Advaita Vedanta is not a mere intellectual system or just a philosophy but a fact of experience. Advaita, with its message of oneness of Existence, may truly be called the real basis of brotherhood of man. The present book provides an outline of various schools of Advaita in a plain and lucid manner.
After every happiness comes misery; they may be far apart or near. The more advanced the soul, the more quickly does one follow the other. What we want is neither happiness nor misery. Both make us forget our true nature; both are chains--one iron, one gold; behind both is the Atman, who knows neither happiness nor misery. These are states, and states must ever change; but the nature of the Atman is bliss, peace, unchanging. We have not to get it, we have it; only wash away the dross and see it.
-Swami Vivekananda