INK AETHER:: Cognitive Architecture

vedanta

Vedanta, meaning "end of the Vedas," is a significant school of Hindu philosophy

focused on the nature of reality, exploring the relationship between the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman), and emphasizing unity and the illusory nature of the material world

.

Here's a more detailed explanation of Vedanta:

Core Concepts:

  • Brahman:

    • The ultimate, unchanging reality, often described as the source and ground of all existence.

  • Atman:

    • The individual self, which Vedanta posits is ultimately identical with or a part of Brahman.

  • Maya:

    • The illusion or veil that obscures the true nature of reality, leading to the perception of a separate and impermanent world.

  • Moksha:Liberation or freedom from the cycle of rebirth (samsara) and the attainment of self-realization.

Key Texts and Traditions:

  • Upanishads:The philosophical sections of the Vedas, providing the foundational texts for Vedanta.
  • Brahma Sutras:A systematic summary of Upanishadic teachings, offering a framework for understanding Brahman and the universe.
  • Bhagavad Gita:A key text within the Hindu tradition, exploring themes of dharma, karma, and the path to liberation.
  • Advaita Vedanta:A prominent school of Vedanta, emphasizing non-duality and the ultimate identity of Brahman and Atman.
  • Vishishtadvaita Vedanta:A school of Vedanta that posits a qualified non-duality, where Brahman and Atman are distinct but interconnected.
  • Dvaita Vedanta:A school of Vedanta that emphasizes the duality between Brahman and Atman, and the independence of the individual soul.

Philosophical Approach:

  • Vedanta emphasizes direct experience and intuitive knowledge (jnana) over intellectual understanding, seeking to realize the truth through self-inquiry and introspection.
  • It utilizes the "neti neti" (not this, not this) method to negate the non-ultimate reality and arrive at the nature of Brahman.
  • Vedanta also incorporates concepts of karma (action and consequences) and samsara (the cycle of rebirth).
  • Vedanta aims to harmonize the diverging views presented in the Prasthantrayi, the Principal Upanishads, along with the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita, offering an integrated body of textual interpretations and religious practices which aim at the attainment of moksha, release or liberation from transmigratory existence.