enquiry is the chief means for knowledge

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ADVAITA BODHA DEEPIKA[LAMP OF NON-DUAL KNOWLEDGE]FOREWORDOriginally Sri Shankaracharya and other great Sages hadwritten several works like the commentary on the Vedanta Sutrasand thus furnished the methods for those engaged in Self enquiryto accomplish their purpose.From those, Sri Karapatra Swami later condensed thesalient points into Sanskrit verse in a work of twelve chapters,called Sri Advaita Bodha Deepika.Still later, some great man seems to have translated thisinto Tamil prose. For some unknown reasons only some eightchapters of the same are found published. They are:1. Adhyaropa = Super imposition.2. Apavada = Its removal.3. Sadhana = The means of accomplishment.4. Sravana = Hearing, reading, talking about God.5. Manana = Reflecting on sravana.6. Vasanakshaya = Annihilation of latencies.7. Sakshatkara = Direct Realisation.8. Manonasa = Extinction of the mind.In this work the author has explained how Ignorance obscuresthe true nature of the Self which is non-dual only; how by itsveiling aspect it covers It (the Self) with two effects — `that It doesnot exist' and `that It does not shine forth', how by its other aspect,in the shape of the mind, projecting individuals, Iswara and theworld and presenting them as real, thus giving rise to illusion; howone fully qualified is alone fit to obtain this knowledge; how a barescholar of the shastras cannot be fit; how enquiry is the chief meansfor knowledge; how this enquiry consists in hearing of, reflectingupon and contemplation of TRUTH, and Samadhi; how theindirect knowledge gained by hearing puts an end to the idea that`It does not exist' and the direct knowledge gained by reflection,which means enquiry `WHO I AM' and seeking within, destroysthe wrong notion that `It does not shine forth'; how the knowledgeof THOU in THAT THOU ART is identical with the knowledgeof THAT; how by meditation the different latencies perishing whichwere the obstacles on the way and the mind which is the limitingadjunct (upadhi) of the individual perishes too and by the eventualunobstructed realisation of BRAHMAN (God) the Seeker becomesfree from the bondage of the three kinds of Karma which form thecycle of births and deaths; how in truth there is neither bondagenor release for the SELF and in what way to extinguish the mind.Thinking that this will be helpful to Seekers of LiberationSri Ramanananda Saraswathi (formerly MunagalaVenkataramiah) a devotee of Bhagavan has by the grace of SriRamana rendered into English the eight chapters of the worknow available. The last four chapters, Savikalpa Samadhi,Nirvikalpa Samadhi, Jivan Mukti, and Videha Mukti not beingfound in Tamil, Telugu or Sanskrit Manuscripts could not betranslated into English. Information on the missing chapters isearnestly sought and will be gratefully acknowledged by thepublisher.Our grateful thanks are due to H. H. Smt. Shanta DeviMaharani of Baroda and H. H. the Maharaja of Travancore forsending us the original Sanskrit Manuscripts of this work fromthe State Libraries for Maharshi's consultation and return.This book is one of the few esteemed by Sri Maharshi andthis translation was thoroughly revised in His Presence. So weare encouraged to present this small volume to the public withfull confidence that the reader will benefit by it.PUBLISHER.