Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Insight into Vedanta, the Ultimate Knowledge of Life,
and Its Application to Bring World Peace – from Philosophy to Science
Lothar Pirc, Br. Girish Momaya, & Susan Brown1
Abstract
Vedanta, a brilliantly shining star amongst the galaxy of Vedic Literature, is an
integral part of the six Darshan Shastras or the Upangas of the Veda, namely Nyaya,
Vaisheshik, Sankhya, Yoga, Karma Mimamsa, and Vedanta. Vedanta deals with the
knowledge and experience of the essence of totality of life and a systematic path to
the highest evolution possible for mankind.
Vedanta, the Vedic cognition by Vyasa, brings to light Brahman as the ultimate
source, course and goal of life and Moksha or enlightenment as the practical path to
the highest pinnacle of human evolution. Brahma Sutra of Vyasa starts with the quest
of total knowledge of life with the words ‘Athato Brahma Jigyasa’ and finds its
fulfillment in the Mahavakyas of the Vedas, such as ‘Aham Brahmasmi’, ‘Tat Tvam
Asi’, ‘Ayam Atma Brahm’ and ‘Sarvam Khalu Idam Brahm’, and in the aphorisms of
the Bhagavad Gita such as ‘Esha Brahmi Sthitih.’ Vedanta deals with the knowledge
and experience of the ultimate truth of life – Brahman, knowing which nothing more
remains to be known.
Great sages of India like Adi Shankara, Ramkrishna Paramhansa, Raman Maharishi,
and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi realized and lived their lives in Unity Consciousness and
complete freedom – a state of Advaita and Moksha expounded by Vedanta. They
taught and guided humanity to the path to enlightenment. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s
master Swami Brahmanand Saraswati, who had been the Shankarcharya of Jyotirmath
in the Himalayas, was adored as Vedanta Incarnate by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan,
eminent Vedic scholar and second President of India.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has successfully brought the light of Vedanta to the whole
world through his teachings and through direct experience of the nature of the unified
level of the Self, through his technique of Transcendental Meditation. He showed the
world how the invaluable applications of Vedic knowledge and technology could
transform the individual lives and transform the world consciousness to happiness,
harmony and peace.
1 Acknowledgement: The scientific research sections of this article and the chart summarizing
higher states of consciousness are based on an article by Lothar Pirc, Karin Pirc, and Jeremy
Fields previously accepted for publication in the Light on Ayurveda Journal (in press)
(http://www.loaj.com/index.html)
