A Primer on Advaita: Based on AtmajnAnopadeshavidhi of Shankara

Looking at the size and the title of this book, one may conclude that this is a basic advaita primer for beginners. But as you start reading, you will realize that this is a deeper analysis of the core advaita issue - who am I?The author peels various layers that are superimposed on Self that create the confusion of mistaken identity. He not only uses conventional metaphors like "rope and snake" but also some very unique ones like "magnet attracting iron fillings" to explain the concept of superimposition. He also points out the fallacies of some common beliefs like " Consciousness is the actual seer" or "scriptures are the only medium for realization" while explaining the real intent of the scriptures regarding these statements.The author fulfills his promise he made at the beginning on answering “who am I?”. And concludes:"To be liberated is to attain the Im - mediate and direct experiential realization of the intellectually deduced answer".King Bhagirath from Puranas brought holy Ganga River from heaven to earth for the benefit of mankind. I thank the author for bringing the esoteric message of Shankara with the commentary of Swami Anand Giri to common seekers on earth like me.Vijay

Short, well-written, and to the point, this book lives up to its name as A Primer on Advaita.Following Shankara’s style and methodology of teaching, it walks you, step-by-step, through the process of Self-inquiry, providing deep insights into the three states - awake, dream, and deep-sleep,  and concluding that they are a superimposition on the fourth, turIya, which is no other than the ever-present, immutable, shining Self!Using the analogy of the Sun whose nature is to shine, Dr. Vemuri drives home the point that, “The Self does not undergo any transformation within Itself, and remains a mere silent Witness to the intellect. But we mistakenly say that the Self is the ‘seer” when an intellect comes in Its proximity.”This book is a great resource for all non-dual practitioners, beginners and experts alike.

A precise and logical analysis of the pure and effulgent true Self in contrast to many mistaken notions of who or what we are.No doubt this provides useful guidance for one inclined to undertake this path of Advaita in their quest for truth.

This primer by Dr. Vemuri based on Shankara's AtmajnAnopadeshavidhi (teaching to bring about knowledge of Self) succeeds in the difficult task of covering the core underpinnings of Advaita in a short read. The explanation of how one can erroneously superimpose aspects of our experience (e.g., mind, intellect, life-force) onto the Self is very helpful. The analysis of the awake, dream, and deep sleep states is well-elaborated.Recommended reading for those exploring Advaita.

I've always found it difficult to explain to my curious friends what Advaita or Nonduality is. This book has now simplified that task for me. The author debunks, step-by-step, layer by layer, what we mistake ourselves to be and arrive at what we are using simple language. Although Upanishads, the Vedic Sanskrit texts of Advaita philosophy, are indispensable for knowledge, the author insists on experiencing, who we really are, first hand.

This is an exceptionally clear and clutter-free exposition of the principles of Advaita, laid out to guide the reader to confirm those principles in their own experience. The careful reader will inevitably arrive at a deep intellectual understanding of the concepts of nonduality and of the nondual nature of experience. Highly recommended, especially for those who value conciseness and clarity.

Book is very small, 58 pages. But content is great.This book is to be read many times, and type in word for better understanding and absortion.Along with this book read vakyavritti by swami jagadananda (ramakrishna mission) with atmajnanopadeshvidhi and vakya vritti of Swami Chinmayananda.Wonderful book to read, absorb and practically implement in every day life.Pranams to Adi Shankaracharya and the commentators.

I agree with other commentators that the language of this Primer is simple and direct, making the deep questions it covers - such as non-duality, Self and Intellect, the “fourth”, etc. - quite accessible and understandable. Despite the short length (62 pp.), the coverage is surprisingly comprehensive. I wholly recommend it to an educated readership interested in philosophy and spirituality. Angeles Masip.

Dr Ramesam Vemuri has a wealth of knowledge about the Advaita scriptures and this concise and very accessible work conveys the essence of these teachings in a way that will be of value to anyone who seeks to understand and apply them to their own enquiry.To express such a rich and extensive teaching in such a comprehensible way but without over-simplification is a great achievement and could only be accomplished by someone with a solid grasp of the underlying principles.

The Seers and Sages saw and spoke the Shrutis of Knowledge/Vedas which matured into Wisdom/Upanishads which in turn ultimately culminated in the philosophy of Advaita which literally means, ‘not two’; in other words, there is ‘only one’. This is a philosophy enunciated and explained by great many Masters and Shankara is the ultimate Master who expounded and expanded it through his commentaries unlike any other. The very fact that Advaita needed so many commentaries to get to know about it, means, it is beyond the comprehension of men and women who are not qualified and contemplative enough to question themselves, ‘Who am I’ and to probe further to get a satisfying and conclusive answer.This small booklet contains the essence of many big tomes in a nutshell but with good clarity to teach one to uncover and eliminate the gross outer shells to reach the subtle inner core, the Atma/the real self. Translation is a tough task; that too, especially from Telugu (the sweetened Sanskrit), into English. Many honest people of the world in general and of the west in particular show deep interest in Vedas, Upanishads and philosophically perfect Advaita. This book caters to those who care to know what exactly is ‘not two’/Advaita and what is that one which is the ‘only one’ that is real. It is a unique philosophy which starts with the fundamental question and the necessity to know oneself without which no one is qualified to question about anything else. In other words, the condition in the philosophy is, first know thyself and then try to know the rest of the world.The author Dr. Ramesam Vemuri did a commendable job with English translation of ‘AtmajnAnopadeshavidhi’ of Shankara as explained in the Telugu version by Shri K.V.Krishna Murty. Dr.Vemuri having authored a couple of books “Religion Demystified” and “Knowing-Being” and having rendered many Indian texts into English and being a regular blogger at the Advaita Vision site is a veteran of Vedanta and Advaita and is eminently fit to write on Advaita.There is no question of “who is it that can tell me who I am”. There is none but yourself to tell you who you are. It is a very interesting because, it is like inquiring oneself as to who I am, what I am, where I am, how I am, why I am. Every person irrespective of his/her interest in Advaita should know answers to such common-sense questions. There is a method to know about ‘Atma’ and the contents of this booklet in four chapters takes one through a beautiful journey witnessing on the way the unreal things first to reach the ultimate destination which is real, the only real thing, that is ‘Atma’. The self-inquiry to find answers to the classic question who am I starts with an examination of the Body declaring it as ‘not this one’, then ‘the five senses’ meeting the same fate of ‘not this one’, ‘the life force’, ‘sense of me’/aham all pass way on the way as unreal to reach the ‘supreme self’ and to know its nature vis-à-vis the intellect analysed in its various states—awake, dream and deep sleep. Honestly speaking, I had to read it twice to get to know the essence of it; doesn’t mean makes a tough reading. It is written in very simple and easy English but to understand the subject, one must mull on what is read, twice or thrice for the meaning to sink in.So, I recommend everyone who can understand English, to get this Primer on Advaita and to read it slowly contemplating on the meaning of each and every line of it to realise the supreme self that resides within oneself knowing which there is nothing to be known further. It gives one a feeling of indescribable happiness similar to what a child, who knows the answer to a question of his/her teacher in the class-room, feels. After knowing the answer to the question of ‘who am I’, one is carried into the realm of indescribable bliss. One has to experience it, feel it one-self as the one who realises his/her ‘supreme self’ goes into such an ecstatic state one cannot heave one’s heart into his/her mouth to express it to others. The ‘Atma’ is immanent, immutable and imperishable and to know the sublime and subtle meaning of it first go through this Primer, qualify yourself to delve deep into the Advaita philosophy.

It is an excellent explanation of difficult knowledge of upanishads. One can glean various topics for Manam and Nidhidhyasana and we may have aporaksha experience. Recommend several re reads to understand deeply and to reflect. Thank you Sri Vemuri