Three Works of Shankaracharya


Book Description

According to Shankara, liberation cannot be a result of actions. All results of actions are finite and limited by time while liberation is eternal. In addition, the scriptures mention the destruction of all actions and their results during liberation. The Upanishads say that actions, progeny, money, etc., cannot lead us to immortality. However, through renunciation, few have attained immortality. There exists no way to enlightenment besides knowledge. Just as fire (heat) is the only direct means to cook food, knowledge alone can direct us to liberation from ignorance. The actions, at most, can assist in lighting the fire of knowledge. Then, knowledge alone will take us to eternal freedom. This book is a translation of three texts by Shankara - Yoga Taravali, Brahma Jnanavali Mala, and Anatma Sri Vigarhanam. 1. Yoga Taravali - Regular practice of inner sound investigation leads to the complete dissolution of mental tendencies. This is a blissful state beyond the realm of our minds. 2. Brahma Jnanavali Mala - Contemplation of conscious, self-luminous, and blissful reality lights the lamp of knowledge within us. 3. Anatma Sri Vigarhanam - It is based on the idea that which is non-self is worthless.




Five Works of Shankaracharya


Book Description

This book is a translation of five works of Sri Shankaracharya, the guru who not only united Vedic philosophies but also the people of undivided India. With more than 250 works, which are all equally profound, his impact on Indian psyche still reigns supreme. A brief and easy to understand introduction of 'Advait Vedanta' is also provided in the beginning. The basic organisation of the book is as below: 0. Intoduction to Advait - Gives an outline of the basic principles of non-dualism. 1. Dakshinamurti Stotram - A prayer to all-pervading Lord Shiva who is the ultimate destination of any spiritual enquiry. 2. Manisha Panchakam - Lord Shiva tests Shankaracharya on his conviction about the absolute. 3. Dasha Shloki - Shankaracharya's famous answer of "Who Am I" to his guru during their first meeting. 4. Drig Drashya Viveka - Builds the logic to distinguish the ultimate seer from its objects of observation. 5. Brahmanuchintanam - Pondering over Absolute Reality which takes us to it.




Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduisms Greatest Thinker


Book Description

About the Book A COMPREHENSIVELY RESEARCHED BOOK ON THE LIFE AND PHILOSOPHY OF ADI SHANKARACHARYA What is Brahman? What is its relationship to Atman? What is an individual’s place in the cosmos? Is a personalised god and ritualistic worship the only path to attain moksha? Does caste matter when a human is engaging with the metaphysical world? The answers to these perennial questions sparkle with clarity in this seminal account of a man and a saint, who revived Hinduism and gave to Upanishadic insights a rigorously structured and sublimely appealing philosophy. Jagad Guru Adi Shankaracharya (788–820 CE) was born in Kerala and died in Kedarnath, traversing the length of India in his search for the ultimate truth. In a short life of thirty-two years, Shankaracharya not only revived Hinduism, but also created the organisational structure for its perpetuation through the mathas he established in Sringeri, Dwaraka, Puri and Joshimatha. Adi Shankaracharaya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker is a meticulously researched and comprehensive account of his life and philosophy. Highly readable, and including a select anthology of Shankaracharya’s seminal writing, the book also examines the startling endorsement that contemporary science is giving to his ideas today. A must-read for people across the ideological spectrum, this book reminds readers about the remarkable philosophical underpinning of Hinduism, making it one of the most vibrant religions in the world.




The Mind of Adi Shankara


Book Description

On the life and teachings of Śaṅkarācārya, exponent of Hindu Advaita Vedanta philosophy.







Adi Shankaracharya’s Bhaja Govindam


Book Description

Adi Shankaracharya composed a number of Vedantic works for imparting the knowledge of the Self. One of these hymns is the famous “Bhaja Govindam”. ‘Bhaja’ literally means ‘seek’, ‘Govindam’ means ‘the Lord’ – ‘the Truth’. The learned masters, out of deep compassion try to wake up humanity. They invite us to open our eyes to a higher dimension of living. The whole text of Bhaja Govindam in essence means ‘Wake up, seek the Lord, and stop seeking the primitive and superficial things in life.’ The compilation of thoughts presented in this book is applicable to one and all. Swami Sukhabodhananda in his unique style explains the verses with deep clarity and understanding.







Tattva Bodha By Shankaracharya


Book Description

In this short book, Shankaracharya has explained the fundamental building blocks of all the entities as outlined in Vedic philosophy. This diverse world which consists of innumerable living and non-living entities, is nothing but an aggregate of these building blocks. Same observation holds for our bodies and its parts. He discusses the creation, composition and characteristics of our mind, intellect, memory and ego. He talks about the three different type of bodies we possess during waking, dreams and sound sleep. Along the way, he shows that which is not created is what we actually are. Our reality is beyond is beyond all bodies and definitions. Why we are not able to identify with this unborn and timeless reality now and how can we know it is the next set of important questions which he answers. And, then he answers the questions like what happens when we know the reality ourselves and how is it intrinsically different from the perception of reality of an ordinary person. It can serve as a concise, excellent and essential reference on Vedic philosophy which can help in understanding other Vedic texts. Clarity of basic concepts leads to swift and sound progress towards our non-dual reality. In this eternal oneness, there is no distress and delusion but the bliss and knowledge abound. We are this reality now but unaware of it due to our lack of focus. Once we understand it, it shines forth as if the sun has just come out of dark clouds of ignorance.




Shankara's Crest-jewel of Discrimination


Book Description

A classic text on the path to God through knowledge. The basic teaching is that God alone is the all-pervading reality; the individual soul is none other than the universal soul. Shankara was under no illusions about this world. For this reason, he is able to describe so powerfully the complete transformation of the universe that takes place before the eyes of the illumined seer, when the world indeed becomes a paradise.




Atma Bodha By Shankaracharya


Book Description

Traditionally, 'Who am I?' has been the central quest of Vedic texts. Knowing 'I' without any external attributes such as body, mind, age, etc. is termed as self-knowledge. Or, we can say that knowing 'what we are' and 'what we are not' constitutes the complete answer. For example, a transparent crystal placed near a hibiscus flower appears to be red. Until we see it without the flower, we'll not know that it is transparent and not red. Similarly, if our notion about ourselves is mixed with some external attributes, which are different from us, we'll perceive our reality differently. This wrong perception will give rise to various conflicts like death, pain, and anxiety. So, it looks imperative to know our fundamental reality to destroy the pain and taste the immortal bliss within. Once we accept that there is something we need to know, we talk about the ways in which the correct understanding can be reached. We find ways to test our understanding. And, we also want to know how this reality looks like. In this short, original, and profound work, Shankaracharya has answered these questions and shared his insight about non-dual reality.