My dwellings on Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya ji's Advait Philosophy.

India truly is the birthplace of spiritualism. 

Here great philosophers, mystics and sages, through their written and spoken words, have tried to break the shackles of illusions (भ्रम) that bind the humanity, shown the path of liberation (मोक्ष). 

Few days back I elaborated on Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya ji's philosophy of "Advaita Yoga" in a function organized by Sanatan Samaj, a prominent religious organization. 

Many of my friends have insisted since then that I should write a Facebook post on Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya ji's philosophy so that more people, especially from the contemporary generation, could become familiar with the great philosopher's enlightening views. 

Though I have read almost all the works of Adi Shankaracharya ji, the core of His philosophy can be summed up in His following lines (श्लोक) : 

ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या जीवो ब्रह्मैव नापरः । 

The above lines (श्लोक) explicitly states three things : 

(𝗮) 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 : According to Shankaracharya ji, this world before our eyes originates from Brahm. Different forms of species, landscapes are only because of Brahm (Universal Consciousness). Brahm not only causes this world but also sustains it. At an appropriate time, this world ultimately dissolves in the Brahm. He calls Brahm as Omniscient (सर्वज्ञ) and Omnipotent (सर्वशक्तिमान). 

Brahm can be formless (निराकार) or it can take any form (साकार) like Lord Krishna. 

(𝗯) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝘀 "𝘂𝗻𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹" : Adi Shankaracharya ji has used the word "mithya" (मिथ्या) for this world. It means that as long as one is ignorant, this world appears real. But as soon as one gains enlightenment, one clearly perceives it as unreal, fake, nothing more than a mirage in a desert. 

Unlike the Brahm or living entity (जीवात्मा), this world changes every moment. So how can it be called as real! 

One's thoughts, one's opinions, one's concepts about certain things changes over time. 

People also change with time. Sometimes one's good friend turns into an enemy or an enemy turns into a good friend. 

With time, a backward remote village transforms into a metropolitan, an extremely poor person can wallow in luxuries. 

Anything can happen in this ever changing world! 

(𝗰) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 (जीवात्मा) : Brahm is like a vast bottomless sea while all the living entities are like roaring rivers. According to Adi Shankaracharya ji, a living entity can never find peace in material world. It can find tranquility only when it merges with it's Source or Brahm. 

Only then the sole objective of human life would be achieved. 

Only then there would be freedom from the cycle of birth & death. 

Only then there would be liberation (मोक्ष). 

~ Sanjay Gargish ~