"The word 'Vedanta' means 'end of the Vedas' and encompasses the ideas that emerged from, or were aligned with, the speculations and enumerations contained in the Upanishads, with a focus on knowledge and liberation."
The philosophical system that interprets the teachings of the Upanishads and establishes the principles of Hinduism.
Vedas: These are the ancient texts that form the source of all Hindu philosophy, including Vedanta.
Upanishads: These are philosophical texts found at the end of each Veda, which explain the nature of the self and the universe.
Advaita Vedanta: This is the most popular school of Vedanta, which posits that ultimate reality is non-dual and that the individual self is identical to the supreme self.
Dvaita Vedanta: This school of Vedanta posits that there is a fundamental duality between the individual self and the supreme self.
Bhakti Yoga: This is a spiritual practice that emphasizes the cultivation of devotion to a deity or concept of the divine.
Karma Yoga: This is a spiritual practice that emphasizes selfless action and service to others as a way of attaining spiritual liberation.
Jnana Yoga: This is a spiritual practice that emphasizes the cultivation of knowledge and self-inquiry as a way of attaining spiritual liberation.
Sanskrit: This is the classical language in which the Vedas and other Hindu texts were written, and is important for understanding the nuances of Vedantic thought.
Yoga: This is a spiritual practice that involves physical postures, breath control, and meditation, and is often seen as a complement to Vedantic practice.
Maya: This is the illusion or veil of ignorance that prevents individuals from realizing their true nature as the supreme self.
Atman: This is the individual self, which is believed to be identical to the supreme self in Advaita Vedanta.
Brahman: This is the ultimate reality or highest divine principle in Hinduism, which is believed to be non-dual and all-encompassing.
Samsara: This is the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that individuals are believed to be trapped in until they attain spiritual liberation.
Moksha: This is spiritual liberation or enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal of Vedanta and other Hindu spiritual practices.
Advaita Vedanta: This type of Vedanta interprets the Upanishads in a non-dualistic manner. It teaches that Brahman is the ultimate reality without any attributes or qualities. The world is simply an illusion or maya, and the individual self or atman is nothing but Brahman.
Vishishtadvaita Vedanta: This type of Vedanta interprets the Upanishads as a qualified non-dualism, meaning that the individual self or atman is distinct from Brahman but is still a part of Brahman. Brahman is seen as having qualities and attributes and is the cause of the universe.
Dvaita Vedanta: This type of Vedanta interprets the Upanishads as a dualism, meaning that there is a clear distinction between Brahman, the individual self, and the material world. It teaches that the individual self is dependent on Brahman and can only attain liberation with the grace of God.
Bhedabheda Vedanta: This type of Vedanta interprets the Upanishads as a unity-in-difference, stating that the individual self is both different from and non-different from Brahman.
Shuddhadvaita Vedanta: This type of Vedanta interprets the Upanishads as a pure non-dualism, teaching that Brahman is not only without attributes but also without any underlying substance or consciousness.
Achintya Bheda Abheda Vedanta: This type of Vedanta is a synthesis of Advaita and Vishishtadvaita Vedanta, stating that Brahman is both one and different from the individual self.
"Vedanta is one of the six orthodox (āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy."
"All Vedanta schools base their ideas on the authority of a common group of texts called the Prasthānatrayī, translated as 'the three sources': the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita."
"The main schools of Vedanta are: Bhedabheda or Dvaitadvaita, Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, Tattvavada (Dvaita), Suddhadvaita, and Achintya-Bheda-Abheda."
"Bhedabheda or Dvaitadvaita (difference and non-difference) school of Vedanta."
"Advaita Vedanta emphasizes Jñana (knowledge) and Jñana Yoga over theistic devotion."
"Most major Vedanta schools, except Advaita Vedanta and Neo-Vedanta, are related to Vaishnavism."
"Most Vedanta schools related to Vaishnavism emphasize devotion (Bhakti) to God, understood as Vishnu or a related manifestation."
"While the monism of Advaita has attracted considerable attention in the West, most of the other Vedanta traditions focus on Vaishnava theology."
"Modern developments in Vedanta include Neo-Vedanta and the philosophy of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya."
"The Prasthānatrayī, translated as 'the three sources,' include the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita."
"All Vedanta schools contain extensive discussions on ontology, soteriology, and epistemology."
"Vedanta is also known as Uttara Mīmāṃsā."
"Vedanta encompasses the ideas that emerged from, or were aligned with, the speculations and enumerations contained in the Upanishads, with a focus on knowledge and liberation."
"Independently considered, Vedanta schools may seem completely disparate due to the pronounced differences in thoughts and reasoning."
"Modern developments in Vedanta include Neo-Vedanta and the philosophy of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya."
"Advaita Vedanta emphasizes Jñana (knowledge) and Jñana Yoga over theistic devotion."
"Other Vedanta traditions focus on Vaishnava theology, with an emphasis on devotion (Bhakti) to God."
"Vedanta is one of the six orthodox (āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy."
"Vedānta means 'end of the Vedas' in the Sanskrit language."