Untitled - the Divine Life Society

I*cture IXVEDANTA IS LIVING EXPERIBNCEVennNre is today a much abused term. All sorts of vanity,hypocrisy and self-conceit have been masquerading in itsname. It has become the fashion of the day to pass for aVedantin as it is then convenient to give up all sorts ofresponsibilities, rituals and restrictions of the VarnashramaDharma and enables one to lead a happy-go-lucky life of ease,lethargy and inertia. The Punjab is full of dry, lip-Vedantins.Punjabi women have also taken to Vedanta and they take greatpride in calling themselves Vedantins, whether or not theyunderstand the philosophy, whether or not they do anypractice. All retired officers who have not done any selflessservice or any Sadhana or worship or charity take to Vedantaas a sort of fancy.Thus Vedanta has become a very comfortable philosophy,because one can do whatever he chooses and eat whatever helikes. Licentiousness is mistaken for a life of expansion. If aman can eat anything in any hotel in any part of the world, ifhe can move socially with any man or woman, that does notmean, he is a Vedantin. There is much tall talk of Vedantanowadays. There is idle Vedantic gossiping. But there is nopractical Vedanta. Nobody wants to do any real solid VedanticSadhana. Man feels ashamed to call himself a Bhakta, but hetakes great pride in calling himself a Yogi or a Vedantin,because he foolishly imagines he will be respected by thepublic. Many ignorant Vedantins have mistaken the body forBrahman and hence there is corruption amongst the so-calledloose Vedantins. This is not only lamentable but also highlydeplorable.Wholesale preaching of Vedanta to the Masses is not124 LECTURES ON YOGA AND VEDANTA