Shankara's Crest Jewel of Discrimination (Paperback)

~ Swami Prabhavananda (Author), Christopher Isherwood (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

According to Shankara, it is the ignorance of our real nature that causes suffering and pain. The desire for happiness is essentially a longing to awaken to who and what we truly are.

Through the path of self-knowledge, Shankara clearly teaches how to awaken from ignornce created by the mind, and abide in the peace of our true nature.

From the Publisher

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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 147 pages
• Publisher: Vedanta Press (June 1970)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874810388
• ISBN-13: 978-0874810387
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #250,274 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars little book, big wisdom, April 7, 2002

By	Orva Schrock "[e-mail]" (goshen, in United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Shankara was a 7th century hindu mystic/saint. he founded a number of monastic orders in his short life,[32 yrs], and showed remarkable spiritual talents and insights from a very early age. this book is a true classic in the field of the jnani yoga tradition. his directives are clear, succint, and leave no doubt in the readers mind he knew where of he spoke. i wouldn't say this should be your entry level book into the advaita philosophy but if the idea of your oneness with brahman, the impersonal ground of being, appeals to you and you're ready for the genuine article, then this little book is for you and will reward your careful study. i'll be quiet now and let the master have the last word with a few quotes from the book: "when the vision of Reality comes, the veil of ignorance is completely removed. when our false perception is corrected, misery ends." and "the self controlled man is illumined when he enjoys eternal bliss. he is entirely merged in Brahman. he knows himself to be the unchangeable reality". and, "teachers and scriptures can stimulate spiritual awareness. but the wise disciple overcomes ignorance by direct illumination, through the grace of God". and, "the treasure i have found cannot be described in words, i am one with Brahman".

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for those on the spiritual path, March 8, 2007

By	Venkateshwaran Ramaswamy - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Shankara's Vivek Chudamani is a classic text orignally written in Sanskrit and is a must of anyone on the spiritual pathway to enlightenment (Hindu/Buddhist pathways). It makes you take a hard look at your beliefs and practices, social norms and customs and helps you separate the wheat from the chaff. Swami Prabhavananda and Christoper Isherwood have done an excellent job of translating it into English. The translation is easy to read, although the material is by no means a light read and is meant for someone who is serious about the pathway. It is a great book to read again and again as your awareness grows.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Translation of the Vivekachudamani, April 18, 2001

By	Per Kistler (Zurich, Switzerland) - See all my reviews

Prabhavananda used to be an indian monk of the Ramakrishna order directing the hollywood branch of that organisation in the first half of the last century. Isherwood was a famous writer who worked together with Prabhavananda. They translated indian scriptures and wrote several books, either together or independently. This particular book is a translation of the Vivekachudamani, a compact presentation of advaita vedanta, attributed to Shankara. It's pleasant to read and contains deep wisdom. The Ramakrishna Vivekananda Organisation has also another version of the Vivekachudamani on sale, which contains the Sanskrit text as well.