Born in 634 CE, Adi Shankaracharya was a great philosopher, poet and seer who helped unite a fragmented land with his philosophy, poetry and pilgrimage. A highly influential figure in India’s history, he is often credited with establishing Hinduism as one of the world’s major religions.
Shankara was born into a Brahmin family in southern India. At an early age, he realized that knowledge could not be contained within traditional boundaries and began seeking wisdom from all sources possible. This led him to study under some of the most outstanding teachers of his time, including Sureshwar Sharma and Nisheswara Iyer.
He was a polymath who composed works on Vedanta, Yoga, Ayurveda, Samkhya theology, logic, Grammar and metaphysics. His contributions to Advaita Vedanta laid the foundations for later interpretations of this school of thought by Mahadev Bhattacharjee (1885-1962), Ramanuja(1136-1214) and Madhva (1348-1417).
His philosophical work, “The Chaitanya Mahaprabhu”, is considered one of the masterpieces of Indian thought and explores topics such as Vedanta angst (the question about whether or not spiritual matters can be comprehended through reason), moksha (liberation), 108 devotional exercises known as Ashtanga Yoga Pradipikae (eight-limbed yoga practice devised by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) etc. His poetic works include Krishna Charitamrita (an epic poem celebrating Lord Krishna) and Vyasa Sutras(a treatise on Sanskrit grammar).
Despite being persecuted throughout his life for his teachings which challenged official beliefs, Shankara never lost faith in himself or his beliefs – even when they seemed impossible to uphold.
The Philosophy of Sri Shankaracharya
The philosophy of Sri Shankaracharya can be summed up in four words: Vedanta, Realism, Nominalism and Monism. These concepts form the bedrock of his philosophical system and provide a comprehensive understanding of Reality.
Vedanta is the foundation upon which all other aspects of Sri Shankara’s thought are built; it is the essence from which he draws his inspiration. This school of thought views knowledge as indicative rather than representative, stating that any experience or Truth can only be realized directly through inward revelation (jñana). In line with this perspective, Reality cannot be apprehended utilizing abstract generalizations or conventional definitions – we must experience it firsthand to truly understand it.
Realism holds that everything exists within its context and meaning – nothing exists outside itself. Everything is part of an intrinsic whole – there is no separateness between subject and object. As such, phenomena must always conform to specific universal laws governing their behaviour – these laws are knowable because they arise out of the box amidst our experiences in life.
Nominalism states that true names do not exist concretely but are instead just constructs used for referencing objects/concepts; when we use a name to denote something distinctively, this act constitutes an act of discrimination or abstraction (vishuddhi), as opposed to simply conveying information about the thing referred to (prajna).
Adi Shankaracharya Famous Quotes and Its profound meaning
The ignorant man mistakes true knowledge for ignorance
In this excerpt from his poem “The Chapter on Knowledge”, Adi Shankara discusses the difference between true knowledge and ignorance:
Actual knowledge means to know what you don’t know. It knows your limitations – accepting them as part of who you are. And it involves constantly questioning what we believe to be true – not just because it might save us some time or energy, but because maybe those beliefs aren’t based on anything. Maybe they’re simply opinions that we picked up along the way.
Ignorance, by contrast, can lead us straight down into traps and delusions – convinced that our view is Reality when it’s nothing more than blindness leading to further suffering. So how do we break free from ignorance? By acknowledging its presence & then starting the journey towards discovering actual knowledge…even if it feels scary at first!
There is only one way to get rid of the error: to know the Truth.
In this statement, Adi Shankaracharya calls for us to seek knowledge at all costs — whether it be through studying traditional texts or investigating new ideas experimentally. This quotation highlights his emphasis on self-awareness and understanding; if we don’t explore both our old beliefs and new perspectives systematically, we will inevitably remain trapped within error.
Adi Shankara believed in Self-Realization or moksha, which refers to an individual’s realization that they are ultimately spirit rather than matter. Moksha can be attained through spiritual practice such as meditation and contemplation of Truth. By learning about and practising these principles, he thought others could also reach this understanding.
What is a true gift? One for which nothing is expected in return
A gift that one gives without expecting anything back–this alone is called an absolute or unconditional gift. A man who has such love and respect in his heart towards another person will give him whatever he wants without any reservation whatsoever; because if you have faith that your loved one knows best and can genuinely use even the most straightforward thing better than yourself, then why would you not want to let him enjoy it? That’s why gifts are so unique–they’re always a sign of genuine affection!
Silence is the first door to spiritual eminence.
Silence should not be avoided; it is indeed Brahman (the Absolute) speaking through an individual soul who has realized its Self.
Through self-inquiry, we eventually reach a state where sound or speech no longer has any meaning or value. When you are in a state of silence, all external sounds become muffled and irrelevant – even contradictory thoughts cease to exist. This allows us not only an increased concentration level but also deep introspection and understanding about ourselves and our relationship with God/the universe.
If you’re looking for a way to improve your spirituality or deepen your understanding of yourself, practising silent contemplation may be just what you need!
Shankara says that true yogis are never silent because they know that everything spoken or thought becomes polluted by egoism and attachments. As a result, they choose to stay quiet and let understanding dawn organically from within. This internal knowledge can only come about through meditation and contemplative practice, which helps you tune into your innermost being.
Do not be proud of wealth, people, relations, friends, or youth. All these are snatched by time in the blink of an eye. Giving up this imaginary world, know and attain the Supreme.
If we’re attached to any of these things, we’ll be disappointed when they inevitably fade away. Instead, focus on living a virtuous life full of contentment and happiness in the present moment. After all, that’s what matters in the long run!
When you’re caught up in pursuing material things or happiness based on past experiences, you risk missing out on what’s truly important.
Instead of focusing on external factors that can easily change (like wealth), try to live with compassion and mindfulness. Be present for what’s happening now – no matter how good/bad it might seem – and allow yourself to grow from the experience. If we focus less on our wants and more on cultivating awareness within ourselves and understanding others, we might find that everything falls into place nicely after all!
Reality can be experienced only with the eye of understanding, not just by a scholar.
This quote speaks to the idea that knowledge alone isn’t enough to experience Reality; we also need an open mind. To truly understand something means accepting it as part of our existence rather than considering it unreal or detached from our everyday life.
In short, Shankara believed that Reality could only be experienced by someone who has surrendered themselves to understand it completely instead of relying on their assumptions or intellect. This requires inner peace and detachment from all things worldly – in other words, absolute faith in the power of consciousness over matter. As you might have guessed, this isn’t an easy path to follow, but it leads to true wisdom and happiness.
When your last breath arrives, Grammar can do nothing
This quote reflects his belief that humanity can understand its innermost nature independent of language.
To be free from bondage, the wise person must practice discrimination between One-Self and the ego-self.
According to him, if we cannot differentiate between our true Self (One-Self) and our ego self, we will remain slaves to our emotions and desires. We will endlessly cycle through life struggles as each emotion ties us down further because we fail to accept them or understand their origin. Instead, we blame others or external circumstances for our problems instead of accepting responsibility. This leads us into a vicious circle where we get even more lost in despair because there is no end point in sight.
This can involve looking at our relationship struggles rather than reactively; observing how perceptions change over time; forgiving ourselves when we make mistakes; being present with whatever comes up without judging or second-guessing; etcetera.
Adi Shankaracharya argues that by practising discrimination between Self and ego-self, you can break free from this trap and begin living a fulfilling life motivated by joy rather than misery.