Vedanta in Modern Society (Set of 3 Books)

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Vedanta in Modern Life

Lectures on Vedanta and Modern Society (An Old Book)

The Relevance of Vedanta in This Modern Age of Civilization

The word Vedanta refers to the ultimate knowledge beyond which nothing more is to be known, Vedanta is explained in scares of Upanisheds in the form of answers to questions of disciplines of Rishis or teachers. The message however is only one. Brahman, as Universal Energy or Consiousness is the ready is the only reality, and all else is illusory. Turn the pages of this book to know how wise men like Sankara, Ramanuja, Madhwa and others have interpreted this truth from different points of views. The introduction and afterword show how Vedanta is relevant in modern life.

Humanity has reached a crossed. Within a period of twenty years or so it went through the agony of the two World Wars. Since the end of the last war, during the last thirty years or so, we are living on the threshold of a nuclear holocaust. Humanity is at the mercy of two super states, and perhaps even those so-called super states are also at the mercy of a score or so individuals. During the millions of years that the Homo sapiens have existed, they have never been in such a pitiable and dependent state. This is what modern science has given as a present to humanity for the complete confidence and faith that humanity reposed in it. Thus with the nuclear war-mongers of the two camps roaring in the horizon the process of desiccation of spiritual values from values from the human mind has set in. The earth seems to be a spiritual wasteland, and values but a mirage. Unless humanity is able to neutralize this base instinct, it is headed for total annihilation. Children have already turned to nihilism, for spiritualism seems to have failed. A vibrant spiritual resurgence is the only practical solution for human survival. A devoted heart, boundless faith, deep intellectual introspection, loves expressed as active sympathy, mystic intuitive experience and absolute fearlessness is the need of the hour.

Vedanta is concerned mainly with the supreme spiritual reality. This reality is the basis of external as well as the internal world. The identity of Jiva (internal) and Shiva (external) is the final truth. Though this is to be actually sought within the cavern of one’s heart, yet once realized it explodes the barriers of the internal and external, leading to one homogeneous wholesome existence. Such individual realization serves as a catalyst for the emergence of a deeper change in humanity. The divine state of blessedness does not remain a dream but becomes a reality in everyday life. Such persons become capable of turning the mirage of spiritual and ethical values as a palpable reality. Myths, legends and scriptures open up the deep spiritual significance that is embedded in them. The ‘joy’ of science pales into insignificance in the Sun of Shiva-blessedness. India with its rich cultural heritage is the right spot to bring this blessedness to humanity. There is vast literature yet unpublished in the Indian languages which will prove a paradise to those interested in bringing a re-formation of modern society both in India and the rest of the world. It is bound to add to the references which will enrich humanity and its knowledge quantum.

Homo sapiens is also socials. As such he is under constant observation and judgment of other human beings, and in turn is an observer and judge of all those who come in his contact. He also observes the nature around him both in an intelligent and emotional manner. In doing so he evaluates and concludes a situation or a person as good or bad, and sometimes as indefinite. This is what is known as the ‘value-judgment’. Values are not consciously created but ‘discovered’. Psychologists may claim that social or individual or even the cosmic unconsciously creates them, but as a matter of fact even this is only a judgment based on a ‘value’, which may at least involve a cause and effect syndrome. Thus we are right in claiming that values existed before our birth and will outlast our death. Values in particularity may change, but value as such persists. Just as the content of our knowledge may change, but knowledge as such goes on existing, for the changed-knowledge is also knowledge, similarly values change but a changed value is also a value. Hence a value-less human being is contradiction in terms. It is in this sense that value is eternal. Values can never be transient as objects are transient. Values are like mathematical laws. Mathematics may change models. Decimal system, Pentad system, etc., have given way to the Dyad system in the computer age, but the eternity of laws remained. Similarly the law of love as a value is eternal though models and modulations of love may change.

Human society is more potently affected by values than any other art or science. One may not take cognizance of these laws but they affect us all the same . Values may be subdivided as universal values, categorical values, true values, human values, cultural values, religious values, national values, social values, etc. But all values are necessarily ‘demanding’. They dedicate ‘should do’ rather than ‘should be’. In ancient India Dharma and Gyana were subdivisions of Vedas based on this. Jiminy dealt with what one ‘should do’, whereas Badarayana dealt with what ‘should be’. Bochenski in the west has dealt with beauty, elegance, sublimity and so forth. Hindus for that very reason have included joy in ‘Brahman’ rather than Dharman group. No individual can be entirely bereft of ‘should do’ whether he calls himself an atheist or a cynic. He expects from other members of society what he will claim to be complied by all members. Similarly a country may claim to be secular, yet it expects some duties from the populace. Even the charvakas of ancient India expected their members to observe the rules or laws laid down by the dominant group or. Criminal law is based on certain values, and no social group or country lacks it totally.

This is the first of a series of small books under the head - "Satchidaananda Vaak-Jyoti" or “The Enlightening Words of Satchidaananda". All these book booklets contain a free transliteration of the enlightening and immortal words and teachings' of Shri Satchidaanandendra Swamiji, of revered memory. found in his numerous Kannada books. Those readers who do not have the facility and advantage of reading and understanding books in the Kannada language will be immensely benefited by these English publications written in simple language and style.

Having been profoundly influenced and having benefited immensely, I have mooted this small plan of publishing these 'gems of spiritual literature'. unrivalled in their esoteric import and teachings of the highest order and based on the pristine pure original Bhashyas of Adi Shankara. It is an irony of our times that even that great Acharya's immaculate teachings of Atmavidya or Self-Knowledge - purely based on the strength of the Upanishadic statements, culmination or consummation of all those teachings in one's own Intuitive experience here and now - have been distorted beyond recognition and redemption.

The devoted and discerning seeker of the Ultimate Reality of Atman or the Self, of the essential nature of Pure Being-Consciousness (Intuition), is sure to benefit a great deal by studying and cognizing the truths that are taught in these booklets, adopting a well-planned sequential order so as to enable him to get rid of many 8 deep-rooted misconception that was hitherto proving to be a stumbling block in his path of spiritual progress. It can be affirmed here that if the student honestly applies his mind and intellect and devotes all his efforts and energies with a high sense of purpose and perseverance, he will never fait to get the conviction and complete satisfaction accruing from this lofty pursuit.

To cater to the needs of young and immature minds of our present age of nuclear science this first book has tackled the problem of - "The Relevance of Vedanta in this Modern Age of Civilization" - from first principles. so to speak, and if only it kindles a spark of genuine interest and taste in this highly developed "Science of Spirituality" among its readers my objective of publishing these books purely for the sake of propagation without any profit-motive whatsoever would be fulfilled.

I will fail in my moral duty if I do not acknowledge here the continued munificent donations that the members of “Subharam Trust" have provided in the past and for this publication too and the excellent printing by "Chitra Printers", Bangalore.