Words of Sankara...

[Guest guest]

These are perhaps some of my "favorite" words of Sri Sankara - and perhaps

may help clear up some issues recently discussed.

 

(From the English translation of Viveka-Chudamani - Reprinted under the

"Fair Use Doctrine" of copyright law)

 

"Only through God's grace may we obtain those three rarest advantages --

human birth, the longing for liberation, and discipleship to an illumined

teacher.

 

Nevertheless, there are those who somehow manage to obtain this rare human

birth, together with bodily and mental strength, and an understanding of

the scriptures -- and yet are so deluded that they do not struggle for

liberation. Such men are suicides. They clutch at the unreal and destroy

themselves.

 

For what greater fool can there be than the man who has obtained this rare

human birth together with bodily and mental strength and yet fails, through

delusion, to realize his own highest good?

 

Men may recite the scriptures and sacrifice to the holy spirits, they may

perform rituals and worship deities -- but, until a man wakes to knowledge

of his identity with the Atman, liberation can never be obtained; no, not

even at the end of many hundreds of ages.

 

The scriptures declare that immortality cannot be gained through work or

progeny or riches, but by renunciation alone. Hence, it is clear that work

cannot bring us liberation.

 

Therefore, let the wise man give up craving for pleasure in external

things, and struggle hard for liberation. Let him seek out a noble and

high-souled teacher, and become absorbed wholeheartedly in the truth which

is taught him.

 

Through devotion to right discrimination he will climb to the height of

union with Brahman. By the power of the Atman, let him rescue his own soul

which lies drowned in the vast waters of worldliness."

 

 

 

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