Equipped with a deep understanding of human nature and a deeper knowledge of Vedantic tenets, A. Parthasarathy—scholar, teacher, sage—tries to make life more peaceful for all

Vedanta can`t catapult you to transcendence

In an interview with Harvinder Kaur, A. Parthasarathy, Vedantic scholar extraordinaire, unveils a practical perspective to life:

How would you define Vedanta?

Vedanta explains your psychological and philosophical constitution, which you ought to know to be able to contact the world. By learning the art of how to contact, you'll remove the conditioning you are in and regain your original identity.

Is the Vedantic path suitable for all?

Vedanta gives you knowledge of the self. So, the seeker should be looking for the self. You only require the ability to think.

What is meditation?

Meditation is focusing the mind on a single thought. But that can happen only when you've offloaded the bulk of desires. Vedantic knowledge is terrestrial. It cannot catapult you to transcendence.

What do you have to say about courses that offer 'enlightenment'?

Sick! It is like squashing a doctorate into a crash-course. Even the three-year course I offer at the Vedanta Academy is a compromise.

Do you consider yourself enlightened?

The question is absurd. It is like a dreamer asking a person in the dream whether he is awake. I'll be stupid if I say 'yes'.