Why does Vedanta recommend meditation only after one has studied the knowledge, practiced devotion, and lived a life of unselfish action?
Like many seekers, I turned to yoga and meditation hoping to find peace. Over the years, I developed a consistent practice. I meditated daily, breathed deeply, and followed what I believed was a path to calm. But something wasn’t working. I still struggled with anxiety, thoughts of the future, and regret over the past. Off the mat, I felt just as restless as before.
One day, in a yoga class, the teacher opened with a verse from the Bhagavad Gita. It was a call to focus on the present moment. While I valued the teaching, the lessons never seemed to translate off the mat into everyday life. But the approach planted a seed – the idea that ancient spiritual philosophy could provide answers to modern dilemmas intrigued me. I began reading the Gita and eventually stumbled upon Vedanta philosophy.
At first, I approached it with curiosity. I dipped in and out of books, attended a few lectures, and sampled different approaches. But over time, something became clear: despite my regular meditation and yoga, I hadn’t really learned how to think, reflect, or question. I had been managing symptoms, not addressing the root of the problem.
That realization brought me to an in-person Vedanta class in New Jersey. Slowly, through discussions and guided study, I began to see the difference between true meditation and mere concentration. I understood that the mind is clever—it can rationalize, justify, and even disguise its restlessness as “practice.” And without proper guidance, we may believe we’re progressing spiritually, when in fact, we’re simply circling the same thoughts.
Vedanta helped me see that meditation is not the starting point—it’s the culmination of preparation. Like cultivating a field before planting a seed, the mind needs to be prepared through knowledge, devotion, and service. When that groundwork is done sincerely, meditation becomes natural—an effortless stillness, not a forced quiet.
One line from class particularly stayed with me:
“We are a product of our past, but we are the producer of our future.”
It reminds me that growth isn’t about escape, but effort. It’s about building inner clarity, one thought at a time.
If you’ve ever felt like your practice has plateaued, or that mindfulness alone isn’t enough, I encourage you to explore Vedanta more deeply. It offers a systematic way to develop the intellect, quiet the mind, and live with purpose.
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“The blog above are thoughts of a student of the online weekly lectures”
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