8th Century Sage Who Revolutionized India, "The Crest-Jewel Of Wisdom," by Adi Shankaracharya

Why Read It

“Vivekachudamani” (The Crest-Jewel of Wisdom) by Adi Shankaracharya is an essential read for those interested in Perennial Philosophy due to its profound exploration of non-dualism and its alignment with the Perennial Philosophy’s emphasis on the universal truth underlying diverse spiritual traditions. As a pivotal work of Advaita Vedanta, it offers deep insights into the nature of reality, consciousness, and the illusion of duality, thus contributing significantly to understanding the core principles shared across various spiritual paths.

Adi Shankaracharya, also known as Shankara, was a highly influential Indian mystic, philosopher and theologian who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta, a non-dualistic form of Vedanta, an indispensable current of Hindu philosophy. He lived in the early 8th century CE, though there is some debate about his exact dates.

More than just a philosophical text, The Crest Jewel of Wisdom serves as a practical guide for spiritual awakening, focusing on discerning the real from the unreal and comprehending the true nature of the self, which are central pursuits in perennial philosophy.

Overview

“Vivekachudamani,” authored by Adi Shankaracharya, is a seminal text in Advaita Vedanta philosophy, essential for those interested in spiritual enlightenment. The book, structured as a dialogue between a teacher and a student, systematically unravels the concept of non-dualism, emphasizing the unity of the individual soul (Atman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman). It guides readers through the process of discerning the real from the unreal, aiming to dissolve the illusion of duality and reveal the true nature of the self.

Key themes include the importance of self-realization, the transient nature of the physical world, and the pursuit of true knowledge. “Vivekachudamani” is not only philosophical but also practical, offering techniques for overcoming ignorance and attaining liberation. This text is particularly relevant for those on a spiritual path, seeking to understand their true essence and attain a state of awakening beyond the confines of material existence.

Key Takeaways

Non-Duality of Atman and Brahman: “Vivekachudamani” emphasizes the fundamental Advaita Vedanta concept that the individual soul (Atman) and the universal soul (Brahman) are essentially one and the same. This non-duality implies that the true nature of our existence is not separate from the ultimate reality. The text challenges readers to transcend the illusion of separateness, asserting that the realization of this oneness is key to liberation.
Illusory Nature of the Material World: The book teaches that the physical world and our sensory experiences are Maya, an illusion. It encourages readers to see beyond the transient nature of the physical universe and understand that true reality is unchanging and eternal. This perspective helps in detaching from material pursuits and focusing on the spiritual path.
Importance of Self-Realization: A major takeaway is the emphasis on self-realization as the path to enlightenment. Shankaracharya posits that understanding one’s true self is essential in dissolving the ego and its constructs, leading to a state of liberation (although, not a “state” in the ultimate sense, as there is nothing static in ultimate reality). This self-realization is not intellectual but an experiential understanding of one’s divine nature.
Role of a Guru: The text underscores the importance of a knowledgeable teacher, or Guru, in the spiritual journey. It suggests that the guidance of a Guru is crucial for navigating the complex path of spiritual awakening and for understanding the profound truths of Advaita Vedanta.
Discrimination Between the Real and Unreal: “Vivekachudamani” places great importance on Viveka, the ability to discriminate between what is eternal (Brahman) and what is transient (Maya). This discernment is seen as a vital skill for spiritual aspirants, aiding in the detachment from worldly illusions and the realization of the Self.

Quotes

~ “Thinking things not self are “I” — this is bondage for a man; this, arising from unwisdom, is the cause of falling into the weariness of birth and dying; this is the cause that he feeds and anoints and guards this form, thinking it the Self; the unreal, real; wrapping himself in sensuous things as a silk-worm in his own threads. The thought that what is not That is That grows up in the fool through darkness; because no discernment is there, it wells up, as the thought that a rope is a snake; thereupon a mighty multitude of fatuities fall on him who accepts this error, for he who grasps the unreal is bound; mark this, my companion.”

~ “Who is free from the thought “I” and “my,” in body and senses and their works, who stands in equanimity, bears the mark of one who is free even in life. He who never identifies himself with body senses, no separates himself in thought from what is other than these, bears the mark of one who is free even in life.”

~ “I am apart from the personal self that sees, hears, speaks, acts, and enjoys; everlasting, innermost, without act; the limitless, unbound, perfect Self awakened. I am neither this nor that; I am even he who illumines both, the supreme, the pure; for me is neither inner nor outer, for I am the perfect, secondless Eternal. The unqualified, beginningless reality is far from the thought of I and thou, of this and that; I am the one essence of everlasting bliss, the real, the secondless Eternal.”

~ “The binding and the getting rid of bondage are both mirages; the deluded attribute the work of thought to the thing itself; just as they attribute the cloud-born cutting off of vision to the sun; for the unchanging is secondless consciousness, free from every clinging stain. The belief that bondage of the Real, is, and the belief that it has ceased, are both mere things of thought; not of the everlasting Real. Therefore, these two glamour-built, bondage and the getting rid of bonds, exist not in the Real; the partless, changeless, peaceful; the unassailable, stainless; for what building-up could there be in the secondless, supreme reality, any more than in clear space? There is no limiting, nor letting go, no binding nor gaining of success; there is neither the seeker of Freedom, nor the free; this, verily, is the ultimate truth.”

~ “For he who is awake no longer keeps the sense of “I and mine and that,” for his looking-glass body and the world that belongs to it; but comes to himself merely through waking. Neither a desire for pursuing mythical objects, nor any grasping after even a world full of them, is seen in him who has awakened. But if the pursuit of mirages goes on, then it is seen for certain that the man has not wakened from sleep. Thus dwelling in the supreme Eternal, through the real Self, he stands and beholds naught else. Like the memory of an object looked on in dream, so is it, for the wise, with eating or the other acts of life.”