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Atma bodha

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Atmabodha)

Ātma-bōdha
AuthorAttributed to Adi Shankara
LanguageSanskrit
SubjectHindu philosophy
GenreAdvaita Vedanta
PublisherOriginal: 8th century AD; Reprinted in 1947 by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai
Publication placeIndia
Published in English
First publication in 1812 translated by J. Taylor

Ātma-bodha (Sanskrit: आत्मबोधः ) is a short Sanskrit text attributed to Adi Shankara of Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy. The text in sixty-eight verses describes the path to Self-knowledge or the awareness of Atman.[1][2]

The Vedanta tradition states that the text was written by Shankara for his disciple, Sanandana, also known as Padmapāda. Ātma-bodha is a prakarṇa grantha: literature that explains the terms and terminologies used in the Śāstras but they do not contribute any original thought. [3]

Atmabodha is also the title of an Upanishad attached to the Atharvaveda.

Etymology

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Atmabodha means "Self-knowledge", self-awareness, or the "possession of a knowledge of the soul or the supreme spirit".[4]

Authorship

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Ātma-bodha, written in Sanskrit, is traditionally ascribed to Adi Shankara, but its authorship is uncertain. According to Isaeva, even though the authenticity of this work is doubted by present day scholars, it does not contradict the whole of Shankara's system which it advocates.[2][a] Atma bodha distinguishes knowledge from action while also recommending constant contemplation.[5] Isayeva describes hearing, reflection, and meditation as preliminary stages directed towards knowledge of Brahman.[6]

Contents

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The original text consists of sixty-eight verses and describes the way to the attainment of the knowledge of the Atman.

Knowledge, action and practice

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Like the Vivekachudamani, the Atma Bodha teaches that the Ultimate Reality or Brahman, the foundation of all, is beyond name and form, and is of the nature of pure consciousness, and can be through the Path of Knowledge.

For the Wisdom of Self is the one way to Freedom,
leading beyond all other paths,
As cooking cannot be accomplished without fire,
so Freedom cannot be attained without wisdom.

— Ātma-bōdha 2, [7]

Atmabodha text reiterates that the Path of Knowledge consists in shravana (hearing the instructions of a teacher), manana (reflecting on what is heard) and nididhyasana (meditating on Truth with single-minded devotion); viveka (philosophical discrimination) and vairagya (renunciation of all that which is unreal) are the basic disciplines required to be followed and that it is not possible for actions (Karma, fasting, vows, pilgrimage)[8] to destroy ignorance (avidya) and cause liberation (moksha).

Verse 3 explains the difference between action and knowledge:

अविरोधितया कर्म नाविद्यां विनिवर्तयेत् |
विद्याविद्या निहन्त्येव तेजस्तिमिरसङ्ववत् ||

"Action cannot destroy ignorance, as it is not opposed to ignorance.
Knowledge does verily destroy ignorance just as light destroys deep darkness"

— Ātma-bodha 3, [9]

Verse 66-68 describes the process of acquiring knowledge: through study, reflection and meditation, one exhaust one's vasanas and desires and discovers one's true Self. Through self-effort, one gains Self-knowledge and realizes the inner Self as the infinite, all pervading Brahman.[10]

Brahman, atman, and the world

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Atma Bodha describes the true nature of the individual self as Brahman, the Absolute Reality, which is of the nature of sat-chit-anand, or existence-knowledge-bliss.[11] Brahman is the substratum on which all the manifested things of the world are projected by imagination;[12] the all-pervading Atman illumines the mind and the senses and is manifest in the intellect (Buddhi) like a reflection in a clean mirror.[13]

The yogi endowed with complete enlightenment sees,
through the eye of Knowledge,
the entire universe in his own Self,
regards everything as the Self and nothing else.

—  Ātma-bōdha, 47, [14]

Jivanmukta

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The self-abiding Jivanmukta, according to verses 49-51 of Atma Bodha, is satisfied with the bliss derived from Atman (soul, self), is free from hate for anyone, seeks unity, is perfected in peace, grows radiant, rejoices with what he has, is the one who "shines inwardly, like a lamp placed inside a vase".[14][15]

Commentaries and translations

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Nikhilananda states that Shankara's Vedic non-dualistic (Advaita) philosophy is based on the divinity of the soul, the unity of existence, the Oneness of the Godhead.[16]

The first translation of Ātma-bodha into English language from Sanskrit by J. Taylor was published in 1812 titled - The Knowledge of Spirit,[17] later another translation rendered by Rev. J.F.Kearns, along with English commentary and titled - Atma Bodha Prakashika, was published in the May, 1876 issue of The Indian Antiquary (pages 125-133).[18] An English translation and commentary of 1944 by Swami Nikhilananda was published in India in June, 1947 by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai. Sri Ramana Maharshi translated Ātma-bodha into Tamil in verse-form.[19] Chinmayananda Saraswati has also written a translation of the same.[20] Anandmurti Gurumaa has also written a commentary on Atmabodha presenting the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. Swami Nikhilananda has also given a commentary on the same in book titled Self Knowledge.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Yet, Shankara rejected 'activity' contemplation, and argued for the immediate acquirement of knowledge.

References

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  1. ↑ Roshan Dalal (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books. p. 48. ISBN 9780143414216.
  2. 1 2 Isaeva 1993, pp. 78, 98.
  3. ↑ Sankaracharya (1965). Atma Bodha. pp. vii.
  4. ↑ Atmabodha Sanskrit English Dictionary, Koeln University, Germany
  5. ↑ Chinmayananda 1965, pp. 4–6, 83.
  6. ↑ Isaeva 1993, p. 219.
  7. ↑ Adi Śaṅkarācārya (Translated by C Johnston), The Atma-Bodha (self-wisdom) of Shankara-Acharya at Google Books, Divine Life Press Chicago, page 1
  8. ↑ PN Menon (1964), Atma Bodha of Sri Śaṅkarācharya, Munshi Ram Manohar Lal, OCLC 614375221, pages 6-7
  9. ↑ Chinmayananda 1965, p. 6.
  10. ↑ Parthasarathy, A. (1971). Atmabodha: Knowledge of Self. pp. 169–175. OCLC 700539.
  11. ↑ Chinmayananda 1965, pp. 50, 74, verses 24,36.
  12. ↑ Chinmayananda 1965, pp. 13, 17, verses 7,9.
  13. ↑ Chinmayananda 1965, pp. 37, 58, verses 17,28.
  14. 1 2 William M Indich (2000), Consciousness in Advaita Vedanta, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120812512, page 111
  15. ↑ Adi Śaṅkarācārya (Translated by C Johnston), The Atma-Bodha (self-wisdom) of Shankara-Acharya at Google Books, Divine Life Press Chicago, page 8
  16. ↑ Sankaracarya. Atma-bodha with translation and commentary by Nikhilananda (PDF). pp. xiii, xiv, xiv, xviii. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 September 2013.
  17. ↑ Marsden, William (1827). Bibliotheca marsdeniana philological et orientalis. p. 220.
  18. ↑ Indian Antiquary Vol.5. 1876.
  19. ↑ Ramana, Shankara and Forty Verses. Motilal Banarsidass Publications. 2005. p. 82. ISBN 9788120819887.
  20. ↑ Swami Chinmayananda (1987). Atma Bodh. Chinmaya Mission. ISBN 978-81-7597-063-2.

Sources

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Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atma_bodha&oldid=1367043475"