The term Vedanta literally means the end of the Vedas. It is also the last of the six principal Darsanas or systems of philosophy. It is so called because it teaches the ultimate aim and scope of the Vedas and also because it is based on the Upanishads that come at the end of the Vedas. When it comes to seeking knowledge, the popular conception is that the more one knows the more one understands the infinite nature of knowledge and the sheer impossibility of the quest.
The Upanishads state that when the knowledge sought is the Supreme Truth, and when this is revealed in one’s experience, there is nothing further to be known or understood, pointed out Srimati Sunanda in a discourse. Sanjaya’s description of Krishna’s revelation of His cosmic form to Arjuna recaptures the overwhelming enormity, intensity and grandeur of the different facets of the subtle quality of Infinite Truth, which is given a physical representation.
The formless and shapeless Supreme Brahman is the Infinite Truth or the Eternal Principle that is the cause of the entire creation and is fully responsible for sustaining it. Realising this brings about a humbling effect on the individual who is obsessed with the world and its joys and sorrows. It makes one rise above these worldly pulls and seek the Infinite which is everlasting. The ephemeral quality of life is pitted against the permanence of eternity. When the all-pervading divine is discovered as ever existent while all else that appears with name and form is subject to birth, growth, decay and death, one is prompted to discover the purpose of life. The original nature of every atma is indestructible. Man is endowed with an intellect that can make him understand this truth and human birth is a valuable opportunity to revert to one’s original state from the enveloping layers of worldly attractions and material gains.
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Whatever may be one’s status, learning, achievements, etc, only when the moral code of values becomes the basis of one’s action and behaviour does one’s life become meaningful to lead to the ultimate goal, liberation.