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The summary of non-dualistic philosophy- Atma-Shatakam

Posted on Sep 25th, 2008 by Eli : Swami Eli
Shankaracharya0
Aatma Shatakam

The non-dualistic philosophy (Advaita Vedanta) has been beautifully summarized by the great Hindu scholar and philosopher Ādi Śankarācārya in just six stanzas. This famous poem is popularly known as Atma-Shatakam (also known as Nirvana Shatakam).

 

According to the legends, Ādi Śankarācārya, at a young age of eight years,  traveled towards North India from Kerala in search of his guru. While wandering in the Himalayas, seeking to find his guru, he encountered a sage who asked him, "Who are you?” He replied with an extempore Composition (the Atma-Shatakam) that brought out the Advaita Vedanta philosophy – the essence of which is that "Nirvana" is complete equanimity, peace, tranquility, freedom and joy. "Atma" is the True Self.  The sage the boy was talking to was Swami Govindapada Acharya, who was, indeed, the teacher he was looking for.

 

Mano Buddhi Ahankara Chitta Ninaham

Nacha Shrotra Jihve Na Cha Ghrana Netre

Nacha Vyoma Bhoomir Na Tejo Na Vayu

Chidananda Rupa Shivoham Shivoham

 

I am not mind, nor intellect, nor ego,

nor the reflections of inner self (chitta).

I am not the five senses.

I am beyond that.

I am not the ether, nor the earth,

nor the fire, nor the wind .

I am indeed,

That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva,

love and pure consciousness.

 

Na Cha Prana Samjno Na Vai Pancha Vayu

Na Va Saptadhatur Na Va Pancha Koshah

Na Vak Pani Padau Na Chopastha Payu

Chidananda Rupa Shivoham Shivoham

 

Neither can I be termed as energy (Prana) ,

nor five types of breath (vayus),

nor the seven material essences,

nor the five coverings (pancha-kosha).

Neither am I the five instruments of elimination,

procreation, motion, grasping, or speaking.

I am indeed,

That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva,

love and pure consciousness.

 

Na Me Dvesha Ragau Na Me Lobha Mohau

Mado Naiva Me Naiva Matsarya Bhavah

Na Dharmo Na Chartho Na Kamo Na Mokshah

Chidananda Rupa Shivoham Shivoham

 

I have no hatred or dislike,

nor affiliation or liking,

nor greed,

nor delusion,

nor pride or haughtiness,

nor feelings of envy or jealousy.

I have no duty (dharma),

nor any money,

nor any desire (kama),

nor even liberation (moksha).

I am indeed,

That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva,

love and pure consciousness.

 

Na Punyam Na Papam Na Saukhyam Na Dukham

Na Mantro Na Teertham Na Vedo Na Yajnaha

Aham Bhojanam Naiva Bhojyam Na Bhokta

Chidananda Rupa Shivoham Shivoham

 

I have neither virtue (Punyam),

nor vice (Papam).

I do not commit sins or good deeds,

nor have happiness or sorrow,

pain or pleasure.

I do not need mantras, holy places,

scriptures (Vedas), rituals or sacrifices (yagnas).

I am none of the triad of

the observer or one who experiences,

the process of observing or experiencing,

or any object being observed or experienced.

I am indeed,

That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva,

love and pure consciousness.

 

Na Me Mrityu Shanka Na Me Jati Bhedah

Pita Naiva Me Naiva Mata Na Janma

Na Bandhur Na Mitram Gurur Naiva Shishyah

Chidananda Rupa Shivoham Shivoham

 

I do not have fear of death,

as I do not have death.

I have no separation from my true self,

no doubt about my existence,

nor have I discrimination on the basis of birth.

I have no father or mother,

nor did I have a birth.

I am not the relative,

nor the friend,

nor the guru,

nor the disciple.

I am indeed,

That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva,

love and pure consciousness. 

 

Aham Nirvikalpo Nirakara Roopaha

Vibhur Vyapya Sarvatra Sarvendriyanam

Sada Me Samatvam Na Muktir Na Bandhah

Chidananda Rupa Shivoham Shivoham

 

I am all pervasive.

I am without any attributes,

and without any form.

I have neither attachment to the world,

nor to liberation (mukti).

I have no wishes for anything

because I am everything,

everywhere,

every time,

always in equilibrium.

I am indeed,

That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva,

love and pure consciousness.


Access_public Access: Public 9 Comments Print views (1,264)  
about 4 hours later
Sherrilene said

Oh, I do like! Quite a bit. I am now getting the various terminoligies correct at last - so this is what non-dualism is about! Shiva is clearly 'someone' I would like to know :) Thanks for this blog Eli. '

I do not have fear of death,

as I do not have death.

I am still growing, don't get me wrong, but I can definitely resonate with this bit at a shot!

Blessings, friend, Sherri

HummingBird : Joy
about 4 hours later
HummingBird said

how wonderful

nameless…

doing nothing.. yet nothing is undone…

emaho

FastDart : Peaceful Arrow
about 5 hours later
FastDart said
Nicole : wakingdreamer
about 8 hours later
Nicole said

I'm listening to the beautiful singing on the video while contemplating the refrain

I am indeed,

That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva,

love and pure consciousness.

Thank you, my dear friend…

Shameslaya : Tantrika Kosmocentria
about 9 hours later
Shameslaya said

Nice one Eli. Thanx for this. The purple lettering is pretty groovy, too.

So sorry you are in pain (even if You are not so it's okay after a fashion. Get well soon.)

I was thinking that Shankara lived on the planet same time as Europe struggled through the Dark Ages….how worlds-apart is that?

The sense of separation…I am Shiva…I am not fire, earth, senses, anything in Prakriti etc still pervades these stanzas and other Advaita works for me…they have more of a dualistic feel because they continue….as with Dvaita Vedanta or the Yoga-Samkhya schools….to emphasise division…so they do not float my boat, although they are beautifully crafted and inspired and I understand that Shankara is explaining that one does not identify with the things in prakriti rather than the idea that one is dualistically divided from them….

Although nonduality goes beyond categorisation, I do like the pointing fingers which emphasise equation and inclusion….Nagarjuna, who predated Shankara by about 600 years, if memory serves,  wrote that “Emptiness (Shiva, purusa) is Form (Shakti, prakriti), Form is Emptiness” and I personally prefer to study works based on this formulation these days.

My favourite lines; “I am none of the triad of the observer or one who experiences the process of observing or experiencing or an object being observed or experienced”…..now that does flip me into Witness…..

Ciaou for now..Jon xx

Eli : Swami
about 9 hours later
Eli said

 Sherri,Anna,Lars,Nicole, and Jon.. Thank you very much for your warm footprints.

Jon, you raise a very important point, one on which I wish we could have views of Meenakshi too. Unfortunately, Meenakshi seems unable to be on my blog/profile page. For some strange reason, she is thrown out whenever she tries to come…

I reserve my comments on your words, perhaps for a new blog, the point you raise is far too deep.

Hey Jon, how about YOU writing a blog, complementing this one, and we could cross reference these two… deal?

vaibhav : ascent
2 days later
vaibhav said

Hi Eli
your blog is good and insightful. I am eager for your new blog.

Attainment : Cheyenne Steele
5 months later
Attainment said

Oh, Eli!  You have hit me in the heart!!!!  I have spent many years worshiping Lord Shiva, every morning chanting the 108 names of both the Lord Shiva and the Divine Mother!  This music is stunning to me…making me dizzy with love, drunk with love.  O, Shiva!  O, Shiva!  Thank you for inviting me to see your blog!  Dipping me in the Wine of the Divine!   I feel the spinning, the bliss, the Lord Shiva!



Thank you, Eli!!!
Thank you!



Love, love
Cheyenne 

Eli : Swami
5 months later
Eli said

Dear Cheyenne,
I feel blessed to have been instrumental in offering you the divine bliss. I don’t deserve your thanks, I was only an instrument..
let us both bow and thank HIM
Fondly
Eli

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