In a broad sense, Vedanta is any tradition or methodology that provides knowledge of the true nature of the self. Based on the profound wisdom of the Upanishads, the most ancient and authoritative scriptures of India, this book is a simple, insightful, and contemporary introduction to the vital teachings of Vedanta. It reveals what Vedanta is, what it is not, and how to begin understanding its beauty and perennial truth. Excerpts from the Upanishads and other ancient Sanskrit scriptures provide insight on the origins of Vedanta, and chapters on traditional methods of study supply essential background for anyone seeking liberation from a sense of incompleteness. The essence of any great truth should be simple, and its discovery should unfold with joy. This straightforward introduction will bring the ancient and uncommon wisdom of Vedanta alive for you in the spirit of today.
- "A brilliant and sustained piece of writing on philosophy made easy… should appeal even to the most casual reader-and seeker." —Free Press Journal, Bombay, India
- "It is not easy to write a book on Vedanta … It is a challenge that Dhruv S. Kaji has taken on superbly." —The Hindu, Madras, India
Excerpts:
From Chapter 1:
According to most spiritual traditions the desire for wordly pleasures is incompatible with the spiritual quest. You can have the treasures of this world, they say, or the treasures of the spiritual realm, but not both. This either/or approach sets off an endless internal struggle in those who are drawn to spiritual beliefs and practices but who have at the same time a natural urge to fulfill their worldly desires. This includes most of us. And when there is no way to reconcile these two impulses we fall prey to guilt and self-condemnation, or we repress either our spiritual desires or our worldly desires, or we try to have both, and become hypocrites.
The tantric approach to life avoids this painful and confusing dilemma by taking the whole person into account - our human as well as our spiritual nature. The literal meaning of tantra is "to weave, to expand, to spread," and according to tantric adepts, we can achieve true and everlasting fulfillment only when all the threads of the fabric of life are woven according to the pattern designated by nature. When we are born, ignorance, desire, attachment, fear, and false images of ourselves and others tangle and tear the threads.
Tantra sadhana (practice) reweaves the fabric of life and restores it to its original pattern. No other path of yoga is as systematic or as comprehensive. The profound practices of hatha yoga, pranayama, mudras, rituals, kundalini yoga, nada yoga, mantra, yantra, mandala, visualization of deities, alchemy, ayurveda, astrology, and hundreds of esoteric techniques for engendering wordly and spiritual prosperity blend perfectly within the tantric disciplines.
