This book aims at bringing out the central truths of Adwaita Vedanta in a clear and compendious form. The boldness and subtlety of analysis characteristic of Hindu philosophy has been universally realized and admired. Though modern educated India may not show either appreciative knowledge or appreciative love of Hindu philosophy, great minds have bowed before the majesty of that philosophy in reverential love. Schlegal declared: "Even the loftiest philosophy of the European- the idealism of reason as it is set forth by the Greek philosophers-appears in comparison with the abundant light and vigor of oriental idealism like a feeble Promethean spark, in the full flood of heavenly glory, faltering and feeble and ever ready to be extinguished." Schopenhauer, one of the world's greatest philosophers in the west said: "In the whole world there is no study so beneficial and so elevating as that of the Upanishads it has been the solace of my life, it will be the solace of my death."
The chief facts to be realized and remembered about Hindu philosophy are their clear analysis of the universe and their synthetic harmony, and their revelation of the super sensuous facts of experience and value of life. It is in such a setting that we can understand and appreciate best such a work of unique insight as the Avadhuta Gita. Its universality is not a negative universality which decries and denies the other aspects of truth but the positive universality which admits and includes and transcends them and reveals a synthetic completeness.
Every one of the six darsanas (systems of philosophy) starts with a clear definition of the Pramanas (the means of investigation of truth) and of the categories of existence. Each emphasizes one plane of realization. The assumptions of each are tested by experience and reason. When we reach the next higher grade of experience and realization, we transcend the lower plane. The Vedanta gives to us the highest of all these realizations and leads us to the highest of all goals.
The common aim of all the orthodox systems of Hindu thought, which accept the Veda as the supreme authority and source of truth is the realization of eternal bliss in Mukti or liberation. But the conception of Mukti varies with the plane attained by each system of philosophic thought. There is a fine verse in the Bhagavad Gita, which crystallizes the vital elements of all these systems. It says "In this body, the Supreme Purusha is called by many names-the witness, the approver, the worker, the enjoyer, the Lord, and the Paramatma."
Vedas (1232)
Upanishads (517)
Puranas (637)
Ramayana (769)
Mahabharata (381)
Dharmasastras (171)
Goddess (534)
Bhakti (253)
Saints (1640)
Gods (1319)
Shiva (409)
Journal (176)
Fiction (66)
Vedanta (386)
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