Looking Deeply

Translation and notes on Sri Sankara's Vivekachudamani by Swami Tyagananda.

Vivekachudamani, a favorite of Vedanta students, follows a systematic scheme in its presentation but, because its 580 verses are not subdivided into chapters or sections, getting a grasp on the text becomes a challenge for many. For that reason the author has divided the text into four sections: The first section is introductory. It sets the stage for a dialogue between the student and the teacher. The second section applies discernment to distill the meaning of "this" (world), "that" (the Reality beyond), and "me" (the individual). This is done as a preparation for an analysis of the Upanishadic teaching: "You are That," which is the focus of section three. In the concluding section we read the exchange between the newly enlightened student and the teacher who is delighted to see the transformation.