Vedanta Light
Vedanta Light is a short book containing answers to questions that arise in the mind of a sincere enquirer setting out on the course of inner discovery.
The questions raised and answered are:
What is man and what is God?
What is the world and what is man’s mission here?
Do you teach absolute renunciation?
Is faith enough for salvation?
What should I do?
Aids to Realization
Shanti or Peace
An Aspect of Truth
The Value of Suffering
Life and Death
Have I failed?
Prayer
Karma or Action
Practical Deductions
Here is an extract, from ‘Aids to Realization’:
Our goal must be that serenity of mind in which fear and duality are unknown, which once realized abides for ever, which enriches life with the gifts of perfect mental poise, serenity and the knowledge that all is One, combined with desire for unselfish service. Let this be our only resolve and let all efforts go towards the realization of it.
It is neither difficult nor painful to realize this. Spiritual help and protection will be given if you make sincere and persistent efforts.
The first thing to be cultivated is absence of attachment (vairagya). This does not mean want of interest in the affairs of the world or of your family. It means that you do your best in the spirit of unselfish service, seeing that your inner heart is not affected by the desire to achieve favourable results. Do your best and let the rest go. Avoid hurry and worry and have boundless trust in yourself. Vairagya creates a vacuum which is filled by the light of love in the course of time. Remember that love means the feeling of unity with all that is.
Remaining in the spirit of vairagya, yet highly active in the unselfish discharge of your duties and the practice of benevolence, you must cultivate courage. Do not be daunted by failure or the want of expected results in your yogic undertaking…
Another enemy to be subdued is anger. Do not give way to temper under any circumstances. You lose your spiritual wealth each time that you give way to anger. When it begins to attack you it comes slowly. Nip it in the bud by a new understanding.
If you go into your meditation practices daily, you will be helped to cultivate freedom. Let nobody be your master except your higher Self. Do not yield to any in your spiritual convictions. Husbands, wives, sons, friends, you have had in all your previous lives, as you have now. Your duty is to give them both material and spiritual service, but if you give up your own principles to please them you show that you have not understood the meaning of spiritual life and the immortality of the soul. Love them in God.
Vedanta Light will be of interest and help if we are seriously embarking on the course of meditation and related practices with the aim of discovering truth within.
