Monthly Archives: March 2023

A Dream Within A Dream

All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream (Edgar Allan Poe) Nothing, whatsoever, is born either of itself or of another. Nothing is ever produced whether it be being or a non-being or both being … Continue reading

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Illusion

CHAPTER II ILLUSION (Vaitathya) The Lord (Ātman), with his mind turned outward, variously imagines the diverse objects (such as sound, etc.), which are already in his mind (in the form of Vāsanas or Sankalpas or desires). The Ātman again (with … Continue reading

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The Sacred Science of Aum

The remainder of the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad reiterates what has already been covered on the nature of Aum and Ātman as a mystical science and sacred formula for the ages. The translation is by Swami Krishnananda and commentary will be offered … Continue reading

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The Four States

III How the four quarters are said to indicate Ātman –is thus explained… The first quarter (Pāda) is *Vaiśwānara whose sphere (of activity) is the waking state, who is conscious of external objects, who has seven limbs and nineteen mouths … Continue reading

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AUM

The sequence used in this series is to firstly place the text, followed by Śaṅkara’s commentary, and then subsequently a commentary in Light of the Unborn. The main translation used will be by Swami Nikhilananda, unless otherwise noted. OPENING VEDIC … Continue reading

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Śaṅkara

Before the continuation of our series, reference needs to be made to the most renowned exponent of the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy, Adi Śaṅkara (700-750 CE), since we shall be utilizing from time to time his commentary on the … Continue reading

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Māṇḍukya Kārikā

One of the premier texts in Advaitic literature is the  Māṇḍukya Kārikā, attributed to the 6th century CE philosopher and scholar of the Advaita (not two) *Vedanta (end of the Vedas) school of Hindu philosophy—Gauḍapāda, also referred to as Gauḍapādācārya. … Continue reading

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