Question

b.
How are you similar to or different from Vedant?​

Answer 1

Answer:

In many ways yes they are different, but we have to understand what we mean by Hinduism. Hinduism is a very loosely defined set of many traditions that exist under one umbrella.

We need to understand that Hinduism, as a religion, came after the Vedas. They accept the Vedas as authority, but they are not really the Vedas. Rather, they are a set of traditions that has roots in the Vedas. I very much disagree with anyone who gives Hinduism and Vedas an exact equivalence. This is not correct.

The Vedas are among the oldest, if not the oldest, scriptures in the world, and have influenced other traditions besides Hinduism, too.

In my opinion, many Hindu schools are ultimately monotheistic. The Hare Krishnas, the Shaivites, etc. all pretty much state Krishna and Shiva are their ultimate controlling Gods, respectively. However, they are not as strictly monotheistic as in the Western sense. This is because deities in Hinduism, while they’re not “one with” man, are not totally separate either. I say, they are semi-to-mostly dualistic, but not with the 100 percent monotheistic dualism of the Western religions.

Vedanta is much different. Where shall I begin. First of all, unlike Hinduism, which is a “offshoot” of the Vedas, Vedanta is the End Conclusion of the Vedas (Veda + Anta in sanskrit means End of the Vedas). They do not have any controlling entity whatsoever, be it dualistic or semi-dualistic. The ultimate truth about Vedanta is about Existence/Consciousness/Bliss, not any deity, name or form whatsoever.

Vedanta is about that which is beyond body, mind, concepts and senses (Brahman), and yet, pervades the entire universe.

So again, in Vedanta, as elaborated in the previous sentence, the end truth is not any deity, name or form, but about that which is beyond those things. That is where Vedanta greatly differs from much of Hinduism.