[Advaita-l] The unique characteristics of the tradition of Sankara bhagavad pada

[Michael Chandra Cohen]

The tradition of Sankara Bhagavad Pada has these totally unique
characteristics.

   1.

   Because the absolute reality is bereft of any multiplicity and is also
   not the object of speech or mind in the Upanishads, this absolute reality
   is taught by the method of deliberate superimposition followed by
   negation. This is the method that is accepted in Sankara’s sampradaya
   2.

   Following this method, in the Self it is accepted that there is someone
   who is inquiring into the truth and that there is an object to be inquired
   into. This distinction is temporarily accepted. Because this absolute
   reality is the “Self of all” and therefore is universally evident. This
   method of accepting that there should be an inquiry into Brahman becomes
   understandable in this context
   3.

   The Upanishad’s only object is to teach the absolute nature of the self
   which is free from the totality of the Universe and it is not primarily to
   teach action or some type of injunctions as is accepted in all other
   interpretations of Vedanta.
   4.

   Because the Upanisad completely destroys, without any remains all of
   avidya which is in fact the cause of distinction such as knower known
   knowledge etc. and this occurs only through the direct experience that is
   called “brahmajnana” that arises only from Upanishadic teaching. That
   destruction of avidya is accepted as the supreme goal of life.
   5.

   It is only the reasoning that is offered by the scriptures as well as
   worldly reasoning that is accepted in Sankara’s Vedantic tradition. That
   only serves as an aid to direct experience to Truth. This tradition does
   not accept independent reasoning.
   6.

   By merely determining the true nature of Upanishadic knowledge one
   becomes kritakrityata, he has accomplished all that is to be accomplished.
   And it is not the case in Shankara Vedanta that after the knowledge of the
   Upanishadic sentences has arisen there remains something more to be done.


Sri Swami Satchidanandendra Saraswatiji, Intro to Sutra Bhasya Artha Tattva
Vivedani.