About the Book
The present
book is a collection of articles and thoughts of Sri Satchidanadendra
Saraswathi Swamiji, on a variety of topics on
Vedanta. The reader will find articles explaining avidya,
its removal and avidyalesa, meditation, sastra as the only pramana for brahmavidya, vedantic intuition,
highest aim of human life, ashariratva of the
enlightened person, sarvatmabhava and so on, all in
simple language and with quotations from the bhashyas.
The part of
the book commencing with the title 'Aids to Reflection on Vedanta', is a series
of continued thoughts of Sri Swamiji on adhyatmavidya,
wherein he has dealt with different Vedanta prakriyas
and also Buddhistic concepts. Sri Swamiji has
rejected all these views and brought out the salient features of the
traditional atmaikatvavada.
Sri Swamiji's wisdom, authority on the topics, simplicity and
clear diction etc. are present in all these articles. It is very much hoped
that the beginners of Vedanta will get a proper introduction to the various
topics of Vedanta and also motivation to read further, while those who already
have some familiarity with the topics will be able to firm up their own
understanding, by reading the book.
About the Author
Sri Sri Satchidanandendra
Saraswathi Swamiji (1880-1975),
the Founder of Adhyatma Prakasha Karyalaya, Holenarsipur, was
the celebrated authority on Shankara Vedanta during the twentieth century. He
researched and worked with profound dedication and a missionary zeal throughout
his life for bringing out and presenting to the seeker the pristine pure Advaita Vedanta according
to the tradition of Gaudapada, Shankara and Sureswara, He is reverentially hailed as Abhinava Shankara of the twentieth century.
Shankara who
appeared more than a thousand years ago recovered
the true spirit of the Upanishadic Texts and the Vedantic
Tradition from the multitude of wrong
interpretations prevailing at that time. Sri Sri
Swamiji who appeared on the scene during the last century devoted his life time to recover the pristine
pure Vedanta of Shankara and the tradition of Adhyaropa
Apavada Prakriya of the past Masters by cleansing
the distortions and misrepresentations of Shankara in the post Shankara
sub-commentaries, collectively known as Vyakhyana Prasthanas.
Sri Sri Swarniji was an erudite scholar, a prolific writer and a
great organizer. He wrote over 200 books in Kannada, English and
Sanskrit, including Kannada translations of all the original and genuine works
of Shankara. All his writings are characterized by precision, lucidity and erudition. Many of his independent books
like Vedanta Prakriya
Pratyabhijna, Mandukyarahasya
Vivritih, Kleshapaharini
(commentary on Naishakarmya Siddhi),
Mulaavidyanirasa, all in Sanskrit, Essays on
Vedanta and Salient Features of Shankara Vedanta in English, Paramartha
Chintamani
and Shankara Vedanta Sara in
Kannada are real master pieces.
Sri Sri Swamiji's life is an
inspiration and a model and his writings are a real boon for all the earnest
seekers.
Publisher's
Note
The present
book is a collection of articles and thoughts of Sri Satcidanandendra
Saraswathi Swamiji, on a variety of topics on
Vedanta. These were written for the monthly magazine 'Adhyatma
Prakasha', published by the Karyalaya,
during the years 1970-74. Sri Swamiji has stated that he consented to include
one or two pages in English in each of the monthly issues of the magazine
because of the repeated requests of some non-Kannada patrons of the magazine.
However writing in English is quite in line with his firm resolve to spread advaita Vedanta of Sankara in its purest form to all,
whether they knew Kannada or not. He considered English as the only link
language since Sanskrit had not been accorded its proper place as a link
language among the different vernaculars.
The reader may
note that Sri Swamiji was over 90 years of age when he wrote these articles and
thoughts. By that time almost all of his over 200 highly acclaimed books in
Kannada, -Sanskrit and English, were already written. His wisdom, authority on
the topics, simplicity and clear diction etc. are present in these articles and
the reader will immensely benefit by them.
The author
gives the meaning of the terms' Adhyatma Prakasha' as the 'light on the inner portion of the
universe, meaning that aspect of the universe within man'. That explains
the significance of the name given to the monthly magazine, which he started
publishing in the year 1923 and which continues to be published even now!
Elsewhere he defines the terms atman, brahman,
sakshi, akasha, prana etc
that are used for suggesting the nature of Reality. The reader will find
articles explaining avidya, its removal and avidya lesa, meditation, sastra as the only Pramana for brahmavidya, vedantic intuition, ashariratva of the enlightened person, sarvatmabhava
and so on, all in simple language and, of course, with quotations from the bhashyas.
The part of
the book commencing with the title' Aids to Reflection on Vedanta', is a series
of continued thoughts of Sri Swamiji on Adhyatma vidya. These are printed as paragraphs with numbers from 1
to 78, without any demarcations, since the author had given the same title to
his thoughts printed in each of the issues of the magazine. These may be read
from beginning to end for deriving full benefit.
The thoughts
contained in these paragraphs are mainly concerned with bringing a contrast
between the Vedanta in the tradition of Badarayana, Gaudapada and Sankara on the one hand, and a number of
different schools like Upasanavada, dhyananiyogavada, Mimamsaka view,
prapanca pravilaya, niyoga vada, Sankhya,
Vaiseshika, sarvastitvavada,
vijnanavada and sarvasunyatva
vada, the last three
being different views of Buddhist thought, on the other. Sri Swamiji has
rejected all these views and brought out the salient features of the
traditional atmaikatva vada,
Sastra
as the only Pramana for
the knowledge of Brahman, and the role of sravana, manana and nididhyasana.
It is very
much hoped that the beginners of Vedanta will get a proper introduction to the
various topics ofVedanta and also motivation to read
further, while those who already have some familiarity with the topics will be
able to firm up their own understanding, by reading the book.
The Adhyatma Prakasha Karyalaya gratefully acknowledges the services of Dr. K.S. Ramanatha Sharma who took the entire responsibility of
editing and proof reading tasks and ensured the release of the book on time.
The Karyalaya also thanks all those devotees of Sri
Swamiji for their help in bringing out this volume, the donors (listbelow) for their financial assistance and the printers
for their efforts in giving a novel look to the book. May the
blessings of Sri Swamiji shower on all of them.
Donors: 1. Dr
H. V. Nagendra Prasad; 2. Sri Mahesh Babu; 3. Sri R.B. Gopinath; 4.
Sri H.N. Prabhakara Hebbale;
5. Smt. Anasuya Murthy; 6. Smt. H.Lakshrnidevamma;
7. Sri G.S.Nagaraj; 8. Sri Virupaksha,
all from Bengaluru.
Contents
1 |
Adhyatma Prakasha |
1 |
2 |
Worth knowing above
all |
3 |
3 |
Brahma Vidya |
5 |
4 |
How is the Absolute
Taught or Caught |
8 |
5 |
Ignorance & Wisdom |
10 |
6 |
The Locus of Avidya |
12 |
7 |
The Process of Knowing
Brahman |
15 |
8 |
Each one of us can
become the all |
17 |
9 |
Preparation for the
study of Vedanta |
20 |
10 |
Enquiry into the
Nature of Brahman |
23 |
11 |
Two doubts about
Brahman |
26 |
12 |
The definition of
Brahman |
29 |
13 |
Brahman in its two
aspects |
33 |
14 |
The Enlightened person
is without a body |
36 |
15 |
The Immediate means of
knowledge of Atman |
39 |
16 |
The Method of Vedanta |
43 |
17 |
The fictitious
distinctions in Reality |
46 |
18 |
Vedanta Sastra as a Pramana |
50 |
19 |
Vedantic Intuition |
53 |
20 |
Knowledge and
Intuition of Atman |
55 |
21 |
Knowledge and
Meditation |
58 |
22 |
Monoism according to Sankara |
62 |
23 |
The Nature of
consciousness |
|
according to Vedanta |
65 |
|
24 |
Omnipotence of Brahman
|
70 |
25 |
The Highest Aim of
Human life |
74 |
26 |
The One means of
attaining atman |
77 |
27 |
The Removal of avidya by brahmavidya |
80 |
28 |
Badarayana's treatise on Vedanta |
82 |
29 |
Badarayana's view of the subject |
|
matter of Upanishads |
87 |
|
30 |
The Nature of the
knowledge of Brahman |
90 |
31 |
Knowledge of Brahman |
92 |
32 |
Knowledge of Brahman |
95 |
33 |
Truth and Error |
97 |
34 |
The interpretation of
the Upanishads |
101 |
35 |
Certain terms used to
define atman |
104 |
36 |
Vedantic terms used for suggesting |
107 |
the Nature of Reality |
||
37 |
Aids to reflection of
Vedanta |
110 |
38 |
Techniques of Sankara's interpretation |
|
of the Upanishads |
168 |
|
39 |
Vedanta Sastra as the means of |
|
knowledge of Brahman |
172 |
About the Book
The present
book is a collection of articles and thoughts of Sri Satchidanadendra
Saraswathi Swamiji, on a variety of topics on
Vedanta. The reader will find articles explaining avidya,
its removal and avidyalesa, meditation, sastra as the only pramana for brahmavidya, vedantic intuition,
highest aim of human life, ashariratva of the
enlightened person, sarvatmabhava and so on, all in
simple language and with quotations from the bhashyas.
The part of
the book commencing with the title 'Aids to Reflection on Vedanta', is a series
of continued thoughts of Sri Swamiji on adhyatmavidya,
wherein he has dealt with different Vedanta prakriyas
and also Buddhistic concepts. Sri Swamiji has
rejected all these views and brought out the salient features of the
traditional atmaikatvavada.
Sri Swamiji's wisdom, authority on the topics, simplicity and
clear diction etc. are present in all these articles. It is very much hoped
that the beginners of Vedanta will get a proper introduction to the various
topics of Vedanta and also motivation to read further, while those who already
have some familiarity with the topics will be able to firm up their own
understanding, by reading the book.
About the Author
Sri Sri Satchidanandendra
Saraswathi Swamiji (1880-1975),
the Founder of Adhyatma Prakasha Karyalaya, Holenarsipur, was
the celebrated authority on Shankara Vedanta during the twentieth century. He
researched and worked with profound dedication and a missionary zeal throughout
his life for bringing out and presenting to the seeker the pristine pure Advaita Vedanta according
to the tradition of Gaudapada, Shankara and Sureswara, He is reverentially hailed as Abhinava Shankara of the twentieth century.
Shankara who
appeared more than a thousand years ago recovered
the true spirit of the Upanishadic Texts and the Vedantic
Tradition from the multitude of wrong
interpretations prevailing at that time. Sri Sri
Swamiji who appeared on the scene during the last century devoted his life time to recover the pristine
pure Vedanta of Shankara and the tradition of Adhyaropa
Apavada Prakriya of the past Masters by cleansing
the distortions and misrepresentations of Shankara in the post Shankara
sub-commentaries, collectively known as Vyakhyana Prasthanas.
Sri Sri Swarniji was an erudite scholar, a prolific writer and a
great organizer. He wrote over 200 books in Kannada, English and
Sanskrit, including Kannada translations of all the original and genuine works
of Shankara. All his writings are characterized by precision, lucidity and erudition. Many of his independent books
like Vedanta Prakriya
Pratyabhijna, Mandukyarahasya
Vivritih, Kleshapaharini
(commentary on Naishakarmya Siddhi),
Mulaavidyanirasa, all in Sanskrit, Essays on
Vedanta and Salient Features of Shankara Vedanta in English, Paramartha
Chintamani
and Shankara Vedanta Sara in
Kannada are real master pieces.
Sri Sri Swamiji's life is an
inspiration and a model and his writings are a real boon for all the earnest
seekers.
Publisher's
Note
The present
book is a collection of articles and thoughts of Sri Satcidanandendra
Saraswathi Swamiji, on a variety of topics on
Vedanta. These were written for the monthly magazine 'Adhyatma
Prakasha', published by the Karyalaya,
during the years 1970-74. Sri Swamiji has stated that he consented to include
one or two pages in English in each of the monthly issues of the magazine
because of the repeated requests of some non-Kannada patrons of the magazine.
However writing in English is quite in line with his firm resolve to spread advaita Vedanta of Sankara in its purest form to all,
whether they knew Kannada or not. He considered English as the only link
language since Sanskrit had not been accorded its proper place as a link
language among the different vernaculars.
The reader may
note that Sri Swamiji was over 90 years of age when he wrote these articles and
thoughts. By that time almost all of his over 200 highly acclaimed books in
Kannada, -Sanskrit and English, were already written. His wisdom, authority on
the topics, simplicity and clear diction etc. are present in these articles and
the reader will immensely benefit by them.
The author
gives the meaning of the terms' Adhyatma Prakasha' as the 'light on the inner portion of the
universe, meaning that aspect of the universe within man'. That explains
the significance of the name given to the monthly magazine, which he started
publishing in the year 1923 and which continues to be published even now!
Elsewhere he defines the terms atman, brahman,
sakshi, akasha, prana etc
that are used for suggesting the nature of Reality. The reader will find
articles explaining avidya, its removal and avidya lesa, meditation, sastra as the only Pramana for brahmavidya, vedantic intuition, ashariratva of the enlightened person, sarvatmabhava
and so on, all in simple language and, of course, with quotations from the bhashyas.
The part of
the book commencing with the title' Aids to Reflection on Vedanta', is a series
of continued thoughts of Sri Swamiji on Adhyatma vidya. These are printed as paragraphs with numbers from 1
to 78, without any demarcations, since the author had given the same title to
his thoughts printed in each of the issues of the magazine. These may be read
from beginning to end for deriving full benefit.
The thoughts
contained in these paragraphs are mainly concerned with bringing a contrast
between the Vedanta in the tradition of Badarayana, Gaudapada and Sankara on the one hand, and a number of
different schools like Upasanavada, dhyananiyogavada, Mimamsaka view,
prapanca pravilaya, niyoga vada, Sankhya,
Vaiseshika, sarvastitvavada,
vijnanavada and sarvasunyatva
vada, the last three
being different views of Buddhist thought, on the other. Sri Swamiji has
rejected all these views and brought out the salient features of the
traditional atmaikatva vada,
Sastra
as the only Pramana for
the knowledge of Brahman, and the role of sravana, manana and nididhyasana.
It is very
much hoped that the beginners of Vedanta will get a proper introduction to the
various topics ofVedanta and also motivation to read
further, while those who already have some familiarity with the topics will be
able to firm up their own understanding, by reading the book.
The Adhyatma Prakasha Karyalaya gratefully acknowledges the services of Dr. K.S. Ramanatha Sharma who took the entire responsibility of
editing and proof reading tasks and ensured the release of the book on time.
The Karyalaya also thanks all those devotees of Sri
Swamiji for their help in bringing out this volume, the donors (listbelow) for their financial assistance and the printers
for their efforts in giving a novel look to the book. May the
blessings of Sri Swamiji shower on all of them.
Donors: 1. Dr
H. V. Nagendra Prasad; 2. Sri Mahesh Babu; 3. Sri R.B. Gopinath; 4.
Sri H.N. Prabhakara Hebbale;
5. Smt. Anasuya Murthy; 6. Smt. H.Lakshrnidevamma;
7. Sri G.S.Nagaraj; 8. Sri Virupaksha,
all from Bengaluru.
Contents
1 |
Adhyatma Prakasha |
1 |
2 |
Worth knowing above
all |
3 |
3 |
Brahma Vidya |
5 |
4 |
How is the Absolute
Taught or Caught |
8 |
5 |
Ignorance & Wisdom |
10 |
6 |
The Locus of Avidya |
12 |
7 |
The Process of Knowing
Brahman |
15 |
8 |
Each one of us can
become the all |
17 |
9 |
Preparation for the
study of Vedanta |
20 |
10 |
Enquiry into the
Nature of Brahman |
23 |
11 |
Two doubts about
Brahman |
26 |
12 |
The definition of
Brahman |
29 |
13 |
Brahman in its two
aspects |
33 |
14 |
The Enlightened person
is without a body |
36 |
15 |
The Immediate means of
knowledge of Atman |
39 |
16 |
The Method of Vedanta |
43 |
17 |
The fictitious
distinctions in Reality |
46 |
18 |
Vedanta Sastra as a Pramana |
50 |
19 |
Vedantic Intuition |
53 |
20 |
Knowledge and
Intuition of Atman |
55 |
21 |
Knowledge and
Meditation |
58 |
22 |
Monoism according to Sankara |
62 |
23 |
The Nature of
consciousness |
|
according to Vedanta |
65 |
|
24 |
Omnipotence of Brahman
|
70 |
25 |
The Highest Aim of
Human life |
74 |
26 |
The One means of
attaining atman |
77 |
27 |
The Removal of avidya by brahmavidya |
80 |
28 |
Badarayana's treatise on Vedanta |
82 |
29 |
Badarayana's view of the subject |
|
matter of Upanishads |
87 |
|
30 |
The Nature of the
knowledge of Brahman |
90 |
31 |
Knowledge of Brahman |
92 |
32 |
Knowledge of Brahman |
95 |
33 |
Truth and Error |
97 |
34 |
The interpretation of
the Upanishads |
101 |
35 |
Certain terms used to
define atman |
104 |
36 |
Vedantic terms used for suggesting |
107 |
the Nature of Reality |
||
37 |
Aids to reflection of
Vedanta |
110 |
38 |
Techniques of Sankara's interpretation |
|
of the Upanishads |
168 |
|
39 |
Vedanta Sastra as the means of |
|
knowledge of Brahman |
172 |