Advaita, a system of philosophic thought and spiritual practice, is based on the founding texts of Hinduism. Over the last three millennia, however, the tradition has evolved into a comprehensive view of the fundamental unity of all things.
The main tenets of Advaita are:
- The ultimate underlying principle of all existence - the Absolute - is conscious, infinite and the sole, ever-present reality.
- The creation, in all its forms, is an expression of this spiritual unity.
- The innermost self of every being is identical with this Absolute.
- A major purpose of human life is to directly experience this unity of the individual self and the Absolute, even while remaining engaged in the activities of life.
In addition to these principles, Advaita contains a wealth of practices and meditations that lead directly to deep experience and personal transformation. We have found that a life gently conducted under these principles and practices leads us to peace, poise, happiness and the ability to share these experiences with others.
An open and accessible system of thought and practice, Advaita can be pursued beneficially by anyone from any background who is interested in self-discovery. In order that you might pursue your interests in this philosophy more fully, we have provided some resources you might find useful.
Looking to India for Guidance
An important principle of the Advaita tradition is that after the early stages of practice and study, a qualified teacher can be very helpful. We at the Advaita Meditation Center were guided for many years by His Holiness, Shri Shantananda Saraswati. The leader of the Jyotir Math in northern India before retiring in 1980, Shantananda supported and advised many Western groups until His death in 1997.
Since 2005, we have been graced by our relationship with His Holiness, Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal, the Shankaracharya of the Sringeri Math in southern India. This center is the first and foremost of the four Peethams established by the renowned 8th century philosopher saint Sri Adi Shankara, the principal exponent of Advaita (non-dualism). Sri Bharati Tirtha is the 36th in an unbroken lineage of student-teacher relationships that lead directly back to Shri Shankara.
A Focus on Meditation
Meditation of various kinds is a key aspect of depth in Advaita practice. Members of our community have been meditating for as long as 40 years and providing initiation and counseling for participants at all stages. We offer training in many kinds of meditation, contemplation and reflective exercises, particularly mantra meditation as authorized by Shri Bharati Tirtha.
What comes to matter most for our participants is the sense of community and experience of unity that comes with practice. This is the best of what we offer the Greater Boston community: decades of Advaita experience, group study and retreats, and guidance delivered by recognized traditional teachers and group leaders.
For more information on meditation at the Advaita Meditation Center, please contact us at 781-647-0020 or info@advaitameditation.org.
