What is Brahmavidya
Brahman represents the Ultimate Truth. Vidyā means knowledge. Brahmavidyā means “Knowledge of the Ultimate Truth”.
Brahman represents the Ultimate Truth. Vidyā means knowledge. Brahmavidyā means “Knowledge of the Ultimate Truth”.
The Seekers of Ultimate Truth in India discovered that the Ultimate Truth – the One Consciousness on which the whole universal display appears to be – is no different from our own True Identity – the Self. So, Brahmavidyā is equally the knowledge of our true Identity.
Brahmavidyā, as exposed in the Vedantic Scriptures (Upanishads), guides a seeker to discover this Truth first hand, within himself. The goal is to realize that the Self (the real “I”) is the same as the Brahman (the Source or Substratum of the Universe).
As this realization is about our own identity, it results into a complete transformation of our inner personality. The practice of Brahmavidyā expands our vision, sublimates our mind, and clarifies our intelligence, leading to freedom and fulfillment.
The pursuit of Brahmavidyā has two aspects: (1) Non-interactional pursuit consisting of introspection, contemplation and meditation on our real Identity or Self as exposed in the Upanishads; and (2) Interactional pursuit to cultivate the Soul dimensions – qualities like vairāgya (impersonality), samatva (even-mindedness), asangatvā (non-clinging), non-possession, unaffectedness etc. – during interactions with the world.
Our Guru Paramparā
In our lineage, the spiritual current imparted and imbibed during initiation is verily responsible for experiential manifestation of the inner power and brilliance in the disciple’s life.
Read More
perspectives on brahmavidya
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
Contribution of Spirituality in Resolving Problems of our Society | Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
Play Video
The Real Meaning of Moksha
Moksha is a clarity, a freedom that you need from whatever troubles you have now. If there is no trouble, you don’t need moksha.
Read More
Equanimity - The Key to Yoga
For the worldly-minded, siddhi and asiddhi relate to worldly efforts. For the seeker, these relate to his sadhana. Equanimity applies to both alike. So, be indifferent or harmonious, and carry on.
Read More
Bondage and Liberation
Many of you get confused about what in us gets liberated. My reply is, whichever part in you now feels bound, will start feeling the absence of bondage.
Read More
BRAHMAVIDYA AUDIOS
-
Brahmavidya is the Foundation of all Knowledge
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
-
Find Joy by Knowing Your True Inner Nature
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
-
The Purpose Of Life Is To Gain True Knowledge
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
-
Self Knowledge
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
-
Advaita Understanding Gives Non-Affectation and Contentment
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
-
Q&A - Who am I
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
suggested links
Rapid growth of our materialistic civilization has led to phenomenal increase in stress, competition, distraction, greed and fear in the minds of all people. We constantly cling to what we like, and fear facing what we dislike. We are anxious about acquiring what we don’t have, and losing what we do. Our minds have become weak – in fact, slave to the objects and external situations.
The infinite variety of the world always creates an outward pull – a centrifugal force which pulls us away from our inmost identity. Understand that this centrifugal force is not generated by objects, but by our own mind’s attraction and repulsion towards them.
Our focus must be to interact with world’s variety while remaining anchored to our core identity, balancing the centrifugal force by generating enough of centripetal force. Spiritual knowledge and practice are meant to generate this centripetal force to keep us Self-seated.
Being anchored to our Real Identity, we will be able to live with poise, strength and stability even amidst intense oscillation of the world’s external situations.
How to remain anchored in our inmost identity?
LOOK Within. Shift the focus from external events and situations, to the mind’s response to them. FOLLOW that which makes you feel inner expansion, lightness, and strength. AVOID that which makes you feel shrunk, heavy and weak within. Remember, our growth is in inner expansion. A good life is a pilgrimage from selfishness to Universal-ness.
UNDERSTAND that Difficulties are verily opportunities for further growth. They are the gateways to elevation and expansion.
LOVE Good Qualities. The easiest way to imbibe any quality is to love that quality. When we really love a quality, we will be happy seeing it in our enemy also.
NEVER dwell in the past (either lamenting/repenting or boasting), or loiter in the imaginary future. Analyze the past impersonally, and plan the future wisely. But, accept the present readily, and go ahead with courage and unaffectedness.
BE ATTENTIVE to the present. Plan very well learning from past experiences, and considering all future possibilities and consequences. But, do not indulge in the expectation of gain and happiness that may (or may not) come at the end. -ANY CORRECTION becomes most effective when applied to the causal level. To correct a wrong behaviour, look for the thoughts giving rise to such behaviour. To transform the thoughts look into the mindset (bhāva) that is giving rise to such thoughts. A good liberal mindset will generate good liberal thoughts; which in turn will be expressed through good liberal actions/behaviour.
MINDSET (BHĀVA) in spiritual sādhanā is transformed by repeated contemplation on the one, universal, changeless Reality, which is our own real Identity, free of any taint or affectation.
REMEMBER – Love, owning everybody, is the greatest power in the world. Never find fault with others. Blaming thoughts about anybody pollutes our own mind.
WATCH the mind always. Indulging constantly in worldly thoughts of likes and dislikes makes us slave to the world. By thinking more and more about our own unaffected core identity, we become master of the world.
Disciplined senses following the mind, mind guided by intelligence, and intelligence always looking for guidance from the inmost Reality, will lead us to the ultimate auspicious goal.
“Whether you seek material peace, intellectual wisdom, personal steadiness or religious salvation, know that the source of any and all lies just within you. Look to the within, turn inward and unearth your own hidden treasures. Be humble but bold and keen in your attempt.”
“As this realization is about our own identity, it results into a complete transformation of our inner personality. The practice of Brahmavidyā expands our vision, sublimates our mind, and clarifies our intelligence, leading to freedom and fulfillment.”
Essential Guide For Sādhanā and Practice
Introspection and emotional refinement
Whatever you do, wherever you are, you can pursue constant introspectional sadhana of refinement and purification. In fact it should be so.
Read More
Moderation-A Great Lesson
Suppose you have a little depression or disinterestedness today – what of that? Let it remain. Be at home even with that. Know that as it has come in so also will it pass off. If you keep this elevated attitude, soon you will find that the depressive moods will become less frequent.
Read More
Sādhana in Gurusannidhi
Through the Teacher’s responses to various situations, we get a touch of his vision – his love and his dispassion. In receiving his comments and accepting the corrections, our ego gets sublimated. In working with the co-disciples and accommodating others lovingly as the Guru does, our minds expand.
Read More
Sādhanā and Practices Audios
-
Q&A - Daily Spiritual Practices
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
-
Self-Realization and the Process to achieve it
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
-
Brahmavidya Deeksha and Meditation
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
-
The Importance of Brahmavidya Deeksha
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
-
The Path of Knowledge-austerity
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
-
Q&A - What is needed to start meditation?
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
