श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणानामालयं करुणालयम्|
नमामि भगवत्पादशंकरं लोकशङ्करम् ||
"I salute the compassionate abode of the Vedas, Smritis and Puranas known as Shankara Bhagavatpada, who makes the world auspicious."
As Gaudapada, a pre-Sankara teacher of Advaita, says, Advaita has no quarrel with any system of philosophy. While the pluralistic world-views may be in conflict with one another, Advaita is not opposed to any of them. It recognises the measure of truth that there is in each of them; but only, that truth is not the whole. Hostility arises out of partial vision. When the whole truth is realised, there can be no hostility. (Mandukya Karika, III. 17 & 18; IV. 5)”.
The essence of Advaita has been stated by Sri Sankara in half a verse thus:– Brahman is the only Reality, the universe has only apparent reality, and the individual self is non-different from Brahman.
Brahman is the only Reality. ‘Reality’ is defined as that which does not undergo any change at any time. By this test, Brahman, which is absolutely changeless and eternal, is alone real. The world keeps on changing all the time and so it cannot be considered as real. At the same time, we cannot dismiss it as unreal, because it is actually experienced by us.
The essence of Advaita has been stated by Sri Sankara in half a verse thus:– Brahman is the only Reality, the universe has only apparent reality, and the individual self is non-different from Brahman.
Brahman is the only Reality. ‘Reality’ is defined as that which does not undergo any change at any time. By this test, Brahman, which is absolutely changeless and eternal, is alone real. The world keeps on changing all the time and so it cannot be considered as real. At the same time, we cannot dismiss it as unreal, because it is actually experienced by us.
Works and Commentaries of Shankara
Works (translated):
Vivekachudamani (pdf) Aparokshanubhuti Upadeshasahasri (pdf) Atmabodha and other Stotras Select works of Sri Shankaracharya Drg Drshya Viveka Pratah Smaranam Translated commentaries: Brahma-sutra (Swami Vireshwarananda) Brahma-sutra (G. Thibaut) Bhagavad Gita ( A. Mahadeva Sastri) Bhagavad Gita (Swami Gambhirananda) Others' works: Panchadasi (Vidyaranya Swami) Jivanmuktiviveka (Vidyaranya Swami) Vedantaparibhasa (Dharmaraja Adhvarindra) Hastamalakiyam (Hastamalaka) Vedantasara (Sadananda Yogindra) Avadhuta Gita 1 (Dattatreya) Avadhuta Gita 2 (Dattatreya) |
Advaita Websites
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Miscellaneous
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