Tag: Hinduism

Para Vidya (Higher Learning) Vs. Apara Vidya (Lower Learning)


The Mundaka Upanishad divides knowledge into two streams. Apara Vidya embraces all sciences and arts—the brilliance of mathematics, the sweep of history, the beauty of literature and philosophy. These disciplines teach us about the world of names and forms, yet remain within the realm of duality. Para Vidya, by contrast, points only to the essence—Brahman, Consciousness, the clay beneath all pots. The first refines the intellect, the second liberates the self. To honor both is wisdom: to study the many with care, and to seek the One with devotion.

Beyond Meditation: Ashtavakra and Advaita’s Deeper Call


In the Ashtavakra Gītā, two seemingly opposite statements puzzle many: “The practice of meditation keeps one in bondage” (1.15) and “When a weak man gives up meditation he falls prey to whims and desires” (18.75). Advaita Vedānta resolves this by distinguishing between dhyāna (technique-based meditation) and nididhyāsana (natural abidance in Self). For the immature seeker, meditation steadies the mind. For the mature knower, clinging to meditation sustains duality. Liberation is not attained by practice but by knowledge, effortlessly lived.

Justice, Injustice, and the Law of Karma: A Vedantic Reflection


“We deserve all the justices and injustices that happen to us in life.” This aphorism holds weight when seen through the law of karma and Advaita Vedanta. The Bhagavad Gita teaches that while we must act against adharma, the outcomes—justice or injustice—unfold according to past karma. What appears as unfair is not random, but a ripened consequence (prārabdha) shaping our soul’s journey. For the realized Self, untouched by dualities, justice and injustice dissolve altogether. To act dharmically while surrendering fruits is the highest freedom.

Dharma


“All Dharma is mere imagination because where there is only the One, where can there be any scope for Dharma. Make the slightest difference between yourself and God, then the head of Dharma rears up.”

This is not a rejection of Dharma, but a reminder of its contingency. Dharma operates within duality: seeker and sought, self and God. For the aspirant, Dharma purifies; for the realized, Dharma dissolves. Aphorisms are easy to misread—yet they point to the timeless truth of Advaita: where nonduality shines, categories collapse, leaving only the One without a second.

Svadharma


Svadharma is the unique duty aligned with one’s nature, skills, and circumstances, emphasized in the Bhagavad Gita. It involves self-reflection and discovering personal strengths and passions to fulfill individual and societal roles. Unlike universal duties, svadharma is personalized, guiding moral and spiritual growth while fostering harmony in society.