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This is meant to be a guideline/summary of what Vedanta is and a little bit of it's history, key concepts therein as well as common terminology with associated meanings. As has been discussed often, there are many words in Vedanta's original language -- Sanskrit, that are untranslatable into English (or other western languages). A general meaning of these words/concepts can be made, but they would still fail to grasp the meaning/import of the word (as spoken in Sanskrit or derivatives thereof, such as Hindi, Bangla, etc). Let us try to keep our personal predilections/beliefs from coloring this thread, and let us collectively work on building a repository of information that can be used to understand/expound on the Upanishads (the core and essence of Vedanta) by any individual seeking to advance their understanding. The source of Vedanta The Hindu tradition considers the Vedas to be the source, and Vedanta is part of the Vedas. It is the fourth and final component of the Vedas. The Vedas are composed of the following parts: The Samhitas The Brahmanas The Aranyakas The Upanishads All three systems of Vedanta are based on the Upanishads and hence the name Vedanta (or the last part of the Vedas). Etymology: Veda + anta (Veda - root Vid, to know - thereby Veda means knowledge; anta - End/conclusion) - thereby the Conclusion of Veda is Vedanta. The three systems of Vedanta These are: Advaita Vedanta or Non-Dualistic Vedanta (Shankaracharya being the primary teacher of this system) Dvaita Vedanta or Dualistic Vedanta (Madhavacharya being the primary teacher) Vishisthadvaita Vedanta or Qualified Non-dualistic Vedanta (Ramanujacharya being the primary teacher) Key Concepts in Vedanta Brahman Brahman is the ultimate reality, in Vedanta/Upanishads. It has been likened to the smaller than the smallest particle we can see but larger than the largest fathomable entity (capable of being conjured by the human mind). It is without properties (and all references to it are allegorical/metaphorical) and therefore is without gender, without shape, without form. Brahman is also likened to be the source, participant and activity (all there is). Atman Atman is the "True Self", that is the "True identity", when stripped of all extraneous identities (in general every which way we do identify ourselves). Ishwara This is the "God" (as we would understand it from the theistic point of view). In that, a God that creates, nurtures, destroys and so on. Jiva Jiva translated from sanskrit means "Living being". So Jiva is the being that lives (and the identities that we use for ourselves, are in context of, with reference to this). The Two-level theory of Reality In Vedanta, there are two levels of Reality (or Truth), one being called the Vyavaharika Satya and other other being the Paramarthika Satya. Satya comes from the sanskrit word "Sat" or "Substantial/Existence/Reality/Truth". Vyavahar in sanskirt stands for "Use" or "Usage". So Vyavaharika is that which is used - so our everyday lives, world and interactions fall in this category. Paramartha is sanskrit is a compound consisting of Parama (Ultimate) and Artha (Meaning/Value). So Paramarthika is that which is of Ultimate Meaning/Value. All of Vedanta is about putting into context the dynamics between Brahman, Atman, Ishwara and Jiva, using the two-level theory of Reality (I'm being reductionistic here, but its a good starting point). We can revise these statements/semantics after (if we do have) discussions in this regard here. The 10 Principal Upanishads The following are the 10 principal Upanishads, that form the core of Vedanta. I will refer to the associated "Mukhya Upanishads" (or Main Upanishads) page i wikipedia for this: Īṣa, (ŚYV) "The Inner Ruler" Kena (SV) "Who moves the world?" Kaṭha (KYV) "Death as Teacher" Praṣna, (AV) "The Breath of Life" Muṇḍaka (AV) "Two modes of Knowing" Māṇḍūkya (AV) "Consciousness and its phases" Taittirīya (KYV) "From Food to Joy" Aitareya, (ṚV) "The Microcosm of Man" Chāndogya (SV) "Song and Sacrifice" Bṛhadāraṇyaka (ŚYV) These are the dasopanishads (or 10 upanishads) that form the core of Vedanta. The parenthesized acronyms are the Vedas they are associated with. SYV - Shukla Yajur Veda (White Yajur Veda) SV - Sama Veda KYV - Krishna Yajur Veda (Black Yajur Veda) AV - Atharva Veda RV - Rg Veda The Relation between Vedanta and other systems originating out of India The other systems that originated out of India (Darsanas) can be categorized as Astika (Theistic) or Nastika (Atheistic): Astika Systems The following six systems are Astika systems Purva Mimamsa (Ritualists) Sankhya Yoga Vaisheshika (Atomists) Nyaya (Logicians) Uttara Mimamsa (Vedanta) Nastika Systems The nastika systems are: Jaina (Jainism) Bauddha (Buddism) Charvaka (Materialists) Where do the Tantras fit? Nama Rupa What is this concept? Nama = Name/label, Rupa = form/shape. So Nama Rupa is a key concept in the understanding of Vedanta. It lends towards comprehension of the two levels of reality/truth concept. A relatively long time ago, there were discussions on phenomena, noumena, etc here on TTB. Nama Rupa needs to be understood to be able to ascertain (first intellectually, then experientially) what it is that is Paramartha, beyond mundane reality. Nama Rupa is the basis of what is called a "Categorical framework" in philosophy. Nama (as in Label) and Rupa (as in form) give substance to what we view, how we view it and what interpretations we give to it. <more to come>