Hari OM
'Text-days' are for delving into the words and theory of Advaita Vedanta.
Even reading the prakarana grantha, the 'beginners' texts, it is possible to see the depth of thinking behind Vedanta. When one builds one's reading and digs into the more technical writings, it is astounding to discover that the Rsis, those early, advanced thinkers and meditators, truly understood the workings of the physical universe and had a grasp of the mechanics of it. All without the benefit of scientific instrumentation - using their minds alone, they determined these things.
The fact is, theoretical physicists are doing much the same. They will argue that they have lots of scientific research to build their theories and projections upon, which is true, but it is not necessarily any better or different than that with which the Rsis had to develop their arguments. It was merely gathered and documented differently.
Make no mistake, those ancient minds were as scientific as any current master of physics, chemistry, medicine, psychology. Their teachings about the state of the universe, the human species, and the individual being are as current today as they were millennia ago. Which means that Mankind has not developed any further intellectually than was present at the time of the Rsis. A conservative estimate is that it's around six thousand years, but continued research now suggests up to ten thousand years past. Either way, modern Mankind is inclined to think that it is getting smarter and more qualified than the generations before. It is not. Delving into Vedanta for more than just a cursory investigation soon reveals us to ourselves.
It is this which separates the philosophy from other spiritual treatises. It is true that a 'religion' has developed from the Vedic culture which has become known as Hinduism, but Vedanta itself is not a religion. It is the science of Man.
The fact that large numbers of Mankind do take up religion is that, for many, the need to hold onto something 'other' is very forceful. The force of nature which unifies us all has become singled out and deified because Mankind cannot bear the idea of a vacuum. Also, most make the mistake of thinking that vacuum, 'nothingness', holds no value, no energy. Not the case.
Modern science would like to think that it can debunk the 'God myth', yet many of the truly great scientific minds come to admittance that there is 'something' which is just beyond the grasp of Man and may never be fully discovered. Our modern equipment and hi-tech approach are bringing the deepest and most subtle parts of the universe into our ken, but it is nothing more than has already been posited by the Rsis. The arrogance of Man is such, though, that this cannot be properly admitted. The discoveries are desired to be 'owned'. Egos and names get attached to them.
The Rsis wished to remain unnamed. They understood there was no ownership of anything, least of all the very building blocks of the universe. Vedanta is a rational, logical and scientific approach to the inner state of being which they have gifted to us. There is room left within it to practice ritual, to acknowledge a power greater than our own, small, individual selves. At no time, however, does it say there is "a creator being". That is left to the more earthly texts. They have been written because the masses need something more concrete and are, mostly, unwilling or unable to accept that 'God' is a state of being which they can manifest for themselves.
Most of the spiritual texts with which we are familiar tend to social conscience and living in community. This is right and proper and, therefore, these books hold great value also.
Make a saadhana to read daily. Whichever text sits well with you, hold it close and read it thoroughly. Look beyond the words on the page, though. Pick it apart and delve into the fullness of its context and purpose. This is the Vedantic way. Be sceptical. Ask questions. Seek answers. Open your inner ears to hear the answers.
 |
| Dr Carl Sagan |