LIFE & LIVING

YOUR KEY TO ANCIENT WISDOM IN MODERN TIMES WITH SUNANDA LEELARAM, DAUGHTER-DISCIPLE OF THE INTERNATIONALLY EMINENT PHILOSOPHER AND FOUNDER OF VEDANTA ACADEMY, SWAMI A. PARTHASARATHY.

- Vidhi Gupta

Sunanda Leelaram, affectionately known as Sunandaji, has been studying and researching Vedanta, the ancient philosophy of India, for decades. Her father, Swami A. Parthasarathy, is the founder of Vedanta Academy, a unique institution of learning that enables the development of the intellect. Dedicating her life to the cause of human development, Sunandaji has been guiding leading organizations and universities on the practical application of Vedanta for over twenty years. We get into a conversation with her to seek answers for fundamental life questions and about Vedanta Academy.

The world is in a constant flux of change. How does one find peace and balance in this fast-paced, highly developed world? 

The world consists of pairs of opposites, dvandvas in Sanskrit. Joy and sorrow. Profit and loss. Honour and dishonour. The chain of opposites goes on endlessly. None of them stay. Each passes away, yielding to the other. When the intellect is weak and undeveloped, the mind is affected by the opposites. Excited by joy, dejected by sorrow. However, when the intellect is fortified with the knowledge of Vedanta, you become objective. The more objective you are, less the impact opposites have on you. You rise above the external fluctuations. An unaffected witness observing the procession of the pairs of opposites in life.

Develop your intellect and begin to live objectively. Your mind remains peaceful and balanced at all times.

What would you suggest for people to start gaining this wisdom?