Category: Vedanta
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When Knowledge Vanishes: Rethinking the Meaning of Pramāṇa
What if we defined knowledge not by what we can gain, but by what we can never regain? There’s a quietly powerful idea that’s been simmering beneath the surface of philosophical inquiry, and it shifts the way we think about how we come to know anything at all. At the heart of it is this…
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All We Ever Seek Is Freedom — But It Changes Its Face as We Grow
Freedom is one of the most important ideas in human life. At its heart, it means the ability to live, think, and act without unnecessary limits. But it’s not just about doing whatever we want — it’s about having the space to choose, and the strength to live with those choices. What’s interesting, though, is…
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The Universe ‘I’s: Alan Watts on Death, Consciousness, and Being
Isn’t it remarkable that from the vast nothingness of what you don’t remember—your past before memory, before birth—you find yourself here, alive, conscious, watching, listening, being? Alan Watts, in one of his most haunting and poetic monologues, delves deep into the mystery that most people avoid thinking about: death. But rather than fear it, deny…
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The Truman Show and Advaita Vedānta: Walking Through the Painted Sky
“We accept the reality of the world with which we’re presented.” — Christof, The Truman Show At first glance, The Truman Show might seem like a dystopian science fiction film about surveillance and control. But beneath its Hollywood surface lies a profound spiritual metaphor—one that resonates deeply with the timeless teachings of Advaita Vedānta. For…
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Tossed by the Tides: Fear, Anger, and Desire in the Ocean of Samsāra
Much of what we call “life” — its highs and lows, the triumphs and heartbreaks — is quietly steered by three powerful undercurrents: fear, anger, and desire. So deeply woven into our personal, professional, and social worlds, they often move us without our even knowing. Decisions we think are rational, reactions we believe are justified,…
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Emptiness vs. Consciousness: Madhyamaka and Advaita Vedanta Compared
Among the richest philosophical traditions in human history, the Madhyamaka school of Buddhism and the Advaita Vedanta school of Hinduism have long stood as towering articulations of non-duality. Both traditions aim to lead the practitioner toward liberation through the realization of ultimate truth. Yet their paths, while converging in some experiential sense, diverge sharply in…
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The Illusion of Self: What Altered Minds Teach Us About Who We Are
What if everything you thought you knew about yourself—your memories, your body, even your sense of being—was not as solid as it seemed? Science writer Anil Ananthaswamy invites us to explore this provocative idea through the lens of “altered selves,” experiences shaped by conditions like schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, foreign limb syndrome, and out-of-body phenomena. His exploration…
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What It’s Like to Be a Bat: Why Consciousness Still Eludes Science
In 1974, philosopher Thomas Nagel published an essay with a title that sounds like it belongs to a children’s book: What Is It Like to Be a Bat? But behind this seemingly playful question lies one of the most profound philosophical challenges of the modern age: the mystery of consciousness. Specifically, whether we can ever…
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The Great Methods of Advaita Vedanta: A Journey Through Its Prakriyās
“Like stepping stones across a river, each method of Advaita guides us from confusion to clarity, from appearance to truth, from bondage to freedom.” Advaita Vedanta, the crown jewel of India’s spiritual philosophy, doesn’t teach by dogma. It teaches by methods — carefully crafted, time-tested methods called prakriyās. These are not just dry academic tools,…
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Vedantic Analytical Idealism: A Consciousness-Centered Reality
In recent years, philosophical interest in consciousness has surged, particularly in response to the limitations of materialist explanations of reality. At the forefront of this revival is Analytical Idealism, a position that aligns closely with ancient Indian thought—especially Advaita Vedānta. By integrating this modern philosophical model with the Vedantic concepts of cit (consciousness), sat (existence),…
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Life Truly Begins at 40: Embracing the Journey to Authenticity
There’s a reason why the old adage, “Life begins at 40,” resonates so deeply with so many. It speaks to more than just age—it captures a pivotal moment of transformation that many of us quietly sense as we approach this milestone. At 40, something shifts. It’s as though the road behind us, lined with expectations…
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The Conversation That Might Just Shift the World: A Meeting of Minds on Consciousness, Science, and Reality
Imagine a world where science and spirituality are no longer strange bedfellows but companions in the same inquiry. Where the age-old questions of “Who am I?” and “What is real?” are not dismissed as abstract musings but approached with the same rigor and reverence as particle physics or neuroscience. That world doesn’t just exist in…
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The Am-ness of Self and the Is-ness of Things: On the Unity Beneath Experience
There is a subtle yet profound thread running through our experience of existence — a thread that weaves together the quiet awareness of “I am” and the simple presence of the world around us. The phrase “Am-ness of self is the same as is-ness of things” invites us to pause and feel into this connection.…
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You Don’t Experience Non-Duality—You Are It
In a world flooded with meditation apps, self-help books, and spiritual retreats, the question “How can I experience non-duality?” might seem natural—profound, even. But as Swami Tadatmananda so gently yet firmly points out in this advanced meditation session, asking to “experience” non-duality reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of what non-duality actually is. Let’s unpack that. When…
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The World is Not Physical: Understanding Bernardo Kastrup’s Analytic Idealism
Most of us assume that the world around us is made of solid, physical things—matter, atoms, and forces interacting in space. But what if that assumption is wrong? What if the world is not physical at all, but entirely mental in nature? This is the bold claim of philosopher Bernardo Kastrup, who argues for analytic idealism,…
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Building Physical and Mental Fitness for Meditation and Nididhyāsana
In the world today, physical fitness is often about achieving external goals—whether it’s gaining social media followers, sporting six-pack abs, or setting new personal records in sports. However, in Vedānta or the pursuit of moksha (liberation) and jīvanmukti (freedom while living), the purpose of physical health is entirely different. The body is simply a tool,…
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The Dance of Order and Disorder: Consciousness, Evolution, and Creativity
Have you ever thought about how life balances the chaos of randomness with the order of design? Dennis Noble, an acclaimed scientist, believes this balance is the key to understanding life, creativity, and even consciousness itself. In a recent interview, he explored how the interplay of order and disorder shapes evolution, biology, and our understanding of the…
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The Four Conflicts of Life: Finding Peace in a Chaotic World
Life isn’t just a series of events; it’s also a journey through struggles that touch the deepest parts of who we are. Swami Krishnananda explains that these struggles, or “conflicts,” happen in four main areas of life: within ourselves, with others, with nature, and with a larger universal intelligence. Let’s explore these conflicts and what…
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Exploring Consciousness: Beyond Brains, Quantum Fields, and Machines
Consciousness has puzzled scientists, philosophers, and thinkers for centuries. Federico Faggin, inventor of the first microprocessor and pioneer in touch technology, believes we need to fundamentally rethink our approach to understanding consciousness. In a recent interview, he shared insights from his book, Irreducible Consciousness: Life, Computers, and Human Nature, explaining his belief that consciousness is…
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How to start your Vedanta Journey
The first step is to ask yourself, “Why do I want to pursue spirituality?” Is it to find peace, understand life’s purpose, or something else? This self-inquiry is key because the clarity of purpose will guide your journey.
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Proving the Existence of Ishwara from First Principles
The idea of a divine intelligence, or Ishwara, is a central concept in Vedanta. But how do we know that such a higher power really exists? Instead of relying on blind faith, Vedanta uses simple reasoning to show how the existence of Ishwara can be logically proven by looking at the world around us. In…
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Understanding Consciousness Through Attention Schema Theory (AST)
Have you ever wondered why we feel conscious? Why do we have that inner experience of being aware of the world around us and of ourselves? A fascinating idea called the Attention Schema Theory (AST) offers a fresh take on this age-old question. What is Attention Schema Theory? Imagine for a moment that your brain…
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Why I Don’t Consume Meat
A Reflection on Sentience, Sukshma Sharira, and Consciousness As someone deeply connected to spiritual practices and the exploration of consciousness, I’ve found myself continually reflecting on the choices I make—especially when it comes to food. One of the most significant decisions I’ve made in my life is to stop consuming meat. This choice is not…
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The Mystery of Consciousness
Experiencing Consciousness At its most basic level, the question of consciousness revolves around what makes sentient beings—like humans and animals—aware of their experiences. It’s widely accepted that the brain plays a crucial role in consciousness. For instance, when we see, hear, smell, or think, our brain is active. And if the brain is damaged, people…
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The Illusion of Self: A Meditation Insight
In our daily lives, we often experience a sense of aiming our attention, as if there is a “self” or a center of consciousness directing our focus. This perception can feel like a tangible, central entity that governs our awareness. However, through the practice of meditation, this perceived center can be revealed as an illusion.…
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Understanding Consciousness: Insights from Anil Seth’s TED Talks
As someone deeply interested in the topic of consciousness, I was profoundly moved and enlightened by Anil Seth’s TED talks. These talks and his book, Being You, have become cherished resources in my journey to understand the nature of consciousness. My fascination with this topic also draws me towards spiritual wisdom traditions such as Vedanta and…
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Unveiling ‘I am’: The Fundamental Sense of Existence
Is ‘I am’ a thought or feeling or cognition? The ‘I am’ or ‘aham vritti’ can be considered as a form of cognition, but it’s more than just a thought or a feeling. It’s a fundamental sense of existence or being.
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From Samsara to Moksha: How Vedanta Empowers Us to Break Free
The understanding of Vedanta, far from diminishing our engagement with the world, actually helps us embrace it more fully, enriches our understanding of it, and amplifies our happiness. Vedanta acts as a powerful tool for liberation and strengthens us in our pursuits rather than weakening us.
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Why Philosophy Is Not for Everyone
Why Philosophy Is Not for Everyone? To answer in one line: Not Everyone Has the Competence or the Stomach for Philosophy. Philosophy, often regarded as the pursuit of wisdom and the exploration of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, ethics, and reality, has a long and storied history. It has been pivotal in shaping human thought,…
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Bundle Theory of Self and Its Dance with Advaita Vedanta
Have you ever wondered what makes up your sense of self? Is it a solid entity, a bundle of experiences, or something else entirely? Well, buckle up, because we’re diving into the fascinating world of the Bundle Theory of Self and its intriguing connection with Advaita Vedanta. So, first things first: what’s this bundle theory…
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What is Advaita Vedanta?
Advaita Vedanta is a philosophical and spiritual tradition that originated in ancient India and is widely regarded as one of the most influential and profound philosophical systems in the world. Advaita Vedanta is often referred to simply as “Advaita,” which means “non-dual” in Sanskrit, and it emphasizes the unity and oneness of all things. At…
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Demystifying Ātmā
What is Ātmā? Ātmā is not Soul or Individual or an Atomic entity: we need to dissociate these words and unlearn this. Let’s start afresh. Follow me here, slowly, sentence by sentence. Do not rush. After every paragraph, pause and reflect and then move forward. All objective experience is known. We are aware of our…
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Be a Lamp unto Yourself
You come to this life alone and leave alone. There is nothing to hold on to in this world except your own being. At least once a day, drop everything on your mind- your worries, projects, tasks, aspirations for some time and just be – be yourself. . Relish that pure joy of being and…
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