Guest guest Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 I would like to correct a big mistake in my post which is also a Big misconception. The system of philosophy now popularly called Advaita Vedanta should be called only Advaita. Vedanta or the essence of the Vedas or Upanishads are common to all systems of philosophy. The term Upanishad is derived from upa (near), ni (down) and s(h)ad (to sit). In ancient Indian teaching system groups of pupils sit near the teacher to learn from him the secret doctrine. Upanishad means brahma-knowledge by which ignorance is loosened or destroyed. In the Upanishads the spiritual meanings of the Vedic texts are brought out and emphasized in their own right. The Upanishads more clearly set forth the prime Vedic doctrines. The Upanishads constitute what we call the Vedanta (Veda-anta), the end of the Vedas, not merely because they constitute the last part of them, but above all because they are their ultimate teachings, reaching to the highest metaphysical state. The older Upanishads are usually affixed to a particularly Veda, through a Brahmana or Aranyaka. Every Upanishad follows a particular system of philosophy. Even here our Acharyas have interpreted the same Upanishad in different ways to propagate their own school of Philosophy. We have to understand that all the systems of philosophy came from the same source. It is only different interpretations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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