Putting Vedanta into practice

Vedanta is sometimes criticized for being too intellectual. But it could be argued that without using your intellect you are like a rudderless boat. And that's fine for most people not bothered by the karmic winds of time, but not for anyone who is serious about avoiding suffering and leading a peaceful life.

The intellect is like a muscle that needs to be frequently flexed in order to become strong and be put to good use. We first gain the right knowledge so that the intellect has something to work with, and then we use the intellect to apply the knowledge over and over again. When suffering arises—as it surely will—we employ the intellect to investigate, find the cause, and see how it measures up with what we already know about the truth of experience.

Suffering always occurs due to our lack of understanding and inability to discriminate between what is true and what is not. Another cause of suffering is our inability to manage the gunas (impersonal forces that influence our mental state). Perhaps we just ingested (ate, drank, saw, heard, or felt) something we wish we hadn't, and now we feel very tamasic (depressed) or rajasic (anxious or paranoid). Or maybe it's the ego trying to pop its head up again, complaining about how it's always a victim and nothing good ever happens. When this occurs, it's time for the intellect to get to work with the tools it has.

The individual might ask, "Am I really depressed or am I just out of balance and need to take better care of myself?" Or if the problem is the ego, "Is there really a victim here? Have I nothing to be grateful for?" Thus, the usual sequence is: suffering + inquiry (why am I suffering?) + a challenge (is my suffering justified?) + the application of knowledge (what do I know that applies to this situation?) + a resolution (the end of my suffering):

Suffering > inquiry > challenge > application of knowledge > resolution

For example, lets say today I wake up with a very strong feeling of lack due to an old samskara (deep psychological impression) that comes to visit me from time to time. The ingrained habit likes to tell me that I'm a little dust mote, floating in a purposeless and infinite universe.

1. So, already we have the suffering, accompanied by a feeling of dread and perhaps, depression. Life, all of a sudden, feels very heavy. I have little or no motivation. I don't even want to get out of bed. I'm wading in the thick mud of tamoguna, and I am now firmly standing in samsara.
   

2. Next, comes the inquiry: Who is suffering? Where is this suffering coming from? What initiated it?
   

3. Followed by the challenge: Is the suffering "me" or just an object known by me? Is my feeling hurt actually justified or is it just the mind complaining?
   

4. Followed by the application of knowledge: This feels like an old samskara that hasn't been put to rest. Anyway, I am not my likes or dislikes, nor am I the ego. I am the Self, that which is witness to all.
   

5. Lastly, the resolution: I am already whole, complete and unlimited as pure, infinite, non-dual awareness. My small self tells me I'm not okay, but Self-knowledge tells me I'm perfectly fine and will always be so. This suffering I'm experiencing makes no sense and is unfounded.
   

Sometimes, it helps to investigate your suffering by writing it down. Writing gives you the ability to look at your problems from all directions. And yet, to resolve your problems, you first need to provide your intellect with the right knowledge. Many people have the wrong knowledge or are stubborn or unwilling to do the work to gain the right knowledge. But without the proper tools you are always going to be limited to which problems you can resolve.

In the end, Vedanta and Self-knowledge is hard and, yes, it can be intellectual—that is, it requires a certain mental capacity, curiosity and ability to problem solve. But there is no better alternative. You either obtain the tools of right knowledge and apply them using the strength of your intellect, or continue to suffer. Building a house is hard and also requires thinking skills, but that doesn't stop some from learning the carpentry, electrical and plumbing needed to pull it off.

Nothing is free in life, but never before have we had so much access to the wisdom knowledge that will set us free. All we need now, is the will.