Exploring Non-Duality with Advaita Vedanta and Vedic Meditation
Advaita Vedanta is the philosophy from which Vedic Meditation originates. It emphasizes the non-dual nature of the universe, teaching that the apparent separation of individuals and planets is ultimately an illusion. All the seemingly different forms and phenomena spring from the One indivisible whole consciousness. Therefore, everyone and all things are inherently connected.
What is Advaita Vedanta?
We find a clear definition of this philosophy in the Sanskrit meaning of the words Advaita Vedanta.
Dvaita (द्वैत) is a Sanskrit word meaning duality. It comes from the same root as the English terms divide and devil, meaning that which is separated.
In Sanskrit, when you put an "a" in front of a word, it negates it. In this context, the implication is not two separate things that have been reunited but that which has never been divided and has always been only one thing.
The word Vedanta is a combination of two Sanskrit words, Veda (वेद) and Anta (अन्त). Veda means the knowledge of life - not just any knowledge, but The Knowledge, referring to the laws of nature and how to live life to the fullest. According to Vedic philosophy, this knowledge is present in all religions, as reflected in their essential shared truths. It's not something that can be taught but rather truths that must be realized.
The word Anta means ending, and is where we get our English word end.
Combining the Sanskrit words Veda and Anta refers to the end of knowledge. However, this does not mean the termination of the learning process but rather the ultimate culmination of all knowledge, which is the realization that there is only one thing (Advaita). This one thing is Totality, and every individual is a unique expression of the one indivisible whole.
In other words, the conclusion of all knowledge is the recognition of the oneness of existence and the interdependence of all things.
There's only one thing.
But how can there be only one thing if so many people and objects exist in this world? It's similar in concept to the ocean and the waves - one ocean produces a multiplicity of waves. The waves come from and return to the sea, expressing their unique individuality for a moment while never separating from their oceanic essence.
In the same way, the universe is one thing but appears briefly in various forms.
Advaita Vedanta and Vedic Meditation
When we practice Vedic Meditation, we take a 20-minute break twice a day and allow our bodies and minds to rest at a profoundly deep level. As the mantra guides us to the more subtle layers of reality, we become aware of the pure consciousness that underlies all forms and phenomena. As we regularly touch upon this place, our awareness of pure being becomes greater and stabilizes in our daily lives. We become much more aware of how interconnected we are and less concerned about the divisions between us.
As we continue our daily practice year after year, this subtle awareness becomes more prominent - not as a philosophical understanding but as an essential truth of nature.
"As the ocean waves, the universe peoples."
- Alan Watts in The Book, his Western explanation of the Eastern philosophy of Vedanta.
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