Vedanta 2.0: Life, Transformation, and Moksha,A Re-reading of Upanishadic Flow-Philosophy in the Light of Systems Theory and Ecology
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) June 28, 2026 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20989933 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Vedanta Living systems Contemplation Illusion Ontology Perspective graphical Interdependence Indian philosophy Self Deep ecology Epistemology Negation Environmental ethics Identity music Doctrine Reinterpretation |
| Key points | Proposes that Vedantic thought, reinterpreted as a dynamic philosophy of becoming, leads to a redefinition of moksha as Jivanmukti, which is systemic freedom from ego and ownership, and that inner liberation structurally co-arises with external ecological conditions. |
Abstract
Abstract This paper proposes a reinterpretation of Vedantic thought through the lens of flow, transformation, and relational existence, termed here as Vedanta 2.0. Instead of treating reality as a static ontology or an unchanging, isolated substance, it reads the Upanishadic vision as a dynamic philosophy of becoming, where life is understood as continuous systemic reorganization rather than material or psychological accumulation. The five great elements, or panchamahabhutas, are approached not as fixed, distinct building blocks, but as interdependent processes and transforming relations within an open, living system. Placing this Upanishadic perspective in dialogue with modern systems theory and ecology, the study reconstructs the definition of moksha. Moving away from popular misinterpretations of liberation as a posthumous escape or negation of matter, it anchors moksha firmly in the classical concept of Jivanmukti (liberation while living). Moksha is thus redefined as systemic freedom from the constructs of the ego, the illusion of absolute ownership, and the compulsive drive to freeze identity within a fluid universe. Furthermore, the paper argues that inner liberation is structurally co-arising with external ecological conditions. Utilizing contemporary climate indicators—including May 2026 atmospheric $CO_2$ levels of 432.34 ppm (NOAA, 2026), global temperature anomalies of 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels (IPCC, 2023), and demographic expansions (United Nations, 2024)—the study demonstrates that severe environmental stress disrupts the bodily and mental equilibrium required for deep contemplative practice. Vedanta 2.0 concludes that long life alone cannot be the ultimate metric of human flourishing; rather, a conscious, desire-free, and ecologically balanced existence constitutes the true realization of Being. Keywords: Vedanta 2.0, flow philosophy, panchamahabhutas, Jivanmukti, moksha, ecology, systems theory, transformation, consciousness.