Essence of Advaita Vedanta

Essence of Advaita Vedanta

By

Sri Sankara Bhagavadpada

I remember in the morning the Self which shines in the heart, which is existence-consciousness-bliss, which is the goal to be attained by Paramahamsa sanyasins, which is called the ‘fourth’ because it is beyond he three states of waking, dream and deep sleep, and which always witnesses the states of waking, dream and deep sleep. I am that Brahman which is indivisible and not the aggregate of the five elements, ether, air, fire, water and earth.

I worship in the morning that supreme effulgent Being Who is spoken of (in the Vedas) as unborn, changeless, and the highest, Who is inaccessible to the mind and whom words cannot directly describe, but by whose blessing the faculty of speech functions, and who is described in the Upanishads by the words ‘not this, not this’.

I bow down in the morning to the infinite, eternal Being Who is known as the supreme Purusha, Who is beyond the darkness of ignorance, Who is resplendent like the sun, Who is everything and on Whom this entire universe appears, just as rope appears as a snake.

Rigours of Advaita Approach

Rigours of Advaita Approach

The advaita tradition maintains that only certain people are qualified to take up the study of Advaita Vedanta. This is because the path of advaita is like walking a tight rope across a ravine. One who is not competent to do so would most certainly get injured. It is out of compassion and regard for such souls that some conditions exist. Adi Sankara presented four basic qualifications:

1. Those who have cleansed their minds by spiritual practices.
2. Those who have achieved a degree of mental calmness.
3. Those who have realised that the cravings of body are ephemeral.
4. Those who sincerely desire liberation or moksha.

(www.nonduality.com – Taken from Sri Ramana Jyoti, October 2010)

Essence of Advaita Vedanta

Essence of Advaita Vedanta

By

Sri Sankara Bhagavadpada

I remember in the morning the Self which shines in the heart, which is existence-consciousness-bliss, which is the goal to be attained by Paramahamsa sanyasins, which is called the ‘fourth’ because it is beyond he three states of waking, dream and deep sleep, and which always witnesses the states of waking, dream and deep sleep. I am that Brahman which is indivisible and not the aggregate of the five elements, ether, air, fire, water and earth.

I worship in the morning that supreme effulgent Being Who is spoken of (in the Vedas) as unborn, changeless, and the highest, Who is inaccessible to the mind and whom words cannot directly describe, but by whose blessing the faculty of speech functions, and who is described in the Upanishads by the words ‘not this, not this’.

I bow down in the morning to the infinite, eternal Being Who is known as the supreme Purusha, Who is beyond the darkness of ignorance, Who is resplendent like the sun, Who is everything and on Whom this entire universe appears, just as rope appears as a snake.