Comment on the 8thC summary of Nonduality by Adi Shankara

AN 8th C PRESENTATION OF NONDUALITY

RP This wonderful 6 stanza summary of Nonduality seems to me to be pointing to the Godhead, the unknowable Infinite Mystery that is beyond all access.

When we rest as Awareness we rest in the enveloping, boundary-less presence of the Whole. But we can never penetrate or embrace the Whole of the manifest/phenomenal world – let alone the Godhead/void from which all of the manifest/phenomenal emanates.

That is at it should be. Mystery is the number one fact of life! It is only in standing silent before Mystery that we can be united.

It is in the humility and Mystery of our not knowing that we are One.

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“The great Adi Shankara (first Shankaracharya) of the eighth century summarized the entirety of Advaita Vedanta (non-dualistic philosophy) in six stanzas. When a young boy of eight, while wandering in the Himalayas, seeking to find his guru, he encountered a sage who asked him, “Who are you?” The boy answered with these stanzas, which are known as “Nirvana Shatakam” or “Atma Shatakam.” “Nirvana” is complete equanimity, peace, tranquility, freedom and joy. “Atma” is the True Self. The sage the boy was talking to was Swami Govindapada Acharya, who was, indeed, the teacher he was looking for.

I am neither the mind, nor the intellect, nor the ego, nor the mind stuff. I am neither the body, nor the changes of the body. I am neither the senses of hearing,taste,smell or sight. Nor am i ether, the earth, the fire, the air.I am existence absolute, knowledge absolute bliss absolute. I am He, I am He.

I am neither the Prana, nor the five vital airs. I am neither the materials of the body, nor the five sheaths. Neither am I the organs of action nor objects of the senses. I am existence absolute, knowledge absolute, bliss absolute. I am He, I am He.

I have neither aversion nor attachment, neither greed nor delusion, neither egotism nor envy, neither Dharma nor Moksha. I have neither desire nor object of desire. I am existence absolute, knowledge absolute, bliss absolute. I am He, I am He.

I am neither sin nor virtue, neither pleasure nor pain, nor temple,nor worship,nor pilgrimage, nor scriptures. And I am neither the act of enjoying,the enjoyable nor the enjoyer. I am existence absolute, knowledge absolute, bliss absolute. I am He, I am He.

I have neither death, nor fear of death, nor caste nor was I ever born, nor had i parents, friends and relations. I have neither Guru nor disciple. I am existence absolute, knowledge absolute, bliss absolute. I am He,I am He.

I am untouched by the senses. I am neither Mukti nor knowable, I am without form, without limit, beyond space, beyond time. I am in everything, I am the basis of the universe, everywhere am I. I am existence absolute, knowledge absolute, bliss absolute. I am He,I am He.’

YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqMFz_0VOxY