Overview

Sankara is one of those great souls who - like Parmenides, Plato, Plotinus and others - appear on this planet from time to time, to propound Principles of a universal order and to act as precise and steadfast reference points. Sankara dedicated his short but intense life (788-820) to the noble aim of revivifying the Vedic tradition in a time of confusion and crisis, and he achieved the greatest synthesis and harmonisation of the whole of Indian philosophical thought. In presenting this book, Short Works, that include some of the many prakaranas (Treatises) and stotras (Hymns) composed by Sankara or attributed to him, our decision was to let the verses speak for themselves. However, we have left those commentaries which present aspects of the Teaching that might be unknown to the readers who meet Sankara for the first time. The Treatises explain, from a philosophical and metaphysical perspective, some of the expressions found in the Upanisads. A good example is the atmabodha, a significant text which comprises the fundamental principles of Advaita (Non-duality) and constitutes an introduction for all who wish to comprehend this Teaching. In this work Sankara shows how knowledge/vidya of a metaphysical order is the means par excellence for freeing us from the ignorance/avidya concerning the nature of Being. Noteworthy is the 'Introduction' to Vakyavrtti, in which are expounded, with a terminology appropriate to Western Philosophy, the principles of traditional Metaphysics, so as to provide a 'reading key' for understanding the essential teaching of Non-duality, the foundation of all Sankara work. The best-known Hymns in the collection include Sivo'ham, in which Sankara, following the manner of the Sages of the Upanisads in using the form of negation (neti neti), points to one's identity with Siva; Daksinamurti, in which Siva, wearing the garments of a meditating young ascetic, transmits the teaching in silence; and Bhaja Govindam, which is one of the most celebrated lyric poems dedicated to Krsna. But all the Works presented here are - in their philosophical content - beautiful and incisive.

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SANKARA has been one of the greatest philosophers of India. He dedicated his brief and intense life (788-820) to re-establish the authority of the Sruti, to codify the Advaita Vedanta, the doctrine of Non-duality, and to anchor the Metaphysical Tradition of the Vedas through the foundation of monasteries (mathas) and monastic orders. With his bhashya (commentary) to the Upanisads, the Brahmasutra, and the Bhagavadgita and with his own writings, Sankara has profoundly influenced not only India's philosophical development, but that of the entire world. After graduating in Modern Languages from Cambridge University, Arthur embarked upon a teaching career in both the public and the private sectors. What he enjoyed most was the ten-year period he spent teaching English to overseas students in Central London.His interest in languages led him to join others who were engaged on a project to translate from Latin the twelve volumes of letters written by the fifteenth-century philosopher-priest Marsilio Ficino. From Arthur's commitment to Plato came a set of five volumes that offer the English reader the chance to study many of Ficino's commentaries to Plato's dialogues.Arthur has long been attracted by the Sanskrit language, in which he tutored for many years and led courses in Sydney and Auckland. He has produced A Mahabharata Companion, which is a guide to the world's longest poem, and he is particularly fascinated by the etymological connections that link English, Latin, and Greek to the Sanskrit language.His other publications include children's guides to spelling, mathematics, and English grammar.

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