|
Vedant"What is true or real is that which is unchanging. You are not your beliefs or your knowledge. Both beliefs and knowledge are based on experience, and they are all changing. You are more than your beliefs or experiences. You are the unchanging center and source of them both. When you resonate from that source, you tune into the life that is bigger than belief, knowledge, and experience. That source is life itself. When you are tuned in to the life, you are saved from having to unlearn previous conditioning. Life is first, it is the Essential You. Life is doubtlessness, it is the Essential You. Life is eternal and we are attracted toward the life."
...excerpted from Walk on Water: How to Make Change Easier Vedant or Vedanta* is a philosophy that is based on the ancient wisdom of the Yogis, as described in the sacred texts of India called the Vedas. It is a philosophy of Oneness. A combination of two words: Ved-knowledge, and ant-end, its literal meaning is 'the end of knowledge'. But what does it mean to say 'the end of knowledge'? Perhaps the end of knowledge is its source; just as if you travel to the end of a river you find its source. Vedant states that the ultimate source is the 'Self alone' that exists everywhere, and that the purpose of the human existence is to recognize or realize that source and to live that divinity. In Walk on Water you will take the journey of transcendence - unleashing the power of your true potential, not as a human being reaching for the divine but as a divine being in human form - is realized by changing your orientation. Because we know the world according to our mind and our senses, we experience it as separate from ourselves. In separation we feel dissatisfied, unfulfilled, and at a loss in dealing with change. What if, as Vedant instructs, we look at ourselves as intrinsic rather than separate? To do this we must take to heart the instruction: "Self alone is everywhere". First, know Self as the source - the source of each of us individually, and the source of all manifest existence. When we look at life from the source, we begin to understand the concept of Oneness. It is here that we reach the 'end of knowledge'. But how do we make the teachings of Vedant practical in our everyday lives? One way is to investigate the meaning of Self-awareness. Vedant takes the idea of becoming self-aware to the next level - from being self-aware to being aware of the Self. Here is an example from my personal experience: I had dinner with a group of people, and sat next to a woman, let's call her Yolanda. I quickly became annoyed by Yolanda's conversation. She complained about what she didn't like about others at the dinner, the food, the service, and life in general. (You have probably had a similar experience when sitting next to someone at a dinner!) It was painful for me to sit there and listen to Yolanda, but I didn't say anything out of politeness. I later came to realize that my so-called politeness was a barrier I had erected that prevented Yolanda from getting what she needed - and what I needed, more satisfaction during dinner! Yolanda was feeling unhappy and isolated and her complaining was a form of reaching out. I could have just touched her hand or even told her what I was feeling. Without Yolanda getting feedback and what she really needed, she would continue complaining and people would continue to be put off. 'Self alone is everywhere' is an inclusive focus that enables us to be aware of the source of a behavior and opens up the natural channel of love. In the end, Vedant - or the end of knowledge - means the end of the knowledge of separation by unfolding the wisdom of unity consciousness. * The correct pronunciation according to the Sanskrit is actually Vedant, but most often in the West an 'a' is added because of pronunciation, resulting in the more commonly known Vedanta.
|
||||||