Adi Shankara was a renowned Indian sage who consolidated Advaita Vedanta or non-dualism. He lived from roughly 788 to 820, travelling throughout India and re-establishing non-dualism and the value of monasticism. He wrote extensive commentary on the Brahma Sutras and Bhagavad Gita and won epic debates with other philosophers. His 4 primary students founded the 4 Shankaracharya seats (maths) in the cardinal directions of India. They operate to this day.
The core tenet of non-duality is that Atman and Brahman are one and the same. Ayam Atma Brahma.
The world is unreal
Only Brahman is real
The world is Brahman
The paradox of non-duality, often lost in modern neo-advaitism, is the third line. While many confuse non-duality with Self Realization, realizing Self or Atman is not realizing Brahman. True non-duality arises with the flowering of Brahman late in Unity. Only when Atman is recognized as Brahman and even the subtle duality of existence is resolved does full non-duality arise.
Today, some aspects of Shankara’s teachings have become over-emphasized. Like that Maya means Illusion or that you have to be celibate to make spiritual progress.
But there’s another aspect that Shankara himself over-emphasized early in his life that is also still over-emphasized today. That’s the dry emptiness of Shiva. By itself, pure existence is a boundless empty void. This can certainly be one way Self Realization is experienced. But this is not complete.
There is a story told of Shankara walking by the water. One foot gets stuck and he is mysteriously unable to pull it free. He calls to a passing woman who chides him, saying it’s just an illusion. He realizes this is the divine mother herself. He goes on to write the poem Ananda Lahari.
Only when Shiva is united with Shakti does he have the power to create
Without her, Even an inch he cannot move…
Thereafter, Shankara speaks to the fullness of what is, of both aspects of the divine. That’s a lesson some have not yet recognized today.
Davidya
Last Updated on May 16, 2025 by Davidya
Brilliant. again.
Davidya, this is a magnificent article. All the more fascinating because I know this about you: You are writing from your personal experience.
No braggin’: “These are my cognitions. Hear ye, less evolved people.”
Not a bit of it.
Personally, I am not yet at that level of consciousness. I am still enjoying my current level of consciousness quite a bit, grateful for it and exploring it.
And yet, when a preview of my future is proffered so graciously, I enjoy the learning so much.
Your beautiful articles, like this one, are all the more remarkable to me, Davidya, because I spent more than a year of my life in the physical presence of my (then) guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
Countless additional hours were spent watching his videos and listening to audio recordings of his discourses.
Yet more hours were spent listening to the TM leaders and big shots at Maharishi International University, during year upon year of devoted attention to every word that was uttered, hoping that some day through the grace of God I might rise above the life I had as a Woody Allen-like character.
Why do I mention all this? Because I have heard many discourses and many commentaries.
Your voice impresses me as you serve as a messenger of truth: Part compassion, part truth of experience, and also such a profoundly helpful intent.
That way in which you experience “The world is Brahman” — and communicate about that reality — is just magnificent, Davidya.
Thanks, Scoji
Wow, Rose. High praise indeed. For me, it is simply sharing what arises.
And because I’ve been there. A Woody Allen-like character? Yup. Only in my case, there was also the unconscious dynamic of trying to be invisible. It wasn’t safe to be “seen”. Even the slow “coming out” on this blog has been a reflection of that.
So this was the Woody Allen that made a few short films but never distributed any of them. (laughs)
Apologies for the lag in responding to comments. My notification system broke. Hopefully, it’s fixed now.
Recently, I ran into Vedic references that suggest Shankara was born about 500 years before Jesus rather than after.
This is mainly due to when the Badrinath temple was restored to begin jyotirmath, the first of 4 seats Shankara established.
Badrinath and Jyotirmath, what beautiful names, of mystery and brilliance. Great post, thank you David.
You’re welcome, Kjetil.
Shankara established 4 seats for 4 Shakaracharyas, in the 4 cardinal directions of India. His 4 primary students were the first Shankaracharyas. Jyotirmath was the north seat, first hosted by Trotaka, a devotee and first of the 4 to awaken. Because of its location in the Himalayas, the location of the seat is seasonal.
Thanks, David. Trotaka was like the favourite of the four to Shankara, and the north seat is the most central, I understood? Have always wanted to go to those holy places in Himalaya, there are tours by bus to the main holy sites, including Badrinath and Jyotirmath. One TM-teacher-friend and his wife went up to Jyotirmath and saw Guru Devs chair, in a rather dusty state. Maybe one day …
I’m not sure if he was a favorite, but he was the first assigned. He was also the only devotee of the 4. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi loved to talk about him.
It seems the seat has maintained the knowledge of transcending best, although there has been a political battle over the seat since Brahmanda Saraswati passed. There are 3 separate lines claiming to be the true line.
The tourist sites are not necessarily the key sites. Some of them are difficult to access and only by foot. One fellow went to the cave where Guru Dev spent time. The area is hazardous, full of brambles and poisonous snakes. His cave is up a cliff.
People do go to Tat Wale Baba’s cave but it also has snakes.
Maharishi’s “cave” was washed away.
Interesting, thanks. Maharishi was mostly a bhakti himself, I understand?
I understood Maharishi was good friends with one of the three successors? Interesting about the caves, Maharishi was more like in a room/space underground of a house for a couple of years after Guru Devs departure? Did you also meet Tat Wale Baba in your last life, maybe, I understood you met Guru Dev? What an adventure life is!
Regards
Kjetil
Yes, Kjetil, he’s a Bhakti. He devoted his life to his guru and to awakening the world. He offered it all to his teacher.
I’m not sure if “friends” is the right word. But they had a good relationship. And he supported that line. He was Brahmananda’s secretary and wrote his wishes (will) down. And he supported the successors Guru Dev had named. However, others had an agenda and dismissed the will as it wasn’t witnessed. The Eastern seat had more political clout.
Given that Brahman is a requirement of the seat, I’m surprised others were willing to play such a game with an august seat. Prior to Guru Dev, it had been empty for over 150 years as no one was qualified. After, everyone wants it?
Yes, Maharishi’s cave was a basement room in a house he owned. David Lynch filmed it shortly before the flood that washed it away.
I don’t recall meeting Tat Wale Baba but have seen recordings. He has an amazing presence. I very much remember seeing Guru Dev as that was a pivotal moment in that life. Maharishi would have been there at the time also, as it was part of a tour. I have a print from the tour on my wall.
The impact was great enough that I was drawn back to the same tradition in this life, even though I was born on the other side of the world.
An adventure, indeed.
How fascinating that Maharishi was there to, must have been some time after 1941 then. And you came back fast to this life. I was just about unconscious when my aunt Elsebeth taught TM to me and my sister in 1984, and had not thought about meditation or anything spiritual at all, so probably have been in the vedic tradition too. It seems the very best, also considering the fantastic model from Vashishta that Lorn and you have built on. Thanks, David.
Yes, Kjetil, it was a quick turn around. Lovely you had someone in the family to teach you.
Some of it comes to us distorted by time, but there are some who have been able to keep the light on.