Shankara was an Indian philosopher whose views are considered to be the most influential in the country. Understanding Vedanta from Shankara’s point of view, it is possible to refer to a human soul as to All-awareness, or Brahman. Shankara is sure that human soul has the quality rebirth each time it dies until the soul is able to leave this circle. Shankara is sure that Brahman is the only unchanged entity which deserves attention and exists separately from others.
According to Shankara’s vision of Vedanta, only Brahman is real while the whole world which surrounds it is an illusion. One of the main problems of the modern world is tat people are unable to understand their unreality and the existence in the illusion. Moreover, people and all the surrounding attributes are going to rebirth again and again until they are able to understand their illusion existence.
Thus, it may be concluded that Shankara’s vision of Vedanta based on knowledge as only having realized the illusion of the world people used to consider the real one they will be able to get free. People are to consider their personal inner world to understand the true nature of the Self (Oxtoby and Amore 78). First of all, it should be stated that the Self exists just as the attribution to other things, just because it is unable to exist separately. Shankara’s vision of the Self is compared with the waves which are unable to exist without the sea.
One of the main purposes of human existence should be the realization of the Brahman. To do it correctly, according to Shankara, people are to meet the following conditions. The eternal and non-eternal items are to be recognized, people are to refuse from the results of their actions, and people are to express the patience in suffering, become free from any religious ceremonies and pay more attention the desire of the final release.
The understanding of the necessity of completing all the tasks mentioned above approaches people to Brahman, which means the comprehension of Brahman and the destroying of human ignorance. This is the first step on the way to release from this illusion existence and step on the path of reincarnation (Oxtoby and Amore 97).
Brahman is omniscient and omnipotent, what is obvious if to consider Brahman as the Self and the World. Moreover, Brahmna may be called an utterly unconditional Absolute. Those who unable to understand it have to come though the cycle of suffering, death and rebirth. As it has already been mentioned only having realized the real nature of the word people will be able to release from this existence, useless and aimless.
Additionally, according to the historical data and the dates on the documents which explain the nature of Vedanta, this philosophy may be considered as the basis for other philosophies. Even though many followers of this philosophy refuse the connection of Vedanta with Buddhism, it is possible to see common features as well as other religions may be connected with Vedanta as with one of the basic and ancient philosophies in the world.
Therefore, it should be concluded that to make sure that one has accepted the world as it is and follows the Vedanta philosophy, it is important to accept that Brahman (as the Self and the only Reality) is omniscient and omnipotent. The whole world is illusion and people live in cycle rebirth each time their soul dies. Only accepting the principles of Vedanta, one is able to release.
Works Cited
Oxtoby, Willard G. and Roy Amore, eds. World Religions: Eastern Traditions. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print.