Among Śrī Śaṅkarācārya's writings, the Vivekacūḍāmaṇi has remained for centuries a favorite of Vedānta students for its clarity and precision. It goes to the heart of the matter in order to answer these questions: Who am I really? Why does the real me remain hidden? How is this real me connected with everyone and everything? With the help of intensely practical methods, we are taught how to look deeply in order to experience the truth within ourselves and the truth behind this universe. This experience brings inner clarity, abiding joy, and a life of genuine inner freedom. Composed in Sanskrit and containing 580 verses, the book provides the original text, an authentic and accurate translation with explanatory notes, a glossary, and an index. This is a perfect handbook for a serious and sincere seeker of Truth

In this edition the book has been generally revised and some improvement has been made as regards printing and other matters. All this, it is hoped, will make the book more acceptable to the public. Mayavati, 1926. I bow to Govinda, whose nature is Bliss Supreme, who is the Sadguru, who can be known only from the import of all Vedanta, and who is beyond the reach of speech and mind. Viveka means discrimination, Chud is crest, and Mani, jewel. Hence the title means Crest-jewel of discrimination. Just as the jewel on the crest of a diadem is the most conspicuous ornament on a persons body, so the present treatise is a masterpiece among works treating of discrimination between the Real and the unreal. In this opening stanza salutation is made to God Govinda, or to the Guru, in his absolute aspect. It may be interesting to note that the name of Sankaras Guru was Govindapda, and the Sloka is ingeniously composed so as to admit of both interpretations....

What is Advaita Vedanta? What means or instruments does it utilize in its attempt to comprehend Reality? What is the nature of its aim? If we begin by answering these questions, we will be ready to follow with the right intelligence the message given by the great SANKARA in Vivekacudamani. The path which is outlined here is not for the majority, quite the contrary. It is for those who, having attained "maturity," tend towards full Awakening. It is for those who want to bring about a profound revolution within themselves; and this requires an act of courage, of steadfastness and, at the same time, of great humility. Advaita Vedanta is for those who, tired of a long pilgrimage, have finally stopped and in the silence of their own hearts have decided to launch a powerful attack on that terrible and treacherous enemy who lives not outside of us but right within us, and thus realize full liberation from all psycho-physical conflict and bondage. As darkness and its effects vanish when the sun rises, so, when realization of non-dual beatitude dawns, do bondage and suffering vanish without a trace (Vivekacudamani, sutra 319) SANKARA has been one of the greatest philosophers of India. He dedicated his brief and intense life (788-820) to re-establish the authority of the ruti, to codify the Advaita Vedanta, the doctrine of Non-duality, and to anchor the Metaphysical Tradition of the Veda through the foundation of monasteries (ma]ha) and monastic orders. With his bhasya (commentary) to the Upanisad, the Brahmasutra, and the Bhagavadgita, and with his own writings, Sankara has profoundly influenced not only India's philosophical development, but that of the entire world. RAPHAEL is author and Master in the Western Metaphysical Tradition as well as the Vedanta. For over 35 years, he has written a series of books on the pathway of Non-duality (Advaita). He has translated directly from the original Sanskrit and Edited a number of key Vedanta texts. His entire work is a conscious reunification of both Western and Eastern Traditions into Unity of Tradition.

Study of Vivekacūdạ̄manị, aphoristic work on Vedanta philosophy; includes complete text with translation and commentary.

A classic text on the path to God through knowledge. The basic teaching is that God alone is the all-pervading reality; the individual soul is none other than the universal soul. Shankara was under no illusions about this world. For this reason, he is able to describe so powerfully the complete transformation of the universe that takes place before the eyes of the illumined seer, when the world indeed becomes a paradise.

Advaita Vedanta is one of the most important and widely studied schools of thought in Hindu religion and the Vivekacudamani is one of the most important texts in the Advaita tradition and the most popular philosophical work ascribed to the great Indian philosopher, Sankara. Sankara (c.650-700) is considered to be a giant among giants and probably the most venerated philosopher in India's long history. The Vivekacudamani is in the form of a dialogue between a preceptor (guru) and a pupil (sisya) expounding the quintessence of Advaita in which the pupil humbly approaches the preceptor and, having served the teacher selflessly, implores to be rescued from worldly existence (samsara). The guru promises to teach the way to liberation (moksa) which culminates in the ecstatic experience of one's own Self. This book presents an accessible translation of the entire text and also includes Upanisadic cross-referencing to most of its 580 verses, extensive notes, a lengthy Introduction, list of variant readings, an extensive bibliography, and an index to the verses. All those interested in Indian religion and philosophy, Hindu studies, or Sanskrit, will find this readable English translation of an Indian philosophical classic invaluable.

Commentary by Swami Tejomayananda. In this short and beautiful composition, Adi Sankara, the Master, has condensed the essence of Vedanta in just 31 verses, which are very useful to all serious seekers.

Sankara's Vivekachudamani is a popular Advaita Vedanta text which gives its basic principles. Text comes with Sanskrit and English translation. A verse index in Sanskrit is included. See also Shankara's Crest Jewel of Discrimination for a more western translation of this important scripture of Shankara.