VEDANTA

Science of Consciousness

Literature

A person uses language for the transfer of knowledge and wisdom. We also need to be told the self-knowledge that and how we are whole, full and free. It’s not about the words, but about how their meaning affects our minds.

This is because my mind lives in all kinds of ignorance. We know this because I experience all kinds of discomfort. Only knowledge can remove the wrong self-image. Only then can I understand how and that I am that free wordless consciousness.

The texts and the teacher’s explanations are therefore not the goal, but the means. The range of texts and words from the teacher is so diverse, because every mind is different. For one person this clicks, the other understands another teaching well.

Truth itself, free wordless consciousness, does not need words. And yet we need words to see our freedom. Then the words can also be let go.

The overview below is intended to show you some of the way in the texts of Vedanta. It is classified in the traditional structure.

It is also nice to know your way around the jungle that is the internet. It remains said that you need someone to explain the texts. The teacher has heard it from her or his teacher, and that goes back to the sources themselves. One reality, one message, one universal teaching.

The overview is of course not complete, but is a representation of the standard texts of Vedanta and books by modern teachers around Vedanta.nl.

First the unfolding in writing of Vedanta in the Upanisads, the Brahma Sutras (logic) and the Bhagavad Gita (complete accessible overview in dialogue form). The explanation in the later textbooks, Prakaranas.

Teachers usually begin the teachings of Vedanta with the Bhagavad Gita or the manuals of Vedanta (Prakaranas), as prior knowledge is needed to study the Upanisads and Brahma Sutras. Traditionally, they are mentioned as the first sources.

Shankara with his disciples

Vedānta teachers thus teach from texts (śāstra). In the image, both Śaṅkara and the students are holding books in their hands. The fact that these are always the same texts gives us certainty about the stability and unambiguity of the means that leads to freedom.

The source texts are the Upaniṣads (Vedic). The teaching is reliable because it does not come from humans (apauruṣeya). What it does come from is a subtle teaching. To understand how this works, we could say that the texts appear in you while you are reading here. Yet they do not come from you as a human being. This factor outside of you as a separate person, but within you as infinite consciousness, we call īśvara, the whole of all knowledge. The texts are a manual, a guide to show that and how you are free.

The knowledge has been seen by seers (ṛṣis) in their minds and has been passed on and heard in an oral tradition (śruti). This was written down at one point as the Vedas, which means knowledge.

The end of this knowledge is Vedānta, recorded in the Upaniṣads. Out of ten Upaniṣad texts, the famous sage Śaṅkara has written authoritative commentaries (bhāṣyas). These are usually cited in education.

Not every Upaniṣad is complete in knowledge and they are condensed and cryptic. Vyāsa therefore remembered the teaching (smṛti) and wrote it down completely and clearly as the Bhagavad Gītā, part of the epic Mahābhārata. For many, this is a personal book of how to live well and happily (dharma śāstra), with the consequence of how to be free through knowledge (jñāna śāstra).

The non-dual vision is analytically (nyāya) elaborated in the Brahma Sūtrās. In it, the unique logic is set out and seen how it encompasses other points of view (darśanas).

Then we come to the three text pillars (prasthāna trayam) of Vedānta:

Vyasa dictates the Bhagavad Gita to Ganesha

Hearing (śruti prasthāna) of the unfolded knowledge in the Upaniṣads
(Swipe over book for info, free PDFs or webshops)


An easy-to-read introduction to the Upanishads. The difference between preyas, the vain striving of a human being, and sreyas, that which is always good, is explained flawlessly.
Reference is made to the Upanishads as a textual source of knowledge that leads to freedom
And why explanation by a teacher is necessary.

Author: Manon van Dijk-Hullegie
Publisher: Viveki
Level: beginners
Language: Dutch
Shop >>
Seven Upaniṣads in one book in Dutch, with Shankara's commentary. Taken from seven separate translations of the Sanskrit study groups of the School of Philosophy in Amsterdam. Freely available on the rich website of Ferit Arav, with many texts available for free. Also for sale as a book at Kadag publishers.

Translation: Study group School of Philosophy
Publisher: Kadag
Level: advanced
Language: Dutch
Full PDF >>
Swami Paramarthananda is a prominent contemporary Vedanta guru and a disciple of Swami Dayananda. His comments are authoritative and widely praised. On the website of his organization Arsha Avinash he teaches the Upanishads, and many other Vedanta texts.

Comm.: Paramarthananda
Publisher: Arsha Avinash
Level: advanced
Language: English
Go to website for PDFs >>
From the Ramakrishna tradition. With Upanishads available for free with reliable commentary from Swamis like Nikhilanda and Gambhirananda. In addition, many other texts of Brahmasutras (Sankara commentary is Advaita Vedanta, Ramanuja Viśiṣṭa Advaita) and Bhagavad Gita and more.

Comments: Various
Website: Estudanteda Vedanta
Level: advanced
Language: English
Go to website for PDFs >>

Remembering (smṛti prasthāna), the Upaniṣads in a text: the Bhagavad Gītā

The Home Studies of the Bhagavad Gita. Standard work in 4 files of more than 500 pages each. In book form, nine volumes.

Author: Swami Dayananda
Publisher: Arsha Vidya
Level: Beginners and advanced
Language: English
Internet Archive >>
This translation of the Gītā is enriched by the authoritative commentary (bhāşya) of Śaṅkara. From the sympathetic collection of Ferit Arav, which can also be ordered as a book from Ka.Dag Publishers

School of Philosophy
Publisher: Ka.dag
Level: intermediate-advanced
Language: Dutch
To pdf >>
Textbook of Advaita.nl. In Dutch with word for word translation. Also available:, an edition with only the Dutch text, and two chant booklets (In transliteration and in Devanagari script). Also publishers of Dayananda's books on the Gita, The Essence..., Emotionally Mature and The Value of Values.

Translation: R. & M. van Dijk
Publisher: Viveki
Level: All, teacher recommended
Language: Dutch
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Clear translation with accessible commentary with little Sanskrit by Rory Mackay, a Vedanta teacher from Scotland. With a foreword by James Swartz. Recently the same author published: Enlightenment made simple. Introduction to Vedanta.

Author: Rory Mackay
Publisher: Unbroken Self
Level: Beginners
Language: English
To website >>

Reasoning (nyāya prasthāna), for the advanced: Brahma Sūtrās

Leading, guiding commentary by Swami Paramarthananda from Chennai on the very aphoristic brahma sutras. In it, Vedanta enters into a conversation with other visions and turns out not to contradict them but to include them.

Author: Bādarāyaṇa (Vyāsa) Publisher: Arsha Avinaash
Level: Very advanced
Language: English with Sanskrit Quotes
Full pdf 1487 pages. >>
This one of the Brahma Sutras with commentary by the late Swami Sivananda is a bit more concise in detail, but is still quite a challenge. A word for word translation is given here.

Author: Bādarāyaṇa (Vyāsa)
Publisher: The Divine Life Society
Level: Very advanced
Language: English
Website, possibly pdf >>
In this version on shlokam.org without commentary per verse, you can take note of the bare text of the Brahma Sutras. This can only be understood under guidance or with proper commentary. See the versions on the right.

Author: Bādarāyaṇa (Vyāsa)
Website: Shlokam.org
Level: Very advanced
Language: Sanskrit - English
Website >>

The manuals (prakaraṇa grantha)

Throughout the ages, sages have written manuals (prakaraṇa grantha) to elaborate the knowledge in detail, to clarify it and to make it understandable for changing times. Many come from Śaṅkara. It is advisable to start with Tattvabodha.

Valuable book, because it brings together fifteen labors of the great Vedanta sage Adi Sankara in one book. With Dutch translation and brief explanation in footnotes per page. Including translations of Tattva Bodha, Atma Bodha and Drg Drsya Viveka.

Translation and compilation: Ferit Arav
Publisher: Can be ordered as a book at Ka.Dag
Level: Readable edition for everyone to get acquainted with (guidance by qualified teacher recommended)
PDF and much more on >>
The Tattva Bodha, literally, knowledge of the truth, is touted by every Vedanta teacher as a text to begin with, because it unfolds some basic concepts. Yet this text is very complete. Clear translation with precise, effective commentary.

Comm.: James Swartz
Publisher: Shining World
Level: Beginners
Language: English
To pdf >>
Atma Bodha means self-knowledge. It is one of the richest Prakaranas of Vedanta because it mentions so many specific means of knowledge (Pramanas), with beautiful imagery. In Thonse, India this year Andre Vas covered this text (all videos on this website). There is also an excellent book by James Swartz available on Shiningworld.com called The Fire of Self Knowledge. Here you can find with word for word translation of:

Translation: Ferit Arav
Level: Intermediate-advanced
Language: Dutch
PDF >>

More from Adi Sankara:

Other well-known prakaraṇas are:

The Pancadasi (literally 'fifteen' chapters) is a highlight in Vedanta literature. The shlokas are rich, didactic in style, with a clever logic. The structure is in three chapters. Discern, the light of knowledge and bliss. The author (vidyaranya, 14th century) is a key figure in the Vedanta tradition.

Author: Vidyaranya Swami
Notes: James Swartz (the book version has been greatly expanded in terms of comm. (Shiningworld.com)
Level: Advanced
Language: English
PDF >>
This is a Vedanta text on the basis of which a little less is taught nowadays but is still nice to mention, because it gives a fairly complete picture of the teaching. The author Sadananda lived in the 15th century. Yet there are plenty of treatises about it on You Tube, for example by Swami Sarvapriyananda. This edition:

Author: Sadananda
Translation, notes: Swami Nikhilanda
Publisher: Advaita Ashrama
Level: advanced
Language: Sanskrit (Devanagari) - English
Scan for Archive.org >>>
Perhaps James Swartz's most beautiful book. It is a commentary (bhasya) on the compact Bhakti Sutras of Narada. In this book, Swartz explains movingly beautifully and clearly the stages of devotion from the arta, which wants something from īśvara, to the parabhakta, which knows how non-dual equals isvara and how it is not.

Author: James Swartz
Publisher: Shining World
Level: Advanced
Language: English
Webshop for e-book >>

Other gems:

This text by Ramana Maharshi is considered a modern Upanisad. Although he explains it well himself (he read Vedanta books), the teaching is sometimes misinterpreted. In particular, that the self ('I') could be experienced as, for example, samadhi. So be careful who you follow an explanation from.

Author: Ramana Maharshi
Website: archive.arunachala.org
Level: Advanced
Language: Sanskrit - English
Website >>
Song of Ashtavakra. For many their favorite text. Because they are expressions of an enlightened master, who visually describes what it is like to live from the non-dual vision. He transfers his knowledge to Janaka, who then also goes all out. A Dutch translation is given here. English editions can also be found below (left).

Author: Ashtavakra
Translation: Hans van Hooijdonk Publisher: Arat Live
Level: Advanced
Language: Sanskrit - Dutch
To pdf >>
Detailed edition of the Ashtavakra Gita. With word for word translation of Sanskrit with grammatical interpretation, and commentary. At the back of this very meritorious edition is the complete Sanskrit glossary. The author cites Rama Maharshi in particular in his commentary, about whom he wrote the book 'Who am I'.

Author: Ashtavakra
Transl.& comm.: Gerrit Broekstra
Publisher: Quist
Level: Advanced
Language: Sanskrit - Dutch
To webshop >>

The Yoga Vāsiṣṭha of Valmiki is a text of 32,000 verses. It is an addition to the Rāmāyana. In this text, Rama is taught by the sage Vāsiṣṭha. Swami Venkatesananda arranged a shortened English edition (also pdf in Dutch). The Highest Yoga is a shortened version of that. Both Dutch texts via the link below.

Book: Uitgeverijvanwarven.nl
Translation: Msp. de Graad-Davidzon and F. Arav et al.
Level: Intermediate-advanced
Language: Dutch
To PDFs >>
The Avadhuta Gita, literally 'The song of the one who has shaken off everything', or a free person, is attributed to one Dattatreya, a mythical figure. The text is beautiful, and just like the Ashtavakra Gita, it describes how a sage experiences reality. Freedom in this text is called sahasa, which indicates its 'naturalness'.

Author: Dattatreya
Vert. and interp: Tarun Pradhaan
Level: Advanced
Language: Sanskrit - English
PDF >>
'The Nectar (Makaranda) or Non-Duality' is a beautiful text in 28 beautiful verses. Verse two is immediately a highlight that shows the crux of Vedanta. 'Never am I not loved (as self)' it says' In the translation by Swami Atmarupananda, which can be ordered in book form from Advaita Ashrama (Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math). Here is given the translation of Swami Adayatmanada.

Author: Sri Lakshmidhara Kavi Publisher: Arsha Drsti
Level: advanced
Language: Sanskrit - English
PDF >>
Tripura Rahasra literally means 'The Secret (Rahasra) of the 'Three Cities'. This means: 'What is the secret of the three states: waking, dreaming and deep sleep? What is always true? It is a unique text (story and teaching text in one), partly because the wise in this text is personified by the enlightened woman Princess Hemalekha.

Publisher and writer: Ferit Arav
Level: Intermediate-advanced
Language: Dutch
Executive summary (pdf) >>

Modern complete teachings (prakaraṇas):

Swami Paramarthananda has the masterful ability to give a broad overview of Vedanta in a short space of time (116 pages). This is a clear introduction to find out what the problem is and why I suffer, and why this is not necessary, the solution thus.

Author: Paramarthananda
Translation: Diederik Samplonius Publisher: Ka.Dag (book)
Level: Beginners
Language: Dutch
Free e-book >>
A complete book about Vedanta in modern terms. For many, a game-changer in their lives, and a reason to become a student of James Swartz. This book also pays attention to enlightenment myths in all kinds of modern spiritual education.

Author: James Swartz
Publisher: Samsara
Level: All levels
Language: Dutch (Available in English as an e-book on ShiningWorld.com)
Webshop Publisher >>
The first book of the famous 'You Tube' Swami Sarvapriyananda by Vedanta Society New York (in September again in Nl, see agenda) was published in Dutch by Samsara Publishers. They are separate articles (essays) in which he takes the reader on the direct path to complete self-insight in his characteristic clear way.

Author: Swami Sarvapriyananda
Publisher: Samsara
Level: Beginners
Language: Dutch
Webshop Publisher >>
Published as book three of the series Enlightened Lifestyles. Just like in Lifestyle Solutions (Book Two) and in The Basics of Self-Inquiry (Book One), Sundari Swartz describes in the effective style that we know from the Satsangs on ShiningWorld.com how appropriate lyfe-style contributes to growth towards freedom and the role of food and the gunas in it.

Author: Isabella Viglietti-Swartz Publisher: Shining World Press
Level: All levels
Language: English
To webshop >>
The author of the acclaimed book 'Bhagavad Gita, The Divine Song', recently published this title. Rory Mackay is a writer by profession and knows how to unfold traditional Advaita Vedanta in accessible language.

Author: Rory Mackay Publisher: Unbroken Self
Level: Beginners
Language: English
E-book in webshop >>
This book is worth mentioning. It is a precise text about the three gunas sattva (revealing energy), rajas (projecting energy) and tamas (the concealing energy). Unique book, because it explains how the gunas work cosmically, and how to manage the gunas individually in qualification for freedom.

Author: James Swartz
Publisher: ShiningWorld.com
Level: intermediate-advanced
Language: English
E-book in webshop >>
Discovering love in the light of Advaita Vedanta by Swami Dayananda. The teaching about love is nuanced and beautifully layered in Vedanta. The love that is behind everything is of course love for the divine, or love for the non-dual self. Seen in this way, love is something you are. The result is to love everything as yourself.

Author Swami Dayananda Publisher: Viveki
Level: All levels
Language: Dutch
To webshop publisher>>
This book describes the power of working and living with the divine (Isvara). What makes Vedanta so special is that it indicates that you first have to surrender your person with his issues to Isvara, which is simply all power, all knowledge. To be a brahman, you must first know your relationship as an individual to Isvara.

Author: Swami Dayananda
Publisher: Viveki
Level: All levels
Language: Dutch
To webshop publisher >>

More beauty from Ishvara

The author of the acclaimed book 'Bhagavad Gita, The Divine Song', recently published this title. Rory Mackay is a writer by profession and knows how to unfold traditional Advaita Vedanta in accessible language.

Author: Rory Mackay Publisher: Unbroken Self
Level: Beginners
Language: English
E-book in webshop >>
This book is worth mentioning. It is a precise text about the three gunas sattva (revealing energy), rajas (projecting energy) and tamas (the concealing energy). Unique book, because it explains how the gunas work cosmically, and how to manage the gunas individually in qualification for freedom.

Author: James Swartz
Publisher: ShiningWorld.com
Level: intermediate-advanced
Language: English
E-book in webshop >>
Discovering love in the light of Advaita Vedanta by Swami Dayananda. The teaching about love is nuanced and beautifully layered in Vedanta. The love that is behind everything is of course love for the divine, or love for the non-dual self. Seen in this way, love is something you are. The result is to love everything as yourself.

Author Swami Dayananda Publisher: Viveki
Level: All levels
Language: Dutch
To webshop publisher>>

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