Journalism of Courage
Swami Parthsarthy,who will be in the city on Friday,talks about Vedanta philosophy
The lecture hall at the building called ‘Vairagya’ at Vedanta Academy in Malavali,59 kms from Pune,was full of disciples listening attentively to Swami Parthasarthy last week. Many of them had traveled from Mumbai and Pune to attend the morning sessions that he was addressing. As the session progressed,Swamiji stressed on the idea of the futility of human desires. His anecdotes and booming voice,kept the students in the room alert and in rapt attention. “You can’t give up anything. You can only take up something higher,nobler and finer.” The vertical red tilak on his forehead was the only diversion in the swathe of white in the room.
At the lecture Hall,most of the students are those who live at his Academy and have signed up for the three-year course on Vedanta. The curriculum includes analysis of texts that talk about the Vedantic Philosophy along with select works from English literature. The foundation has also been awarded the status of a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation by the Government of India. “I select seekers for this course. If you look at the students,none of them are those who are using it as escapism from their problems. This course introduces one to the philosophy of Vedas and how it can be used to live life fully,” he says. A graduate from University College,London,Swamiji’s course has takers from all the top names in academics IIT,Harvard,Wharton,Kellog,to name a few.
Currently working on his latest book,titled,The Complete Works of Swamy Parthasarthy ,which is a compilation of his last nine books,Swamiji says he has supplemented his idea about Vedas with the contemporary mindset. His books all fruits of his research,have been a result of an in-depth study of the Vedas which is deeply embedded in Sanskrit. Sitting in his study room at the Academy,Swamiji is easy to speak to,a smile constantly lingering on his face. Outside,it is raining and disciples walk out carrying umbrellas planning for their next afternoon session.
What about the idea of religious bits slipping in the otherwise objective analysis? “Religion and philosophy exist together. In fact,philosophy is the kernel of all religions. But its important to understand religion at a deeper level. Nowadays,only rituals remain at the expense of philosophy. That is the conflict and one needs to overcome it.”
