Sri Karapatra Swami - Lamp of Non-Dual Knowledge & Cream of Liberation: Two Jewels of Indian Wisdom

(Advaita Bodha Deepika)

Advaita or non-dual philosophy is the most satisfactory explanation of mans relationship to the all-pervading cosmic consciousness. Its message of all-enveloping equality is the panacea to the ills of modern society.

Right from the time of the Upanishads, through Adi Sankara to Ramana, great preceptors have written treatises on Advaita philosophy and its powerful instrument of Self-enquiry. The epitome of all these voluminous writings has been later condensed by Karapatra Swami into a book of twelve chapters called Sri Advaita Bodha Deepika, The Lamp of Non-Dual Knowledge.

This book contains the English translation of the first eight chapters of the original Sanskrit text. The last four chapters have never been found. The work is a beautiful and clear treatise on Advaita Vedanta: how ignorance is super-imposed on the non-dual Self (Adhyaropa), its removal (apavada), the means of accomplishing it (sadhana) consisting of various methodologies, annihilation of latencies (vasanakhayam), the play of the mind in projecting the individual self, the world and the personal God, and the significance of Self-enquiry as the perfect instrument leading to the extinction of mind and the dawning of Self-realization. This is a veritable manual of non-dual philosophy.

V. S. Ramanan, President, Sri Ramanasramam, India

(Kaivalya Navaneeta)

In language easy to understand, the author gives a remarkably clear exposition of the tenets of Advaita. Its English translation will serve to make it known to a larger circle of readers and thus extend its usefulness.

The philosophy of the Advaita school is beyond a doubt the most satisfactory exposition of the transcendental relationship between the human soul and cosmic consciousness. Its all-encompassing quality is the message that the world desperately needs today to put an end to all internecine differences.

The Advaita philosophy is subtle and needs a sincere application by the student. In the past, the difficulty was compounded by the fact that the medium in which it was conveyed was generally classical Sanskrit, not known to the majority of the people. Only during the last four centuries have works in Tamil imparting Advaita philosophy begun to appear. Out of these thirty or more works, the best known is Tandavaraya Swamis KaivalyaNavaneeta, The Cream of Liberation.

The work is presented in the form of a discussion between an earnest student and an enlightened preceptor. The great merit of this book consists of the lucid manner in which the subtle and abstract principles of this school of philosophy are presented with a number of examples. There is no doubt that the earnest seeker who studies this scripture will get a lucid understanding of Advaita philosophy and have all lurking doubts and objections removed.

V. S. Ramanan, President, Sri Ramanasramam, India

7. Greatly afflicted by the three kinds of distress (tpatraya), intensely seeking release from bondage so as to be free from this painful existence, a disciple distinguished by long practice of the four-fold sdhana, approaches a worthy Master and prays:

8-12. Lord, Master, ocean of mercy, I surrender to you! Pray save me!

Master: Save you from what?