Catechism of Enlightenment

[Guest guest]

The following is taken from the Atma Jyoti Blog

<http://blog.atmajyoti.org/2007/10/a-catechism-of-enlightenment/> , and

is the beginning of a serialized commentary on " A Method Of

Enlightening A Disciple " from Shankara's Upadeshasahasri–A

Thousand Teachings:

 

The opening verse of Shankara's Upadeshasahasri–A Thousand

Teachings–is: " We shall now explain a method of teaching the

means to liberation for the benefit of those aspirants after liberation

who are desirous and are possessed of faith. " Shankara then outlines

in a section titled " A Method Of Enlightening A Disciple " how

the aspirants should receive the first instructions in the inquiry as to

the nature of the Self. The texts cited certainly need comment–as

Shankara assumed those who used his text would do.

 

There are very many citations, most being from the upanishads though

some are from the Bhagavad Gita and some minor sources. We will look at

each one in turn from first till last.

 

1) " In the beginning this universe was Being [sat] alone, one only

without a second. " (Chandogya Upanishad 6:2:1)

 

Brahman is Pure Being, absolute unity, ekam, evam, adwitiyam–one,

only, without a second. This is perhaps the purest statement that can be

made about Brahman, and also the most accurate–always keeping in

mind that nothing can be said about Brahman in the highest sense.