Ātmabōdha

Atmabodha, meaning Self-knowledge or Self-awareness, is an exceptionally lucid and readable work of Shankaracharya. Consisting of sixty-eight verses or shlokas, it is in a sense a simple summary of his entire Vedantic structure of thought, intended, it would seem, as a basic primer for his students and followers. The text follows a clearly elaborated doctrine, starting with knowledge as a key to liberation, the nautre of the Atman within us, the assertion of the pervasive and attribute-less nature of Brahman, and the path towards the realisation of the complete identity between the Atman and Brahman.

The very name of the book ‘Self-Knowledge’ suggests its perennial interest and universal value. Self-Knowledge is vital. All other forms of knowledge are of secondary importance; for a man’s action, feeling, reasoning, and thinking are dependent upon his idea of the Self. His view of life will be either materialistic or spiritual according to his conception of himself. Therefore it behooves everyone to cultivate Self-Knowledge at all times. Self-Knowledge serves the practical purpose of destroying pain and suffering (which are always caused by ignorance of the Self) and also the positive end of helping everyone enjoy supreme peace and blessedness here and always.