Without a Second (Fundamentals of Vedanta)

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Sheela Balaji Graduated with a master’s degree in history of art. She became a pioneer in the field of natural dyes in the textile industry and spent 20 years perfecting the craft.

A chance meeting with Swami Dayananda Saraswati opened her mind to the wonder that is Vedanta. Few years in the study of Vedanta she realized that it was the beginning of a long journey in the quest for truth. This book was written to help introduce Vedanta to those who might be interested in making such a beginning.

What is the relevance of a contemplative life today? Given our single minded pursuit of a wealth power success life style does a spiritual life hold any attraction? Surprisingly it does simply because human beings are blessed with intelligence and curiosity. We have an insatiable need to know and we remain restless until we find the answers to our many question questions as to the reason for our dissatisfaction despite the many success. Why are we unable to hold on the pleasant feelings that fleet past us in succession? Where is life leading us? Where do the answers lie? Do they lie in us or in our various situations and achievements?

We know that each one of us is a self conscious being conscious of ourselves and the world around us. This in turn makes us painfully aware of our helplessness our limitations in relation to the world. Unable to accept this helplessness this emptiness within us we seek to fulfill ourselves through various experiences. The sense of satisfaction or fullness that these experience bring however is either wanting or short lived or yet it we can we long to stretch these precious moments to eternity. Dedicating our lives to the pursuit of happiness we have become endlessly seeking creatures. Chasing ever receding goals without rest without an end without realizing the dream of eternal happiness our lives peter out in hopeless frustration.

Is there an end to this ceaseless seeking and suffering? Not an end that comes with death but while we are still alive? The answer according to Vedanta is a resounding Yes we can understand the reason if we analyze our feelings our state of mind when we hold what we have longed for when we achieve the goal we have yearned for. We find we are no longer a seeking or wanting person. We the seeker and the goal the sought are no longer apart separate. There is no division or split no psychological distance between the seeker and the sought. They are one there is neither a seeker nor a sought. We call this state of mind happiness when we feel complete full and whole.