrichments such as philosophy and its high position on ethical conduct. ... This is definitely the case in Indian society. ... For example, Hinduism has greatly advanced much of India's status of ethical conduct and definitely its philosophy. ... For this reason it is clear that Hindu philosophy has firmly shaped Indian societal doctrine. ... Hindu ethical conduct and philosophy is instrumenta...
Devi is the personification of the ultimate omnipotent energy, which is behind all forms of creation. The source and sustenance of all creation is Sakti. This all-powerful energy is referred to as Brahman in Vedanta philosophy. Brahman is the static form of energy. When this energy starts evolving, ...
Aside from eating spicy, homemade curries, I enjoyed American food a lot more that the same old boring Indian food. ... I had been given ideas of what Indians truly are to some people: good cab driver, convenient store workers, and totally illiterate. ... In America, I have achieved so much in many higher classes that could never be offered to me, for instance, calculus and philosophy. ... Although living in a biased society, where petty things are judged and sometimes attacked, I would not mind some Indian hospitality, where everyone is welcome and no matter who you are, you will always be lo...
Philosophy comes in to take the challenging topics, like the meaning of life and existence. ... All of this criticism is the reason that philosophy feels so uncomfortable to us. ... Until we have quenched our insatiable thirst for truth, we will know philosophy. ... Philosophy makes life worth living. ...
The Indians" religion differed greatly from that of the Europeans. ... As far as economy is concerned, the Indians did not believe in making a profit. ... The Spanish could have lived peacefully with the Indians. The Indians could have shown the Spanish the ways of the land and new ways of agricultural thinking, while the Spanish could have given the Indians some technological advances. ... The Spanish had wiped out most of the Indian population. ...
EASTERN PHILOSOPHY Does anybody have any answers to the question of what is our purpose? ... Religion is an explained philosophy and be it divine or a practice, it is a way of life. ... Sankara, Ramanuja, and Madhva were great intellectuals that interpreted the Upanishads, the philosophy of Hinduism, and taught their own interpretations. Buddhism started with Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, and later, Nagarjuna, a follower of Buddhism, offered his philosophy. ... In Hinduism, Sankara taught a form of thought called the Vedanta philosophy. ...