Summary of Vedanta: a Simple Introduction

Vedanta: An Overview

Vedanta, an ancient religious philosophy, is the basis of Hinduism. The main difference is that Hinduism focuses more on the Indian culture, while Vedanta relates to all cultures. Vedanta has three central truths: that everything is one, the soul is divine, and all religions are valid. Vedanta is the search for self-realization and Brahman, which is “infinite existence, infinite consciousness, and infinite bliss” (Pravrajika, 1999, p. 18/480). The search for self-realization, or Atman, is our ultimate goal. Vedanta realizes that all religions are equal, since they are share similar truths.

Why Are We Unaware of Our Divinity

Vedanta attests that we are all Brahman—divine, pure, perfect, and free. However, we are not aware that we are all Brahman, due to maya, which means ignorance. Nobody knows why maya exists, but we do know that it prevents us from actually knowing our true nature. Once we realize that we are all Brahman, the universe will disappear and we will “see Brahman existing everywhere and in everything” (Pravrajika, 1999, p. 43/480). This is when we reach Atman.

The Problem of Suffering

Suffering is not caused by God or the devil. Rather, suffering is simply caused by our own actions from our current life or previous lives. When we do an action or think a thought, imprints are created on our soul, which can create deeper and deeper grooves. According to karma, these imprints on our soul will create effects later in life or in later lives. For instance, if you constantly have bad acts and thoughts, bad karma will occur later. If you constantly have good acts and thoughts, good karma will occur later. When an individual dies, then that person is reborn into another life and the imprints carry along. When an individual reaches Atman, or liberation, then suffering ends and the self realizes perfect freedom and happiness. If another person is suffering, then, according to Vedanta, it is caused by that...