ADI SANKARACHARYA’S   ATMA BODHA

                                                   QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE STUDY OF THE TEXT

Tapobhih  Kshina  papanam  Santanam  Vitaraginam

Mumukshunam  Apekshyoyam   Atma bodho vidhiyathe

 

Sankara himself prescribes certain qualifications and criteria for the student who wants to study and attain the KNOWLWDGE OF THE SELF OR ATMA BODHA.  It is not as if anyone can read the text and understand and realize Knowledge. Being the highest Knowledge, those who want to attain it should have very high qualifications to understand. An elementary class student cannot sit in a class of research and feel at home. The syllabus will be different and difficult and the aspirant will feel like a fish out of water. A proper maturity of mind is essential for understanding the Vedantic principles enunciated by the great teacher Sankara. The qualities required to approach ATMA BODHA are very difficult to attain. Unless one has these qualities it is impossible to think of attaining KNOWLEDGE of the self! What are those qualities and who are those blessed individuals that can attain the knowledge of the self? Sankara clearly states in the first stanza of his great work the types of people who are eminently suited to acquire the Knowledge of the self. Sankara says:

                               “I compose the ATMA BODHA, the treatise of the Knowledge  of the SELF for those who have purified themselves by austerities and are peaceful in heart and calm, who are free from cravings and are desirous of liberation.”

There are four types of individuals in society. 1 people in sorrow and difficulties who want relief (Arthi) 2 those who want money and other things ( Artharthi) 3 Jignasu ( Pious and theistic) and 4 Mumukshu  (seeker of liberation or Moksha)  Atma Bodha  is, therefore, intended for one who wants emancipation  of the individuality from all its sense of bondage. Not only this, the four requisites are 1 the discrimination of the Real and the un Real; 2 Detachment from the  unreal ; 3 goodness and calmness; 4  compelling desire for Self re discovery. Evidently, Atma Bodha is not intended for the ordinary common man. He does not know what Tapas is. He is a blend of all the sins committed knowingly or unwittingly. He is devoid of peace or santam  because of worries and difficulties. He is buffeted by waves of desires and other senses. Last of all he is drowned in the sea of samsara and dragged down by the attachments he has developed.  He never thinks of emancipation or moksha or liberation.

Knowledge can be attained through reading books. But knowledge without proper application is useless. Mere book knowledge is utterly useless in the study of philosophy when the man enters the field of activity. An earnest seeker should digest the knowledge  gained  until it grows into convictions fit to be turned into actions.  Living in self control and an attempt to evolve into a diviine being is termed as Tapas. All spiritual activities like pilgrimage, fasting, japa, Dhyana and others  are different types of Tapas. They help in the reduction of sins.  So Atma Bodha, according to Sankara, is for one who has reduced his wrong tendencies through tapas, who has achieved more mental calmness, who has controlled  his desires, and  who is a sincere seeker of liberation from personal bondage.

 As the subject of the Text is ATMA BODHA or KNOWLEDGE OF THE SELF, it requires a standard of personality in the student. It does not disqualify the student from reading the text.  But he has to develop the qualities needed to read the text and understand it. Whoever equips himself with the needed qualities is welcome to the study and understanding of ATMA BODHA.