Books for Studying Vedanta

Books for Studying Vedanta   I’m often asked what someone should do if they want to study Vedanta. My response to this question is like any other question, its not that black and white. People argue all day whether one should have a teacher, read the classics, or stop reading altogether. Again, there is no one method that fits all. But what I will say is if you want to dive deep into Vedanta then its important to study the classics since those classics are the foundation the tradition is built on. If you haven’t studied the classics then your mind will have a tendency to lose its way in your practice which leads people into all sorts of psychological problems such as spiritual bypassing.     Even though, from the Vedic perspective we are not fundamentally the contents of our mind, those skilled adepts from thousands of years ago understood that our mind needs a framework for understanding anything to its nth degree. Our intellect can help us understand deeper concepts which unravels the mind and can have the potential to ultimately unravel the intellect. And when we speak about Vedanta we are speaking about the deepest spiritual concepts known to the human race (only other Eastern traditions compare to Vedanta such as Buddhism and Taoism).     What teachers of Vedanta explain is its ancient wisdom is not learned knowledge but instead realized knowledge from great adepts. Whether you believe in those sorts of statements is up to you, but what we cannot deny is the science of mind and universe they realized (or created) rings true once we understand the philosophical framework. And this philosophical framework has got a bad rap from modern New Age teachers who ignorantly tell people to stop reading as if it is evil (but the truth might be they can’t really grasp the depth of Vedanta so they feel obliged to ridicule the classics). As a result, we have this growing trend of unintelligent spiritual seekers who follow a New Age “guru” with no discernment in a sycophantic manner. This type of “spirituality” is not really spirituality and gives it a bad name in the same way that evangelists give Christianity a terrible reputation.     For this type of hypnosis and airy fairy woo-woo attitude to cease we have to become sincere in studying the classics as if our life depends on it, especially in Vedanta, let alone any Eastern philosophy. This is why in regards to spirituality tradition trumps New Age thought. And I can personally tell you that when you learn the tradition completely there is truly something about it that is hard to explain (this goes for any Eastern philosophy). Maybe its that ancient quality, as the tradition came from an ancient civilization of people dedicated to Sanatana Dharma (eternal tradition or way/Hinduism) and delivered a science that is still at the spiritual summit today.     Reading the classics, then, does matter. They will benefit your practice going forward. Where to start you ask? Well you have to start with what Vedanta is based on, the Prasthanatrayi. This Sanskrit word refers to the three texts that make up Vedanta: the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma Sutras. These three texts are what Vedanta is based on, so it would be absurd to not study these texts. Also, keep in mind, that there are three major branches of Vedanta which include Advaita (non-dualism), Vishishtadavaita (qualified non-dualism), and Dvaita (dualism). (Watch my episode of Enlightenment Today on Advaita Vedanta to know more). Which path you’re drawn to will depend on your temperament. But what is universal among all three schools is the study of the Prasthanatrayi. Now I can tell you there are a host of translations, and I’ve read quite a few, but I’d say do your homework before you jump in and purchase one.     In relation to understanding Vedanta there is an extraordinary amount of books, too many for me to mention. But I will mention a few that will benefit your understanding of Vedanta. Vivekachudamani (Crest Jewel of Discrimination) by Shankara are a bunch of poems on Avaita Vedanta philosophy that are important to study. Alongside Shankara’s work, there are two Gita’s worth reading that dive into Vedanta, they are the Song of the Avadhut and the Song of Ribhu. Both texts are popular in the state of Tamil Nadu in India and are more focused on Advaita. They constantly point us back to the nondual source of our existence.     Sticking with Advaita, I recommend reading Be as You Are by Sri Ramana Maharshi and I Am That by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, both of whom are regarded as two great Advaita Vedanta gurus from the 20th century. Another book is Sanatana Dharma by Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya. This book is about the eternal way (or dharma and culture) known in Sanskrit as Sanatana Dharma which we call Hinduism today. Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya follows the school of Vishishtadvaita and this book is a thorough study of Sanatana Dharma. Another great book is from modern Advaita Vedanta teacher James Swartz. His book The Essence of Enlightenment is a fantastic exploration of Vedanta from a man who follows the tradition honestly.   Last, but not least, is a book written by Alan Watts called The Book. This special little book is an interesting look at Vedanta from the mind of a philosopher who was touched by the tradition.     There are other books I could mention, like basically any book by Joseph Campbell or books by Huston Smith and Aldous Huxley, but there are just too many. I feel the books I have mentioned are enough for you to clear the mind and build a new framework in your mind from the ground up that has the potential to touch what Vedanta promises: the recognition of the Eternal Brahman as your true nature. SHARE

My Top 5 Books of 2017

My Top 5 Books of 2017   2017 was a rich year for books on spirituality, philosophy, psychology, and optimal performance. Too many to get through. But if you use your time wisely then there is more than enough time to at least consume and digest five books a year. I use to set lofty goals of always reading ten books a year, but as a writer that is not possible with my commitment to my work. But its still a target I aspire to reach every year because, even if you hit the 5-10 mark each year, it means you haven’t been wasting your time on things that don’t matter.     Many of us these days waste most of our time on entertainment. We scour digital devices night and day for the next soundbite to entertain us. Reading, on the other hand, puts the power back in your hands and it demonstrates a loud and clear NO to becoming a distraction junkie. Reading the right books will build the foundational pillars in your life (or in your mind) to cultivate intelligence, harness creativity, and experience prolonged equanimity. Below are the best books I read in 2017 (not all are published in 2017).   Genuine Pretending: On the Philosophy of Zhuangziby Hans-Georg Moeller and Paul D’Ambrosio  Chinese philosophy (alongside Indian philosophy) is always my central focus because of my dedication to to delivering ancient Eastern thought for modern minds. And when it comes to the ancient Daoist (Taoist) sage Zhuangzi (Chuang-tzu) I’ll read anything about his philosophy. When people speak about Daoism they often look to Laozi (Lao-tzu) for its gems. But if you have not encountered the genius of Zhuangzi then it is hard to get a complete picture of the depth of Daoism. As soon as I laid my eyes on Genuine Pretending it was immediately on my hit list. And I can tell you that Hans-Georg Moeller and Paul D’Ambrosio did not disappoint. They explain how the classic Zhuangzi text is not a one dimensional text.   A lot of people believe the text is either a book on metaphysics, spirituality, strategy, or politics. But the authors believe it is all of the above and much more, especially when we take seriously (or not seriously) the humor component of the text. Genuine Pretending goes into the science behind humor and what that has to do with the spiritual depth of the Zhuangzi text. They have a thorough study of sincerity and authenticity, and how that relates to Confucian thought and Zhuangzi. This book explains that even though Zhuangzi is criticizing Confucian thought somewhat, he is really poking fun at it because of the sincere people we are supposed to become through high moral values and ideals that Confucius believes we should live up to.   Zhuangzi skillfully knows these high rationalistic goals are not possible. Zhuangzi explains that in trying to create sincere people we actually create the opposite. Most importantly they introduce the Genuine Pretender, the joker in the pack, which in their opinion is a state of being Zhuangzi recommends for us to be in if we want to be a healthy and sane individual and live in a healthy and sane world. “A genuine pretender develops a capacity to playfully and skillfully enact social personae by looking at things, including oneself, from a ‘zero perspective.’”   The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practiceby Georg Feuerstein   I’ve read a truckload of books on Yoga. Some have been done well and others struggle from a lack of understanding the philosophy of the great tradition. But there is no doubt that The Yoga Tradition is the best book on Yoga period. Georg Feuerstein is still one of the most underrated scholars on Yoga and Eastern thought out there. His understanding of classical Yoga is phenomenal. This book has often been referred to as the “Yoga phone book” for its size. But I will tell you this, you don’t want the book to end once you dive in deep.   Feuerstein explores everything about the Yoga tradition to its nth degree. Actually, he covers a lot more than that. He also does a fantastic job in covering Vedanta and Samkhya philosophy. He takes you through the whole history of Hindu thought, not just Yoga. Be careful though, this book is the real deal. It is not about the Western version of Yoga that is a poor rip off of Hatha Yoga. This book explains what Yoga truly is and why it is important to follow the tradition and not its cheap imitations. As a writer, I find it inspiring to see the length Feuerstein went to produce a piece of work that will be around for hundreds, if not thousands of years. His scholarship is unmatched when it comes to Yoga. But it is his heart and wisdom that keep the fire of this rich tradition burning into the future.   Thinking, Fast and Slowby Daniel Kahneman  The relationship of psychology to spirituality, specifically Eastern thought, has been growing exponentially for decades. But I believe it is with the recent developments in cognitive science that a lot of explanations we are looking for in regards to spirituality and the nature of mind can be finally answered. My own work has also began to make the obvious connections between the Eastern philosophical traditions and cognitive science. You see this in two of my books, Fasting the Mind and Effortless Living, and also in a future unpublished book.   And if you’re interested in understanding cognitive science thoroughly, then Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow is the perfect start, if not a complete picture thus far. Most importantly Kahneman thoroughly explains dual process theory, the two systems of cognition in our brain. These two systems are the key ingredient in understanding the workings of our mind and it is perfectly adapted to Eastern philosophy, which both make a complete science of mind.   The Art of