Ramana, Shankara and the Forty Verses The Essential Teachings of Advaita

by Maharashi, Ramana; Jacobs, Alan

• ISBN13: 9781842930427
• ISBN10: 1842930427
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-07-28
• Publisher: Watkins

Summary

Ramana Maharshi and Shankara are two of the greatest and most important sages in the tradition of Advaitathe Vedic state of non-dualism, or the oneness of the self and Brahma. Shankara, born in the 8th century, consolidated the teaching of the Upanishadic and Brahmana Sutras into a practical philosophy of living, while Ramana Maharshi revived these principles and beliefs in the 20th century, bringing about a worldwide renaissance of Advaita. This invaluable volume contains the pearls of their combined wisdom, including some of Shankara's major works translated by Ramana. Among them: Shankara's famous "The Crest Jewel of Discrimination" and Maharshi's seminal "Forty Verses on Reality."

Author Biography

Shankara is known as the Shankaracharya which means Acharya 'one who sets the example'. He was a child prodigy, and a genius. At 8 he was reputed to have mastered the Vedas. At 16 he had written his commentary on the Brahma Sutras. He later wrote seminal commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita and the principal Upanishads and was determined to save the Vedic teaching from onslaughts by Buddhists and Jains. Many miracles were reported during his lifetime. At the age of 32 he suddenly died having established monastic orders in the four corners of India. These orders have flourished, even until today and have played a great part in the spiritual heritage of India Sri Ramana Maharshi (1897 to 1950) was born into a Brahman family. His father died suddenly in 1892 and this death experience led to his Self-Realisation. He then moved to the sacred mountain Arunachala, Tiruvannamalai, which he never left. In 1907 he was given the name Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi by the famed Poet-Saint Ganapati-Muni. In 1922 his mother died and his Ashram was built. He is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest spiritual figures of the Twentieth Century, as he taught largely through silence

Table of Contents

Introduction	7	(4)
Alan Jacobs
Part 1 Ramana Maharshi's Translations from Shankara
Introduction	11	(1)
Arthur Osborne
The Crest Jewel of Discrimination	12	(59)
Vivekachudamani
Most Significant Verses selected	71	(2)
Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi
Shankaracharya's Hymn to Dakshinamurti	73	(4)
Dakshinamurti Stotra
Gurustuti	77	(2)
Knowledge of the Self	79	(3)
Hastamalaka Stotra
Atma Bodha	82	(9)
Drik Drisya Viveka	91	(7)
Jewel Garland of Enquiry	98	(19)
Vichara Mani Mala
Part 2 Ramana Maharshi's Forty Verses on Reality
Preface	115	(2)
S. S. Cohen
Synopsis	117	(4)
Invocation	121	(2)
The Forty Verses and Commentary	123	(26)
Notes	149	(2)
Glossary	151