Self-Knowledge: Sankara's "Atmabodha". [Hardcover]

Swami Nikhilananda (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0911206116 | ISBN-13: 978-0911206111 | Publication Date: March 1987

Self-Knowledge is a translation by Swami Nikhilananda of the sacred text, Atmabodha, composed by the 8th century philosopher and mystic of India, Sankara. Self-Knowledge sets forth the principles of Non-dualistic Vedanta: the divinity of the soul, the unity of existence, the oneness of the Godhead, and the harmony of religions.

As Swami Nikhilananda writes in the preface, "The very name of the book - Self-Knowledge - suggests its perennial interest and universal value. Self-Knowledge is vital. All other forms of knowledge are of secondary importance; for a man's action, feeling, reasoning, and thinking are dependent upon his idea of the Self. His view of life will be either materialistic or spiritual according to his conception of himself. Therefore it behooves everyone to cultivate Self-Knowledge at all times. Self-Knowledge serves the practical purpose of destroying pain and suffering (which are always caused by ignorance of the Self) and also the positive end of helping everyone enjoy supreme peace and blessedness here and always."

This 246 page book contains an introduction (114 pages) on the philosophy of Non-dualistic Vedanta and an appendix with 14 of Sankara's spiritual hymns recited by countless Hindus during their daily devotions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An important contribution to the solution of many of man's most urgent problems and distresses -- Ananda K. Coomaraswamy

The introduction is a wonderful piece of exposition, very clear and very reasonable. -- W. Somerset Maugham

From the Publisher

Self-Knowledge is published by The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York which bases it teachings on the principles of Vedanta, or Hinduism. Hinduism teaches that every soul is potentially divine, and that its divinity may be manifested through worship, contemplation, unselfish work, and philosophical discrimination. According to Hinduism, Truth is universal and all humankind and all existence are one. It preaches the unity of the Godhead, or ultimate Reality, and accepts every faith as a valid means for its own followers to realize the Truth. For more information about the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York, visit www.ramakrishna.org.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 246 pages
• Publisher: Ramakrishna Vivekanada Center (March 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0911206116
• ISBN-13: 978-0911206111
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for anybody practicing Jnana-yoga, January 4, 2006

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David A. Naess "howdydave" (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Self-Knowledge: Sankara's "Atmabodha". (Hardcover)

Don't be thrown by the fact that the introduction is longer than the text!

The 114 page introduction gives you all of the background information that you need to appreciate and comprehend the original work.

Although I would recommend reading the introduction first, it is not essential. When an item comes up in the text that may not be fully comprehensable (unless one has read the introduction) there is a clear reference to the page where the information can be found.

This book allowed me to get a handle on a lot of the Self-discoveries that I have been making by letting me know that they are, indeed, valid concepts; they have been perceived by others before me and that they have names. I have been reassured that, although I might appear to be alone on my yogic path, many have come this way before me and the path is clearly marked.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Advaitic 'gem' from Adi Shankara, November 11, 2008

By 

K. Saran - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Self-Knowledge: Sankara's "Atmabodha". (Hardcover)

'Atmabodha' along with Vivekachudamani are the two best original works of Adi Shankara. Swami Nikhilananda has written a lengthy introduction, which is a summary of both of Veda Dharma (Hinduism) as well as Advaita Vedanta. For this reason, I would recommend anyone new to Advaita Vedanta to follow this reading sequence:
- Read the introduction in this book 'Atmabodha' first.
- Then Read Adi Shankara's 'Vivekachudamani' by Swami Prabhavananda
Shankara's Crest-Jewel of Discrimination: Timeless Teachings on Nonduality - The Vivekachudamani
- Then come back and read the main text of Atmabodha.

While in Vivekachudamani, Adi Shankara deals mainly with the five koshas or sheaths that one needs to overcome for Self-realization, in 'Atmabodha', he deals substantially with the state of Self-realization itself. There are no words to describe the beauty of his description.

These two small books constitute a good summary of the well known Vedantic texts like Upanishads, Brahmasutras etc. They lay the foundation for anyone interested in the path of jnana (path of knowledge) for Self-Realization. These two books should be followed by Sri Ramana Maharishi's books to assist with practice of Self-enquiry.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Introduction is best summary on non-dualism available., April 1, 2011

By 

Benjamin Davidson (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Self-Knowledge: Sankara's "Atmabodha". (Hardcover)

Great Reading. The introduction is what I consider to be one of the best overviews on the non-dualist Vedanata traditions that is available. The translation and commentary on Shankara's Atmabodha treatise of 68 verses is as good as it gets. Sweet like honey and clear like a mountain stream; refreshing to taste and brilliant like the Sun in a cloudless sky. For a 1946 translation of an 8th Century Text it could not be better.