According to Advaita-Vedanta, God or Brahman is identical with the inner self (the Atman) of each person, while the rest of the world is nothing but objective illusion (maya). Shankara maintains that there are two primary levels of existence and knowledge: the higher knowledge that is Brahman itself, and the relative, limited knowledge, regarded as the very texture of the universe. Consequently, the task of a human being is to reach the absolute unity and the reality of Brahman—in other words, to reach the innermost self within his or her own being, discarding on the way all temporary characteristics and attributes.
Welcome to the extraordinary journey through the life and legacy of one of India's greatest philosophers, theologians, and reformers - Adi Shankaracharya. In this book, we will explore the remarkable story of a man who, more than a millennium ago, left an indelible mark on Indian philosophy, spirituality, and culture. Adi Shankaracharya, often referred to simply as Shankara, was a luminary of the 8th century CE. His teachings and profound insights into the nature of reality continue to influence countless minds, transcending the boundaries of time and geography. But who was Adi Shankaracharya, and why does his legacy endure? To answer these questions, we'll embark on a journey that takes us from his humble beginnings in the village of Kaladi to the far reaches of India and even to the sacred heights of Kailash. We'll delve into the key events of his life, from his early education in the Vedic scriptures to his decision to renounce worldly life and become a monk. We'll follow him on his travels across the length and breadth of India as he spread his teachings, engaged in philosophical debates, and founded monastic institutions. We'll explore the heart of his philosophy, Advaita Vedanta, which proclaims the fundamental unity of all existence. We'll witness his encounters with scholars, his interactions with people from all walks of life, and the establishment of worship practices at prominent temples. Throughout this journey, we'll see how Adi Shankaracharya's life and teachings continue to resonate with seekers of truth and spiritual wisdom. His legacy lives on not only in the philosophical texts he penned but also in the hearts of those who seek to understand the profound truths he expounded. As we unravel the life, philosophy, and enduring impact of Adi Shankaracharya, a saint, philosopher, and reformer whose wisdom transcends the ages, and whose teachings continue to illuminate the path to spiritual realization.
Description: The contention of Shankara's Universal Philosophy of Religion, is that man of his very nature has to be concerned with what he considers to be his supreme reality. But the supreme reality is unknown and unknowable. Hence man is thrown into a predicamental situation of knowing the unknowable. This absurd situation has given rise to the doctrines of analogia entis (St. Thomas Aquinas), symbology (Paul Tillich) and picture theories of R.B. Braithwaite and Wittgenstein. But the conclusion of the present author is that even now Shankara is ahead of the stalwart epoch-making thinkers mentioned above.
The book brings to light how great and true knowledge is born of intuition, quite different from modern Western method. The ancient Indian method and its secret techniques are examined and shown to be capable of solving various problems of mathematics. The universe we live in has a basic mathematical structure obeying the rules of mathematical measures and relations. All the subjects in mathematics-Multiplication, Division, Factorization, Equations, Calculus, Analytical Conics, etc.-are dealt with in forty chapters, vividly working out all problems, in the easiest ever method discovered so far.
On the intellectual level, Indian philosophy is logical, rational and proceeds on the same kinds of axioms as western philosophy. Shankara was one of the most subtle of Indian philosophers. The reader will find some reasoning worthy of his steel in the following pages. Perhaps, the most helpful thing that can be said is that the reader who wants to get the best out of Shankara should approach him with cool, open and constructively critical mind.
Adi Shankara was an early 8th century Indian philosopher who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta and is credited with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in this branch of Indian philosophy.His works in Sanskrit discuss the unity of the Self and Nirguna Brahman "brahman without attributes". He wrote commentaries on the Brahma Sutra, Principal Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita) which are still authorities on the subjects and known for their erudition and lucidity. His works explain the ideas found in the Upanishads. Shankara travelled across the Indian subcontinent to propagate his philosophy through discourses and debates which he always seems to have won, hence his opponents converted to his way of thinking and the doctrine spread far and wide. It is still one that stands up to rigorous argument. This book explains the traditional prescription for enlightenment and gives guidance from beginning to end.
Adi Shankara was an early 8th century Indian philosopher who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta and is credited with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in this branch of Indian philosophy.His works in Sanskrit discuss the unity of the Self and Nirguna Brahman "brahman without attributes". He wrote commentaries on the Brahma Sutra, Principal Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita) which are still authorities on the subjects and known for their erudition and lucidity. His works explain the ideas found in the Upanishads. Shankara travelled across the Indian subcontinent to propagate his philosophy through discourses and debates which he always seems to have won, hence his opponents converted to his way of thinking and the doctrine spread far and wide. It is still one that stands up to rigorous argument. This book explains the traditional prescription for enlightenment and gives guidance from beginning to end.
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.
