Relevance of Vedanta Today

    Before considering the relevance or irrelevance of this 'Knowledge Supreme' called 'Vedanta', in our day-to-day life let us know what is its meaning and purport, definition and scope! 'Veda'  (from 'vid, meaning, Jnyan), is 'Knowledge'. Everything such as I, you, he, she, it, they, here and there, what is and what is not, etc. are all nothing but knowledge, awareness, consciousness. These are explained in the scriptures. The Upanishads are specially called the 'Vedanta' because it is the anta of the Veda, the end, summary, totality! Nothing is left out of this! Hence there is no question about its relevance.

   Vedanta is much relevant to our life today than ever before. We are ignorant. We want 'to know' and we cannot think beyond a certain limit and Vedanta comes to our help here! Now, what is the specific aspect of Vedanta that affect us? It is the very question of our existence, the true nature of our Self, the relevance of our existence that is explained in Vedanta. However, the common man is not interested in all these spiritual aspects or scriptures! What the common man wants is food, water, shelter and goodies of life to keep his sensuous life happy. But, the jiva does not know the real hunger is not of the body but the 'soul' and it doe not know what is this soul? 

   The question of hunger and thirst are instinctive since the body needs for its sustenance. Ordinarily, the jiva is not even aware of the existence of something beyond the flesh and blood and the skeletal body. The jiva runs the mill, takes birth after death repeatedly and realizes at the end how it has wasted the divine gift of 'life'? It is the repeated births and deaths that create an aversion, and thereby an urge to seek riddance, liberation, mukti. The jiva becomes of the sick body! Prince Gautama, became the Buddha when he went in search of an answer to these sickness, old age, and death! The same is the case of Mahavira. Anybody who becomes a seeker, ardently looks for the relevance of his/her existence will ultimately come to this!

  Hence, the knowledge of science and technology may help to certain extent to make the jiva live a happy sensuous mundane day-to-day life, but will not give supreme permanent Bliss, Param Ananda! With all success, attainments, accolades, achievements in the worldly existence the jiva gets disgusted, feels unhappy, disappointed and disillusioned! It is only when 'Knowledge' (Jnyan) leads to 'Wisdom' (viveka), that leads to 'Renunciation' (vairagya) that the jiva finds liberation, mukti!