Why study Vedanta?

Knowing that Vedanta is the correct pursuit is very difficult.  For one thing, there are so many alternatives available in the sense that a lot of people claim to have various techniques, methods, and paths to reach the truth.  Vedanta, however, is different from everything else in that it says, "You are the whole.   You are the problem and you are the solution." "You are the problem" only because you do not understand.  All that you require to be free is to know yourself.  Vedanta says that you are already free.   It does not condemn you and call you a sinner.  It says, "You are a free person; you are totally free.  In fact, you are the only person and everything else is centered on you." Since you are the whole creation, you are essentially identical with the Lord.

Vedanta, then, has a vision to unfold.  It does not promise anything.  It does not promise liberation or salvation.  It says only that " You are the solution."  This means that you do not need to do anything to become free because you are already free.

The very fact that you are struggling, choosing, and searching in order to become free indicates that you have committed an error about yourself.  No other tradition tells you this.  They say only that you will be saved if you follow this or that.  Vedanta does not say this.   It says you are already saved and you do not know it.

Because Vedanta does not promise anything, it cannot be challenged or dismissed. Something can be dismissed only if it makes itself available for your choice.  If Vedanta promised something, like a cure, something else could present itself as a cure, too.  Then you could choose between the two, depending on your preferences.  If Vedanta held out a promise of some kind, the possibility of choice would always be there.

Any other tradition that says, "You are the whole," is also Vedanta, regardless of what it is called.   Vedanta need not be in Sanskrit.  It can be in Latin, Greek, English, French, or German.  It can be in an ancient book or a new book.  It need not be taught by an Indian either.  The only difference is that to unfold the message known as Vedanta, a particular method of teaching has evolved.

To unfold the fact, "You are the whole," the teacher must have some method.  The teaching reveals, "You are the whole," and there is a particular method of unfolding this revelation for your recognition that no one else may have.  Whatever reveals this fact is Vedanta.   To look at Vedanta as something Indian creates problems, whereas if you look at it as a body of knowledge that is maintained in India, there is no problem.

Vedanta is the most ancient body of knowledge available to humanity.  It is a living tradition that has flowed down from generation to generation.  The Veda happens to be in India, but its knowledge belongs to no one group of people.  Even if the Indian people were to disown the Veda, it would not be lost.  The Vedic recitation would be lost, but the wisdom that is Vedanta would prevail.  This wisdom will always be with humanity because it has already become part of humanity's store of knowledge.

-Swami Dayananda Saraswati

Excerpted from "Satsang with Swami Dayananda Saraswati"

Published: 08/04/98