Search for Reality N Hariharan

Sankara is a living force for all time to come.

Sankara’s Advaita precept is unequalled for its philosophical depth and logical strength. His greatness lies in the intensity, and splendour, of thought with which the search for the only reality is made. He was a mighty intellectual, a great dialectician, of calm judgment and broad tolerance. He taught us to love Truth, respect reason and realize the purpose of life.

Sankara was a man of action, a social idealist par excellence. He was not a dreaming idealist, but a practical visionary, a philosopher who acted deliberately. He is therefore a living force for all time to come. He is one among the immortals.

Illuminating Vision

Advaita is accepted for its speculative sweep and logical subtlety. There is more philosophy than religion in it. Sankara’s penetrating mind and profound spirituality could alone expound this doctrine convincingly with consistency and thoroughness. Through metaphysical thinking and austerity he had an illuminating vision of the Eternal Truth.

Though Sankara left the world very young (at 32) he has left for the people of the world a rich legacy – many works which authoritatively proclaim his conclusions. His thoughts do not need any elucidation by other scholars. He wrote a good many commentaries, vartikas into which ordinary men as well as intellectuals can delve deep and grasp the principles of his system of thought.

No New Pathfinder

Sankara is not a new pathfinder. He followed the precepts or concepts of the Vedas, Smritis and Puranas to analyze and synthesize the myriad mantras and slokas and build a consistently rational system of Vedanta. In his works he emphasized the need for various steps to be followed and the commands of the Sastras experienced personally to reach the stage of intellectual and infinite comprehension of supreme Truth.

© "Tattvaloka" (April/May, 1988) published by Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal Education Trust, Abhinav Centre, # 4 (Old # 19), Co-operative Colony, Chennai 600 018. Website: www.tattvaloka.com. Reprinted with permission.

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