Darśana

The Vedantasara is based on Gaudapada’s Karika, Upadesasahasri of Adi Shankara, Panchadasi of Vidyaranya who died in 1386 A.D., and the Naishkarmayasiddhi of Suresvara. The Vedantasara presents Sutratman (text) as Viraj, the prime means to reach knowledge of Atman and Brahman. Only the liberated Self-knower realizes Brahman. Just like the Dŗg-Dŗśya-Viveka the Vedantasara adds samadhi to the triad of sravana ('hearing'), manana ('reflection') and nididhyasana ('repeated meditation'). The Vedantic position is neither pessimism nor optimism. It does not say that this world is all evil or all good. It says that our evil is of no less value than our good and our good of no more value than our evil. They are bound together. This is the world and knowing this you work with patience. These conceptions of the Vedanta must come out must remain not only in the forest not only in the cave but they must come out to work at the Bar and the Bench in the Pulpit and in the cottage of the poor man with the fishermen that are catching fish and with the students that be studying. If the fisherman thinks that he is the spirit he will be a better fisherman if the student thinks he is the spirit he will be a better student. If the lawyer thinks that he is the spirit he will be a better lawyer and so on.

This book is on Samkhya philosophy, one of the important pillars of the six systems of Indian philosophy. It says that the non-entity can never be made an entity. The work includes the Tattva Kaumudi of Sri Vacaspati Misra.

This title is known as a prakarana treatise of Vedanta philosophy. The special feature of this book is the detailed description of the various kinds of samadhi. Devanagri text with English translation and notes.