Dr. K Sadananda - Introduction to Vedanta

I first encountered Dr. Sadananda back around 1994. At that time, I was actively researching Advaita via the Internet (the only source I had at the time) and I found his article Who is the Deep Sleeper I? on the Chinmayananda website. It was so clear and helpful that, eventually, I had to write to him to ask him several questions prompted by the article. Thus began a long association via Internet discussion groups and emails, though we did also meet when he came over to England for a conference.

He is a prolific writer, producing many series of articles and talks on specific topics or scriptures as well as always being available to answer questions posed by seekers. The only problem is that his typing cannot always keep up with his bountiful flow of ideas so that, when I eventually asked if I could publish some of his material on my website (www.advaita.org.uk), to which of course he agreed immediately, I was also obliged to spend significant time editing! But this was to my advantage! The editing process naturally necessitated careful analysis of what had been written, so that it proved an invaluable learning process also! This was especially the case with the series on Knowledge. This is a commentary/elucidation of Vedanta Paribhasa of Dharmaraja Adhvarindra and, quite frankly, the original text is virtually unreadable and extremely difficult to follow. There was simply no way I would ever have followed the original, so Dr. Sadananda having done the principal work already was extremely helpful!

The present series An Introduction to Vedanta was originally serialized on the Advaitin discussion group where it was justifiably well-received. As they say in the advertising media: it does what it says on the box. It covers all of the material needed to introduce the subject to a new seeker, clarifying aspects that could otherwise prove difficult or even dampen enthusiasm. He never talks down to his listeners but speaks directly to them using everyday examples that resonate immediately. No doubt he benefits from having been taught directly by Swami Chinmayananda and more recently by many other teachers including Swami Tejomayananda and Swami Paramarthananda, but his scientific background also brings naturally clear reasoning ability to his analysis of the subject with the result that he seems able to explain the most difficult topics.

Anyone looking for an overview of the essential teaching of Advaita could not do better than to read this Introduction.

Dennis Waite

June 2017

Bournemout h , UK