A Few Words on Vedanta (Its Morphology and Ontology)

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Preface

In this brochure the celebrated author has put forth in a nutshell what a learned Gaudiya Vaishnava thinks of the Vedanta. The earlier philosophical writers of Shri Chaitanya School, Shri Sanatana Gosvami, Shri Jiva Gosvami and others did not write any literature exclusively on the Vedanta either in the form of commentary or any independent treatise on it in the light of their own philosophical system which goes by the name of Achintya-Bhedabhedavada. It was only Shri Baladeva Vidyabhushana (18th century) who undertook the great task of interpreting the Vedanta in his commentary entitled "Govinda Bhashya" in the light and spirit of Gaudiya Vaishnavism of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This he did partly because other sects had questioned the locus standi of Gaudiya Vaishnavism on the ground that they had no commentary of this classical scripture and partly because they wished to incorporate their thoughts into it in order to attract the intelligentsia.

Until the time of Baladeva the Gaudiya Vaishnavism Masters were self-sufficient by creating their original works on the new faith, - Bhakti but they had their value only within the Sampradaya. The people outside its pale could hardly be expected to attach as much importance and submit to its authority as they did to the classical scriptures such as the Upanishads and Vedanta. Baladeva conceived the idea of appealing to the public mind and inviting its interest in the Gaudiya Vaishnava doctrine, through the commentaries of the sect on the classical scriptures which have been established as authoritative in the country. He resolved to write both commentaries and treatises on the Vedanta and Upanishads with a view to imposing the Gaudiya doctrine on the country and showing to the world that the Vedanta, Upanishads and other ancient authorities support it. The Indian religious mind is extremely conservative and refuses to accept any idea, however noble it might be, if it is not supported by the Vedanta and the other old scriptures. If Baladeva had not prepared the ground by means of his solid philosophical volumes, the wonderful treasures of Gaudiya Vaishnava literature of the Gosvamins would have been denied the opportunity of gaining adequate appreciation from the savants.

The author of this booklet was a great savant having inward experience in fellowship with God. Only the master-mind with his spiritual depth can explain the great sayings of the Vedanta which is unquestionably the highest authority commanding allegiance from the religious and philosophical savants of all ages.

This little booklet contains a few fundamental thoughts of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas on the Vedanta. I venture to publish its another edition to meet the public demand.