Which Vedic Darshan Should I Follow?
There are six Vedic schools of philosophy each of them is called darshan. Collectively these are referred to as Darshan Shastra.
Though all six scriptures accept the authority of the Vedas, yet they vary greatly in their ultimate goal. Out of these six three are astik darshan (or theistic) and rest are nastik darshan. Five of them state the ultimate goal to be reduction of suffering. Whereas Vedanta advises to find bliss.
This abundance of philosophies and their seemingly contradictory nature offers plenty of fodder for confusion for spiritual aspirants in choosing the path for spiritual upliftment.
The Traditional Sequential Path
The traditional method involves a sequential study and practice across the six schools:
- Preparation: The selfless activities prescribed in the Mimansa texts are first performed for the purification of the mind.
- Listening: Next, the spiritual aspirant listens ( shravana - श्रवण) to the Vedant.
- Pondering: After that Nyay and Vaisheshik scriptures teach one how to ponder (manana - मनन) on those teachings.
- Meditation: At the end, one practices profound meditation (nididhyasana - निदिध्यासन) as taught in Sankhya and Patanjali.
Thereafter one attains God.
In the first three yugas of chatur yug, humans had a long enough lifespan to read through all of these scriptures. They also possessed the mental capacity to assimilate this much philosophy, reconcile it, and put it all into practice.
💡 The Solution for Kaliyuga: The Path of Devotion
Presently, we are in Kaliyug. Reading this entire body of literature is insurmountable task to accomplish within our lifespan, let alone understanding and putting all of this into practice to attain God realization. Thus, following the complete six-school methodology is now a moot point.
That is why Scriptures do not advise following all these in Kaliyug. Sage Narad, one of the acharyas of bhakti who knows the essence of the Vedas vowed to establish bhakti in every household before writing the Narad Bhakti Sutra, he vowed to establish bhakti. Shri Maharaj Ji also promotes bhakti which can be done by everyone, in every yuga, with every bhav, in all places, at all times.
To start on this path visit Sadhana — Daily Devotion.
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