Vivekachudamani | The Path of Wisdom

Verses: 16, 18, 51, 375, 424, 472, 517, 518

-The most significant problem in spiritual life is the lack of a discerning mind.
-Dispassion and spiritual awareness are essential in spiritual life, just as two wings are necessary for a bird to fly in the air.
-The problem of spiritual slumber and the need for spiritual awakening
-The need to develop a natural capacity to instinctively avoid wrong associations
-Re-capitulation of the seven questions (verse: 51, class 3)
-Going beyond desire, egotism and mind-functions
-‘Krtartha’(कृतार्थता) and ‘Krtakrtyata’ (कृतकृत्यता) in life
-The disciple's final salutations to the teacher

Verses: 145, 142, 143, 138

- King Parikshit's story
- Unexpected traps in spiritual life
- The ocean of worldliness: birth, disease and death
- Controlling the mind and the clear perception of the intellect
- How the supreme realization can be attained through disciplining the mind and purification of the intellect
- Direct realization is the goal of life

Verses: 320, 325, 326

-Evolution from idea/faith/concept to real experience
-How all delusions vanish with the dawn of Advaitic experience
-Need for constant vigilance and alertness in spiritual life
-The great statement ('Mahavakya'): 'TATTVAMASI' ( तत्त्वमसि) explained
-Analysis of the two 'padarthas' (पदार्थ) : 'tat' (तत्) and 'tvam' (त्वम्)
-Reference to 'Nimi-Navayogi-Samvada (the dialogue between the philosopher king Nimi and Nine Sages from the Bhagavata Purana)

Verses: 143, 145, 138, 129, etc.

Questions 1, 2, and 3: "What is bondage?" - Its mystery
-The mystery of Maya. How does it work in our life?
Answer: Concealment of our true nature and false projection.
-The way out of Maya: sadhana-chatushtaya (साधनचतुष्टप, the four spiritual disciplines: Ref: class:2), ‘shravana’ (श्रवण), `manana’ (मनन), `nididhyasana’ (निदिध्यासन) & devotion (bhakti), and eventually, through Moksha.
-Atman, the non-participating witness
-Turning the flashlight into our own mind, being a witness of our own life, our own emotions, thoughts, impulses, attitudes and feelings
-Linking ourselves to the transcendental
-`Satipatthana sutta’ Buddha's discourse on mindfulness

Verses: 126, 127, 128, Q&A verses: 125, 134

The 6th question: `What is Paramatman?'
Answer: 11 verses beginning with the 127th
-I, the witness of the three states of consciousness is distinct from the five sheaths. ('panchakoshavilakshana' (पञ्चकोशविकलक्षण))
-Atman is the illuminator of all objects - the light of all lights – ‘Jyotisham jyoti’ (ज्योतिषम् ज्योति) (Jyotirbrahmanam - Brhadaranyaka Upanishad)
-The purpose of all spiritual practices, the teacher, the scriptures, etc. is only to remove the obstacles that stand in the way of our spiritual liberation.
-Atman is self-evident.
-Advaita does not reject or deny other paths.

Verses: 110, 111, 113.

The 5th question: What is anatman?
Answer to the 5th question continues:
- Analysis of the Non Self (anatman):
- Karana-sharira
- Maya: the beginningless and the indescribable
- Maya: beyond description
- The mystery of creation: the Advaitic perspective:
- The nature of the world and its origin.
Avidya, Sakti, composed of three gunas: sattva, rajas and tamas.
Negative theology (Via Negativa) of Advaita Vedanta
The three powers in Maya:
- The power of false projection (vikshepa-sakti (विक्षेपशक्ती))
- The power of concealing the true nature of the reality (avarana-sakti (आवरणशक्ती)).
- Jnana reflected in the sattva-guna, one of the three constituents of Maya.

Verses: 51, 71, 89, 98, 99

The 4th question: 'How shall I be liberated?'
Answer: The means to attain spiritual liberation:
- Detachment and withdrawal from all the impermanent things.
- `shama’ (शम), dama (दम), titiksha (तितिक्षा), giving up of all karmas, etc.
The 5th question: What is anatman?
Answer: Elaborate Analysis of the Non-Self (anatman):
-Descriptions of sthula-sharira (gross body) & sukshma-sharira (subtle body).
-The journey of life does not end with death.
-Death is only a transition point in the journey of life.
-The quest for Truth is a unique spiritual privilege.

Verses: 16, 17, 19-30, 34, 35

- The qualifications and disciplines for spiritual seekers are: `sadhana-chatushtaya’ (साधनचतुष्टप) (four) & `shravana’ (श्रवण), `manana’ (मनन), and `nididhyasana’ (निदिध्यासन) (three).
-The importance of a strong desire for spiritual liberation (`mumukshutvam’ (मुमुक्षुत्वम्))
-The importance of dispassion and renunciation (`vairagya’ (वैराग्य )) and an intense desire for enlightenment and spiritual liberation.
-Definitions of Bhakti
-The ideal Guru and the ideal disciple
-How can we develop a pure and refined intellect?
-The importance of developing the spiritual sensitivity to accept what is good for us and reject what is not good.
-The importance of developing a divine discontentment.

Verses: 1, 2, 3, 4, 11

-'Viveka-chudamani' as an introductory text on Advaita Vedanta.
-Advaita is the highest philosophy and the highest spiritual experience.
-The means and practices to reach that experience
-The uniqueness and privilege of human birth in contrast to the millions of species in creation
-Going beyond our physical nature
-Worshiping the senses without seeking the higher spiritual goal is spiritual suicide.
-Reflection and contemplation on the 'Atman', the Absolute spiritual reality is the only means for liberation.
-The purpose of all actions is the purification of the mind.