OSHER 553 - Vedanta and Hinduism

The popular view of Hinduism is that it is a complex, undefined mix of rituals, customs, and thousands of gods and goddesses while simultaneously being the source of deep philosophical thoughts and practices such as yoga and meditation. This masks the underlying unity and universal appeal of the ancient thoughts of the Vedic seers, who were seeking answers to fundamental questions facing every human being: Who am I? What is life? What is consciousness? What is my relationship to the universe? What or who is God? Answers to these questions are addressed in the study of Vedanta and are shared by many faiths and philosophies. Vedanta is presented as a system of analytical thinking not requiring a belief system. We will discuss the role of faith, worship, and religious practices as useful tools in the pursuit of this knowledge.