Vedanta (Hindu Philosophy) and Bhagavad Gita

Vedanta (Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Brahma Sutra) Hindu doctrine. All is one

Realization of the Bhagavad Gita Course - Jnana Yoga Course

Literally Vedanta (वेदान्त) means “the conclusion of the Vedas”

Vedanta is an orthodox Hindu philosophy based on the authority of the “Three sources” (prasthanatrayi): The Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras. It is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy.

In chapter 15- The Yoga of the Supreme Being (Purushottama) of the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna affirms to Arjuna that it was the Lord who was the author of Vedanta:

Sri Krishna: I am the author of Vedanta, from Me comes Knowledge, Bhagavad Gita 15-15

Veda Vyasa was not the author, but rather its compiler.

The main traditions of Vedanta are:

Bhedabheda (difference and non-difference)
Suddhadvaita (pure non-dualism),
Tattvavada (Dvaita / dualism)
Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism).
In recent times Neo-Vedanta and Swaminarayan Sampradaya have also been created.

Most of the major schools of Vedanta, except Advaita Vedanta and Neo-Vedanta, are related to Vaishavism and emphasize devotion (Bhakti Yoga) to God, understood as Vishnu, Krishna or a related manifestation. The Advaita Vedanta doctrine emphasizes Jnana Yoga) and Dvaita Vedanta in Devotion (Bhakti Yoga).

Adi Shankara (Advaita Vedanta school) considered the Sankhya doctrine to be totally opposite to Vedanta.

Vichara, or discriminative reasoning, is one of the five methods of Vedanta for awakening Spiritual consciousness. According to Vedanta, the physical universe is a manifestation of God known as Virat.

A very interesting reflection on the Nobel Prize in Physics Erwin Schrodinger:

«The unity and continuity of Vedanta are reflected in the unity and continuity of the mechanics of waves; totally consistent with the Vedanta concept of All in One. The multiplicity is only apparent. This is the doctrine of the Upanishads. And not only them. The mystical experience of union with God regularly leads to this vision, unless there are strong prejudices as in the West.» Erwin Schrodinger

This phrase perfectly defines the essence of Vedanta.

Relying on Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa accepted the different Hindu sects as a whole, affirming that the different Hindu deities are forms of the Absolute Reality. He achieved something very important: The uniqueness of Hinduism.

Sri Ramakrishna, Harmony, so many paths, so many religions

The German philologist Max Müller wrote several essays and books on Ramakrishna, and said of him:

«Sri Ramakrishna was a living representation of the truth that Vedanta represents; when done correctly, it can become a practical rule of life..Vedanta philosophy is the marrow that runs through all the bones of Ramakrishna's doctrine.» Max Müller

Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), was the main disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. He was a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta, Bhagavad Gita and Raja yoga to the West.

Thank you Swami Vivekananda, disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, Yoga Vedanta Gita

The Bhagavad Gita greatly influenced the life of Swami Vivekananda:

«The Bhagavad Gita is the best available commentary on Vedanta philosophy; Curiously, the scene takes place on the battlefield, where Krishna teaches this philosophy to Arjuna, and the doctrine that stands out luminously on every page of the Bhagavad Gita is that of intense activity, but in the midst of it, eternal calm. This is the secret of work, to achieve what is the goal of Vedanta. The less you read, the better. Read the Bhagavad Gita and other good works on Vedanta.»
The Bhagavad Gita according to Swami Vivekananda

A reflection by the French Nobel Prize winner Romain Rolland, who also wrote an excellent book on the life of Ramakrishna:

«...Vivekananda was deeply aware of his role: to bring Vedanta out of its obscurity and present it in a rationally acceptable manner; awaken among his compatriots the awareness of his own spiritual heritage and restore their self-confidence; to show that the deepest truths of Vedanta are universally valid, and that India's mission is to communicate these truths to the entire world.» Romain Rolland

For Swami Sivananda:

«The Srimad Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, narrated in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Sri Krishna revealed to Arjuna the deepest, most sublime and moving spiritual truths, and He exposed to Him the secrets of yoga, Vedanta, bhakti and karma.» Swami Sivananda

Some Swamis related to the Vedanta:

Adi Shankaracharya, Indian philosopher (8th century), consolidated the non-dualistic doctrine of Advaita Vedanta.

Ramanuja, or Ramanujacharya (1017-1137 AD) is considered one of the most important exponents of the Hindu monist Sri Vaishnavism tradition of Vedanta. His teachings influenced the Bhakti movement.

Sant Jnaneshwar (1275-1296) was the author of Dnyaneshwari (a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita) and Amrutanubhav. His ideas reflect the non-dualistic Advaita Vedanta philosophy and an emphasis on yoga and Bhakti towards Vithoba, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Madhvacharya (1238-1317), or Purna Prajna, followed the Vishnuist philosophy of Vedanta, based on non-dualism (dvaita), founded on the concept of Tattvavada (“arguments from a realistic point of view»), opposed to non-dualism. -dualist (Advaita) of Shankara.

The rest of this summary on “Vedanta” is only available to students of the Gita Institute

Bhagavad Gita in Spanish Vedanta Bhagavad Gita Bhagavad Gita in Portuguese Vedanta.