Hard Questions
Confronts the doubts, paradoxes, and tensions that often arise on the path of inquiry.
How does Vedanta define ignorance?
Explores ignorance (avidya) not as a lack of information, but as a fundamental misidentification of the Self with the body, mind, and world. Drawing on Advaita Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita, it shows how freedom comes not through acquiring knowledge, but through removing the veil that hides our true nature.
Delves into the nature of consciousness from the perspective of Advaita Vedanta, positing that consciousness is not a byproduct of the brain but the fundamental reality in which all experiences arise. It emphasizes that true understanding comes not from defining consciousness, but from recognizing it as the ever-present, unchanging witness behind all thoughts and perceptions.
Examines the concept of “good” through the lens of Advaita Vedanta, highlighting its subjective nature and dependence on individual perspectives. It suggests that while notions of good and bad are often shaped by personal likes and dislikes, a deeper understanding aligns “good” with dharma—actions that uphold universal order and harmony.
What is evil and why does it exist?
Examines the nature of evil through the lens of Vedanta, suggesting that evil arises not from inherent malevolence but from ignorance and misperception (maya) that distort one’s understanding of reality. It emphasizes that individuals commit harmful acts due to conditioning and inner pressures, rather than being intrinsically evil, and highlights the importance of understanding these factors to address the root causes of suffering.
Is spiritual enlightenment real?
Critically examines the concept of spiritual enlightenment, challenging the notion of it as a mystical or transformative event. Drawing from Advaita Vedanta, it posits that enlightenment is not about attaining something new but recognizing the Self’s true nature by removing ignorance. The author cautions against the commercialization of enlightenment and emphasizes that genuine realization arises from self-inquiry and discernment, not from fleeting experiences or charismatic teachings.
Does Vedanta agree with science?
Explores the relationship between Vedanta and science, noting that while both seek truth, their approaches differ. Science investigates the natural world through empirical observation and seeks to understand its mechanisms, whereas Vedanta focuses on consciousness and the removal of perceived limitations. The author argues that while science excels in explaining the material universe, it may fall short in addressing the fundamental nature of consciousness, a realm where Vedanta offers profound insights.
Explores the question of life’s purpose through the lens of Advaita Vedanta, examining it from three perspectives: the individual (jiva), the cosmic order (Ishvara), and the Self (atman). It discusses the universal human pursuits of security (artha), pleasure (kama), and virtue (dharma), and how these goals shape our sense of purpose. Ultimately, the essay suggests that while these pursuits provide meaning within the empirical world, true fulfillment arises from recognizing the Self as non-dual awareness beyond all roles and actions.
Will tech companies ever be able to fully understand, manipulate or control consciousness?
Explores the question through the lens of Advaita Vedanta, distinguishing between the scientific view of consciousness as a byproduct of brain activity and the Vedantic view of consciousness as the fundamental, non-objective reality. It argues that while technology may simulate or influence aspects of mental processes, true consciousness—as the unchanging witness—is beyond manipulation.
What is death and is there an afterlife?
Explores the concept of the afterlife through the lens of Advaita Vedanta, suggesting that any post-death experience, even a celestial one, is part of mithya—apparent reality—and thus still within the cycle of illusion.
Explores the nature of spiritual truth through the lens of Advaita Vedanta, positing that true knowledge arises from direct realization rather than conceptual understanding. It emphasizes that spiritual truth is not about acquiring new information but about removing ignorance to recognize the Self’s true nature.
Delves into the Advaita Vedanta perspective that our waking life is akin to a dream—transient and illusory. It posits that just as dreams are projections of the mind, our perceived reality is shaped by maya (illusion) and avidya (ignorance), obscuring the true Self (atman). Recognizing this dream-like nature of existence is a step toward spiritual awakening, leading to the realization of the non-dual reality (Brahman) beyond all appearances.
Do objects exist when nobody is looking at them?
Examines the question of whether objects exist independently of observation, contrasting interpretations of quantum mechanics with the Advaita Vedanta perspective. While some interpretations suggest that observation affects reality, Advaita Vedanta posits that the material world is a manifestation of maya—an illusory projection of consciousness. Thus, objects do not possess independent existence; they are transient forms arising within the singular reality of Brahman.
What proof does Vedanta show that experience is non-dual?
Explores how Advaita Vedanta approaches the concept of non-duality, emphasizing that while empirical proof is unattainable, logical reasoning and introspective inquiry can lead to the recognition that all experiences arise within and are illuminated by awareness. It draws parallels between scientific understandings of space and Vedantic views, suggesting that at the most fundamental level, reality is not composed of discrete objects but is a manifestation within consciousness.
Are Intelligence and Wisdom the Same?
We often assume that intelligent people must also be wise—but history, experience, and spiritual insight say otherwise. This essay explores the difference between intelligence and wisdom through a psychological lens and a Vedantic perspective, revealing why the two are not only different, but often at odds.
What is Vedanta's View on Sex?
Sex has always been a difficult topic for seekers. In the past it was hidden behind taboos; today it’s splashed across every screen. From masturbation to porn to homosexuality, Vedanta offers a perspective that cuts deeper than social norms. The question isn’t whether sex is good or bad, but whether it binds us or leaves us free.
Where Does Matter Come From?
Where did matter come from? Modern science claims consciousness arose from inert particles, but this leaves the “hard problem” unsolved: how can atoms think? Vedanta flips the question: matter is an appearance in consciousness, sustained by maya. Why it appears at all is ultimately inscrutable.
What is Vedanta's View on Suicide?
Suicide is often seen as self-hatred, but Vedanta reveals it as a distorted act of self-love — a longing to be free of pain. The Self, however, cannot die with the body, nor can suffering be ended through death. The Bhagavad Gita shows that despair can turn either toward destruction or toward inquiry. Vedanta urges us to see suffering not as a wall but as a doorway to knowledge, where the freedom we long for is discovered in the Self, untouched and whole.
The Question That Has No Answer
We ask why human civilization should continue as if the universe owes us an explanation. But every answer we reach for—progress, beauty, morality, awakening—is just a reflection in the mirror of the human mind. The deeper we go, the more the question unravels. And maybe that’s its purpose: not to be answered, but to be unasked. What remains then is not a reason, but a presence. A mystery. A quiet “yes” in the absence of certainty.
Will Society Ever Be "Enlightened"?
Many spiritual circles hope for a collective awakening — a golden age when society itself becomes enlightened. This essay shows why Vedanta denies such a possibility, tracing utopian myths from the Golden Age to AI, and clarifying why liberation is always individual, never collective.
Why Does Anything Exist Instead of Nothing?
Why does anything exist? Vedanta calls this the unanswerable question. Maya is inscrutable—neither real nor unreal, only apparently real. This essay explores why “why” itself collapses, and why freedom lies not in explanation but in awakening.
Why Do Sages Say the World is Perfect As It Is?
Sages across traditions have called the world “perfect” — not because it is just or kind, but because it cannot be otherwise. From a Vedantic view, perfection is not moral but structural: the total equation of opposites that allows experience to exist at all. This essay explores why even suffering, ignorance, and death are not errors in creation but essential conditions of it — and why true peace begins not with fixing the world, but with seeing it clearly.
Are Animals and Plants the Self Too?
If everything is the Self, are animals and plants enlightened too? Vedanta explains the difference between awareness pervading all and awareness reflecting through living beings — why animals embody innocence, plants express life, and humans alone can recognize the Self.
Should a Spiritual Person Be Vegetarian?
A Vedantic exploration of the ethics and metaphysics of eating — from Joseph Campbell’s “life lives on lives” to Krishna’s universal vision of Time devouring all. Is vegetarianism a moral necessity, or just another veil of maya?
Do We Actually Need Emotions?
A deep Vedantic look at emotions: why humans need them, why the Self doesn’t, and how identification—not feeling—is the real source of suffering.
How Does Ignorance Become the World?
Why does the world look unhinged? Vedanta’s answer is unsettling: the world behaves exactly as something built on ignorance would behave. This essay unpacks how avidya unfolds into society — and how clarity changes our relationship with it.