Sri Gurubhyo Namaha Bhagavan Sri Dattatreya This is a free-flowing exercise in Vedantic thought. No effort was taken to quote from various points of the Vedanta Shastra, though the entirety of the article is based on the Vedanta Shastra in my humble opinion. The notion that “I do” (and related forms such as “I did/didn’t”, “I have to (not) do”, “I should (not) do”, etc.) is possessed by all people in the world in general. It manifests in various ways in everyday conversation with others as well as internal monologues, such as: “I regret having done that” “I did a wonderful thing today” “T ..read more

Sri Gurubhyo Namaha Since December 2020, the YouTube channel by name Tattva Shankara has released many videos of Q&A (Prashnottara) on Vedantic and Dharmic topics with Jagadguru Sri Sannidhanam of Sringeri, Sri Vidhushekarabharati Mahaswamin. The language of these is Kannada. Though the Kannada spoken both by the devotee and the Jagadguru is very much understandable by most South Indians, the wider public who are desirous of listening to the Guru have requested on several occasions for English subtitles. The below is an attempt at an English translation of the first Q&A video by Tattv ..read more

Sri Chandrashekara Bharati Sri Gurubhyo Namaha I had written this to the Vedanta discussion group IIIT. I am recording it here for my sake. I merely shared this in the spirit of what I had been taught. It is not like I am speaking from some personal pedestal. The scriptures and my own teachers have told this, so I do it with that sense of duty. Prasad ___________ Dear friends, I am writing this in a certain mood. It will not make much sense to you if you view our meetings as a time-pass or hobby activity.   I have on several occasions insisted in our meetings that spiritual life i ..read more

Sri Gurubhyo Namaha A verse from the Vivekachudamani authored by Shankaracharya runs thus – विद्याफलं स्यादसतो निवृत्तिः प्रवृत्तिरज्ञानफलं तदीक्षितम् । तज्ज्ञाज्ञयोर्यन्मृगतृष्णिकादौ नोचेद्विदां दृष्टफलं किमस्मात् ॥ ४२२ ॥ vidyāphalaṃ syādasato nivṛttiḥ pravṛttirajñānaphalaṃ tadīkṣitam |  tajjñājñayoryanmṛgatṛṣṇikādau nocedvidāṃ dṛṣṭaphalaṃ kimasmāt || 422 || The result of knowledge should be the turning away from unreal things, while attachment to these is the result of ignorance. This is observed in the case of one who knows a mirage and things of that sort, and one who does not. Oth ..read more

Sri Gurubhyo Namaha Medit(c)ations : As long as the mind becomes happy/confident/proud/superior with success, and sad/diffident/humiliated/inferior with failure, one is not free and the nectar of Vedanta lies far away. The one expectant and desirous of success and irritated or afraid of failure is one whose seeks to smell and taste the rose dipped in poison. Relaxation by associating with pleasant things and agitation because of unpleasant things is a sure sign of bondage. If the Lord or Guru is not found to be the only refuge, one is caught still in the vortex  of the world and will sur ..read more

Ganesha   Sri Gurubhyo Namaha These are quick notes for Brahma Sutra Bhaashya (authored by Sri Shankaracharya) classes that were taught by Swami Paramasukhananda, which I was a student of during 2011-2013. What I feel like recording I record. They are not a substitute for live classes, but done as my cogitation. For other such short notes, check – https://vairaagya.wordpress.com/tag/brahmasutranotes/ Prasad ___ The first step of Vedanta is to produce a distance between you and what you go through in life. Weariness, excitement, hunger, frustration, lovingness, tardiness, anger, jea ..read more

Sri Gurubhyo Namaha These are quick notes for Brahma Sutra Bhaashya (authored by Sri Shankaracharya) classes that were taught by Swami Paramasukhananda, which I was a student of during 2011-2013. What I feel like recording I record. They are not a substitute for live classes, but done as my cogitation. For other such short notes, check – https://vairaagya.wordpress.com/tag/brahmasutranotes/ Prasad _______ The conclusion of Vedanta is this : You are not a finite human in search of an infinite experience, You are The Infinite having a finite human experience It is to convey this fact t ..read more

  Sri Gurubhyo Namaha These are quick notes for Brahma Sutra Bhaashya (authored by Sri Shankaracharya) classes that were taught by Swami Paramasukhananda, which I was a student of during 2011-2013. What I feel like recording I record. They are not a substitute for live classes, but done as my cogitation. For other such short notes, check – https://vairaagya.wordpress.com/tag/brahmasutranotes/ Prasad _______ In answering the Purvapakshin’s objection, the Siddhaantin has pointed out  that Brahman is nothing but the Atman, the self of the student itself. Further Vedanta is ..read more

  Sri Gurubhyo Namaha These are quick notes for Brahma Sutra Bhaashya (authored by Sri Shankaracharya) classes that were taught by Swami Paramasukhananda, which I was a student of during 2011-2013. What I feel like recording I record. They are not a substitute for live classes, but done as my cogitation. For other such short notes, check – https://vairaagya.wordpress.com/tag/brahmasutranotes/ Prasad _______ The Purvapakshin (opposition person) had raised an important doubt regarding Brahman and Vedanta claiming to be the source of knowledge about Brahman. He said “You (Vedantins ..read more