About
The Broken Tusk is the project of Daniel McKenzie — a guide to Advaita Vedanta and the art of seeing clearly. Through interconnected teachings, essays, books, and reflections, it explores consciousness, suffering, freedom, and the nature of the Self. Rooted in the tradition of Advaita Vedanta, this work seeks to make timeless wisdom accessible to modern seekers.
Dan's works include Scattered Jewels of a Wisdom Tradition: A Vedanta Glossary, a curated collection of key Vedantic terms and distilled insights; Samsara: An Exploration of the Hidden Forces that Shape and Bind Us, where he examines the multifaceted nature of samsara; and The Wisdom Teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, a commentary that seeks to unlock the Gita’s teachings in clear and accessible terms.
Informed by years of study, practice, and reflection, this work represents an ongoing attempt to understand and live the teachings of Advaita Vedanta in daily life. What you will find here is not a collection of abstract theories, but a body of work shaped through sustained inquiry, contemplation, and dialogue.
While The Broken Tusk is rooted in Advaita Vedanta, some lines of inquiry extend beyond its traditional language. These explorations continue in a separate project, The Long Span, where similar questions are examined through the lens of systems, scale, and contemporary conditions.
About the Name
The name The Broken Tusk comes from the story of Ganesh, who broke off his tusk while taking dictation from Veda Vyasa. The broken tusk symbolizes the way Vedanta dismantles dualistic perception and reveals the Self as non-dual. This site is dedicated to that same work of dismantling illusion and uncovering clarity.
Donating
The Broken Tusk is a free guide to Advaita Vedanta and the art of seeing clearly. If you have found value in this work and would like to help support its preservation and maintenance, your contribution is greatly appreciated.
Contact
For those who resonate with these writings and walk a similar path, Dan welcomes quiet, sincere connection. If clarity, humility, and a love of truth matter to you, feel free to reach out.