Advaita: Non-Dual Spirituality - from Ancient India to our Global Age

This documentary traces the evolution of Advaita - from the ancient rishis to saints like Shankara and modern teachers like Ramana Maharshi and Swami Vivekananda - and examines whether or not modern teachings have maintained the power and clarity of the ancient traditions from which they evolved.

The rishis, the sages of ancient India, discovered the underlying reality - brahman - because of which everything exists. The taught this in the Vedic scriptures (shastra), particularly in the Upanishads, which were expanded upon by later generations of teachers, gurus, acharyas, sadhus, and saints. In more recent times, a lack of understanding of the Sanskrit language of the scriptures opened the door to various re-interpretations of those scripture and two modern schools of thought neo-Vedanta and neo-advaita.

0:00 Introduction
6:28 The Age of the Rishis
21:56 The Age of Teachers
46:38 The Global Age

[Kris_]

my Guru used to say: when one of the disciples of Adi Shankara Acharya asked Shankara "based on your teachings, your teaching is also not reality". Shankara replied "Yes, my teaching are also not reality but they are like a tiger in a dream. Even though the tiger in the dream is not real. It will wake you up from the dream"

[SolveEtCoagula]

As a physicist I find these teachings remarkable. Not only are they very concise and clear but they are totally supported by our current model of the way reality works. Swami is right of course when he says that quarks may be to found to be made of something else. Although they are regarded as fundamental ie they do not consist of any other particles, all particles are thought to be formed by waves in a 'sea of fields' which extend throughout the Universe. As to what this collection of fields is made from . . . . well, maybe that is Brahma? But isn't it amazing - now we no longer believe that there is any such thing as a 'solid' particle underlying all things, instead we have an infinite ocean of waves - just like the rishis suggested 5, 000 years ago. Incredible!

[ishwarfowdar]

Vedic philosophy should be popularised on a global basis only way forward for peace tolerance understanding brotherhood of global mankind.very profound philosophy

[surendranpandaran]

Never heard anyone explain Advaita so comprehensively. Thank you.

[eugenecoleman]

When I started learning about Indian thought and especially reading the upanishads, I quickly realized that Indian philosophy was about 2k-3k years ahead of western philosophy. Eastern philosophy was asking questions and talking about things before the common era that western philosophy was completely missing until the enlightenment.
Any modern student of philosophy will be familiar with Plato, Aristotle, Kant, etc. but they should just as well be studying the vedas, upanishads, and teachings of Buddha, and the Tao

[MohanKumar-kdjx]

We indians are fighting with caste. But foreigners know the real essence of our sanathana Dharma and trying to adapt it. We are still in dark. We need to wake up from dream.
Shankara please do Come once
Jai Adi Guru Shankaracharya
My sastanga pranamagalu to you.
Also thanks to Guru who is explaining perfectly and even a lay man can understand.

[sckishore]

I accidentally happened to come here and words can't explain how I feel. I feel blessed. Thank you so much Swamiji for your service!!

[jameshetfield]

I don’t think I’ve listened to a better talk than this over the past year. Thank you very much.

[Stella.J.]

It's not often that we hear such a pristine presentation. What a talent. Absolutely delightful. Thank you for this upload.. When you hear the Truth, like a memory you recognize it.. xx..

[Joshua-dcbs]

Never has one explained Advaita Vedanta with such clarity! Namaste!

[nathanjones]

My teacher's teacher was also Swami Dayananda Saraswati. These videos are a superb introduction into the vast, perfected science of Reality.. Also known as Traditional Vedanta.

[jnadiagetoffmyaccountloney]

wow as some one who grew up learning the hindu' beliefs and books (as a Hari Krishna) I have tried to explain these topics to other in the western world such as work colleges and friends but with much difficulty indeed. This is one of the best explanations I have ever heard! Such great work thank you for uploading this ancient wisdom done so marvelously! Simply Beautiful

[orangebetsy]

I'm a musician. You have a wonderful voice and especially the manner and "performance" makes this nectar to hear even like the content is haha

[edelweisssymons]

😇 Love the slow & simple way you teach profound truth. I am like a child who loves listening again & again to my favourite stories! Heartfelt thanks from Australia.

[contemplativepathways]

This presentation is most EXCELLENT. Thank you for producing and posting it.

Bookmarks ----

INTRODUCTION: 0:39
Meaning of Advaita: 1:31
Goal of Advaita teachings: 2:36
Presentation outline: 4:13


Part 1 - AGE OF RISHIS: 6:31
Chandogya Upanishad: 7:07
Satyam (unmanifest Brahman), mithya (the manifest world), and nama-rupa (name/form): 11:15
The knowledge of Brahman - mahavakya: 16:53


Part 2 - AGE OF TEACHERS: 21:55
Gaudapada and Shankara and Advaita Vedanta: 22:58
The 3 Pillars of Advaita Vedanta: 24:31
Duality and the Non-dual - Gaudapada's Karika: 29:55
Three levels/orders of reality: 32:34
The Dream state: 36:23
Maya, ultimate Truth and suffering in the mind: 38:12
Prakriya: 43:16


Part 3 - THE GLOBAL AGE: 46:34
Problems of translation: 47:39
19th century revival - Ramakrishna and Ramana Maharshi: 51:57
Neo-Vedanta and Neo-Advaita: 57:13
Shankara's recipe for attaining non-dual knowledge: 1:00:54
Defective prakriya: 1:02:24
The exceptional spiritual genius of "The Extraordinary Individual": 1:08:13


CONCLUSION - Still relevant need for prakriya: 1:10:04

Namaste.

[gabrielssom]

I came across this video in perfect timing! Excelent teachings! Thank you so much for sharing this knowledge with us!

[rosadorenatosergio]

Thank you very much Swami Tadatmananda for the fluid and penetrating clarity of this knowledge transmission.

[richeststrut]

I am blessed to be alive during Swami Tadatmananda's era, His clarity and the way he is distilling some of the complex topics with amazing presentation which caters to audience from both east and west is highly commendable.

[Peter-rgng]

This teaching video has been the clearest, most in-depth & practical introduction that I have found "as to date" on Advaita. Thank you very much for this wonderful content. In gratitude.

[learnapply]

One of the most compassionate teachers, I have ever heard. Thank you Swami.