What is Vedanta?

vedanta signifies upanishads itself. This is the highest spiritual knowledge. These upanishads are written based revelation of different seers. None of them contradict each other majorly. It is the collective wisdom of great teachers of ancient time.

All of these proclaim single reality, Bramhan (universe) which is the highest conscious. This is the reality of realities Express itself through diversity of the manifest of universe even while remaining absolutely one, infinite and transcendent. This is beyond the categories of stats, planets, system, space. "Whatever is created will merge into it"

The upanishads regards maya as illusion. The universe arises from the power of maya. This is defined as magic in ananda stage. Once detached from the illusionary pains and suffering, a person will realize the sacchidaananda stage which is consciousness. Each soul is in search of moksha. But this maya obstructs or seduce senses in materialism. Moksha happens when we identify the Bramhan and Atman.

This supreme teaching is Bramhan.

Sutras lays out structure for systemizing the teaching of upanishads. The oldest surviving sutra is Bramhasutra of Badrayana.

After this comes Gaudapada. Who is the founder of Non dualistic Advaita vedanta. His intention was to preserve and restore the monastic vision. This theory was completely opposite to that of Biddhist which denies external world to show origination. Mandukyopanishad is a systematic exposition of Advaita Vedanta. Atman is pure consciousness. It also states a parallel maya with Atman.

After gaudapada came Adi Shankara. Gaudapada gave a turning point in vedanta. Adi Samkara was a brilliant philosopher, mystic, saint, who built on Gaudapada's teaching. He refined the teachings to enhance Advaita Vedanta