1. Vedanta Society of Iowa March 22, 2014
Introduction To
Vedanta
(Part – 2)
Vedanta Society of Iowa March 22, 2014

2. What is Vedanta ? Culmination/Essence of Veda
Karma Kanda -> Jnana Kanda
Proclaims “Truth/Reality is One”
Ekam Sat, Vipra Bahudha Vadanti
Self/God/Brahman
Basis (Philosophy) of Hinduism

3. Why Study Vedanta? To realize To remove all Delusion/Ignorance
“what am I”
“what is the nature of this World”
“what is God”
To remove all Delusion/Ignorance
To be eternally Happy & Wise
To revere everything as Divine
To experience Oneness/Equality in everything

4. How to study Vedanta? (Acc. to Adi Sankaracharya)
Anubandha-Chatushtaya (अनुबन्ध-चतुष्टय)
Four (4) preparatory factors
Sadhana-Chatushtaya (साधन-चतुष्टय)
Four (4) means of developing fitness for Sadhana
Shravana-Manana-Nididhysana (श्रवण-मनन-निदिध्यासन)
Three (3) fold process of Sadhana

5. Anubandha-Chatushtaya
Prayojana (’प्रयोजन’) – Purpose
Cessation of all miseries
Attainment of eternal bliss
Vishaya (’विषय’) – Subject Matter
To be established in “One Truth/Reality”
Sambandha(’सम्बन्ध’) – Connection
Connection with the Subject Matter
Adhikari (’अधिकारी’) – Fitness
Qualifications to acquire

6. Sadhana-Chatushtaya Viveka (‘विवेक’) Vairagya (‘वैराग्य’)
Discrimination between Eternal and Non-Eternal
Vairagya (‘वैराग्य’)
Detachment from Non-Eternal
Shamadi-Sat-Sampatti (‘शमादि शट-सम्पत्ति’ )
Acquiring six (6) treasures
Mumukshutva (‘मुमुक्षुत्व ‘)
Intense longing for Liberation

7. Shamadi Shat-Sampatti
Controlling Mind
Dama (‘दम’)
Controlling Sense Organs
TitikShA (‘तितिक्षा’)
Enduring pain/pleasures without reaction
Uparati (‘उपरति’)
Withdrawing Mind from external stimuli
ShraddhA (‘श्रद्धा’)
Unwavering faith in Scriptures & Words of Guru
SamAdhAna(‘समाधान’)
One pointed focus

8. Three (3) fold process of Sadhana
Shravana (‘श्रवण’)
Hearing from Guru (Qualified Spiritual Teacher)
Develops faith in the Scriptures
Manana (‘मनन’)
Reflecting on what’s heard from the Teacher
Removes doubt
Nididhysana (‘निदिध्यासन’)
Meditating on what’s heard from the Teacher
Complete assimilation of Truth

9. Q&A