The Hindu Council of Seychelles (HCS), under the aegis of the High Commission of India, is inviting the general public to take part in the ‘Vedanta Day’ on January 12, 2003 to commemorate the 140th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest spiritual masters of India popularly known as the ‘Lion of Vedanta’.

The event will be held at 5 p.m. at the National Theatre.

Children under 15 years of age will take part in an on-the-spot quiz contest and winners will be awarded prizes. 

Children are also invited to come in Vivekananda dress for a separate competition on the stage. They can sign up as of now with the Council.
Expounding on what is Vedanta, Mr S.R. Prasad, a Yoga Instructor was in Seychelles recently giving Yoga lessons and who has been pursuing a spiritual life for the past 25 years in Rishikesh, India, said:

"Vedanta is that aspect of the 'Upanishads' and the 'Brahma Sutras' that speak about the nature of Brahman or the Self. Sri Adi Shankaracharya, the Master with his unparalleled wisdom and intuitive spiritual experience, had expounded 'Advaita' or non-dualistic philosophy through his commentaries on the 'Upanishads' and 'Brahma Sutras' (Aphorisms on Brahman) and had established the non-dual nature of Brahman, the Atman or the Universal Consciousness.

"Vedanta has two aspects to its credit.  One, it bestows you with that knowledge which helps you to develop a clear understanding about unreality that underlies all temporal objects and two, it gradually unfolds you and makes you aware of your true self (that which is not separate from the Supreme Self) initially through the process of abnegation 'Neti, Neti' negating what you are not and establishing the fact that what remains finally is truly what you are.

"Vedanta also establishes the true nature of Brahman as non-dual i.e. Brahman or the self is one without a second. It is one homogenous entity.

"Vedanta in the beginning explains the nature of the gross body, the senses, the mind and finally the (individual) self. It explains about the limitations of the body, mind and the senses and the infiniteness of the Self. It conclusively establishes that the individual Self and the Supreme Self are one and the same, thus man is essentially divine in nature. "Vedanta finally establishes that all creation is one. All life is one homogeneous entity because the same God-principle, the same self is present in all creation, although creation may appear to be in different species and human beings may appear as different individuals.

"Thus Vedanta explains to us the nature of the individual Self and the Supreme Self and the unifying factor that underlies all creation. It helps us to understand that all creation is one. The minute we understand and experience this, we undergo a transformation. We become free from our limitations and imperfections and our outlook becomes universal. When each and every human being undergoes this experience, the entire society will live in perfect harmony, love and universal brotherhood.

"At an individual level, even while living in the body, you are a free soul. The attachment to the body, 'me', 'mine' and 'I', all vanish. You enjoy perfect freedom. You are free from the cycle of the birth and death. You are a liberated soul. You reach your destination. There is no coming back. And that is Moksha – Liberation. That’s where Vedanta finally takes you."

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