Sarvvedant Siddhant Sar Sangraha - Book Summary

This is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Sarva Vedanta Siddhanta Sara Sangraha," authored by Adi Shankaracharya, as presented in the provided Gujarati text.

Book Title: Sarva Vedanta Siddhanta Sara Sangraha (સર્વવેદાંત-સિદ્ધાંત-સારસંગ્રહ) Author: Adi Shankaracharya (ભગવાન શંકરાચાર્ય) Translator: Girjashankar Mayashankar Shastri (જ.સા.ચી. ગિરજાશંકર મયાશંકર) Publisher: Sastu Sahitya Vardhak Karyalay (સસ્તું સાહિત્ય વર્ધક કાર્યાલય) Theme: This work is a profound exposition of the core principles of Vedanta philosophy, aiming to elucidate the ultimate truth of reality and the path to liberation. It is presented in the form of a dialogue between a Guru and a disciple, a common pedagogical method in Indian philosophical traditions.

Key Sections and Concepts:

The text is structured to guide the seeker from the initial qualifications for spiritual pursuit to the ultimate realization of Brahman. The summary below outlines the major themes covered:

Mangalacharan (Invocation): The text begins with invocations to Lord Govinda (Guru), the Atman, and Lord Ganesha, seeking blessings for the successful completion of the work.
Fourfold Purported Connection (Anubandha Chatustaya): The text establishes the fundamental components of any philosophical treatise:
- Adhikari (Competent Seeker): Defines the ideal student as one who is learned, possesses Viveka (discrimination between the real and unreal), Vairagya (dispassion), possesses the six virtues (Shama, Dama, Uparati, Titiksha, Shraddha, Samadhana), and possesses Mumukshutva (intense desire for liberation).
- Vishaya (Subject Matter): Identifies the subject as the oneness of the individual soul (Jivatma) and the supreme Self (Brahman) – the pure Consciousness.
- Sambandha (Relationship): The relationship between the knower and the known, and between the Sruti (scriptures) and the knowledge of this oneness.
- Prayojana (Purpose): The ultimate goal is the direct experience of this oneness, leading to immediate liberation from the cycle of birth and death (Samsara).
The Fourfold Means of Attainment (Sadhana Chatustaya):
- Viveka (Discrimination): The ability to discern the eternal (Brahman) from the non-eternal (the world, the body, senses, etc.). This is elaborated by discussing the impermanence of worldly phenomena and the eternal nature of Brahman as the cause of all.
- Vairagya (Dispassion): Detachment from all worldly and heavenly pleasures, recognizing their impermanent and ultimately unsatisfactory nature. The text vividly describes the sufferings and imperfections of life at various stages (childhood, youth, old age, illness, death, hell, heaven) to foster this dispassion.
- Shat Sampatti (Six Virtues):
  - Shama: Control of the mind, keeping it fixed on the Self.
  - Dama: Control of the senses.
  - Uparati: Ceasing from worldly actions.
  - Titiksha: Endurance of hardships.
  - Shraddha: Faith in the teachings of the Guru and scriptures.
  - Samadhana: Mental equilibrium and concentration.
- Mumukshutva (Desire for Liberation): The intense longing for freedom from Samsara.
The Nature of Reality (Brahman):
- Brahman as the Sole Reality: The text emphasizes that Brahman is the only true, eternal, and unchanging reality.
- Maya and Avidya: The perceived world and the individual self (Jiva) are products of Maya (illusion) and Avidya (ignorance).
- The Pancha Koshas (Five Sheaths): The text explains the concept of the five sheaths that cover the Atman – Annamaya (food sheath), Pranamaya (vital force sheath), Manomaya (mind sheath), Vijnanamaya (intellect sheath), and Anandamaya (bliss sheath). It explains how the Atman is distinct from all these sheaths.
- Ishvara and Jiva: Ishvara (the universal Self, Brahman with Maya) and Jiva (the individual self, Brahman with Avidya) are explained as ultimately one with Brahman. Ishvara is the creator, sustainer, and destroyer of the universe through His inherent power (Shakti). Jiva, due to Avidya, experiences bondage and suffering.
- The Atman: The Atman is described as pure Consciousness, the witness, unborn, eternal, unchanging, and the substratum of all existence. It is beyond all attributes and dualities.
The Method of Realization:
- Shravana, Manana, Nididhyasana: The text outlines the importance of listening to the scriptures from a qualified Guru (Shravana), reflecting on their meaning with reasoning (Manana), and deeply meditating on the truth (Nididhyasana).
- Jnana Bhoomikas (Stages of Knowledge): The process of acquiring Self-knowledge is described in seven stages: Shubh-eccha (desire for good), Vicharana (enquiry), Tanumanasi (thinning of the mind), Sattvapatti (attainment of Sattva), Asamsakti (non-attachment), Padarthabhavana (realization of reality), and Turiya (transcendental state).
- Adhyaropa and Apavada: The Guru explains the concept of Adhyaropa (superimposition of the unreal onto the real) and Apavada (negation of the superimposed to reveal the real) as the method to understand the truth.
- The Mahavakyas: The text implies the significance of Mahavakyas like "Tat Tvam Asi" (Thou Art That) in realizing the non-duality of Brahman and Atman.
- The Nature of Liberation (Moksha): Liberation is not something to be attained, but rather the realization of one's already existing true nature as Brahman, by removing the veil of ignorance.
The Role of the Guru: The text places immense importance on the Guru, describing the qualities of an ideal Guru and the necessity of surrendering to him for receiving the highest knowledge.
Discrimination between Atman and Anatman: The text emphasizes the crucial distinction between the Atman (the Self) and Anatman (the non-self, i.e., body, mind, senses, etc.). It details how identifying with the Anatman leads to bondage, while realizing the Atman leads to liberation.
The Nature of the Bondage: The text explains that bondage is due to ignorance (Avidya) and the resulting misidentification with the non-self. This ignorance has two powers: Avriti (concealment of the true nature of the Self) and Vikshepa (projecting the false world onto the Self).
The Path of Knowledge (Jnana Yoga): The entire text is a guide towards Jnana Yoga, the path of knowledge, which leads to the ultimate realization of the non-dual Brahman.

Overall Message:

"Sarva Vedanta Siddhanta Sara Sangraha" is a systematic and comprehensive guide to understanding and realizing the ultimate truth of Vedanta. It emphasizes the need for diligent spiritual practice, ethical conduct, intellectual discrimination, and unwavering devotion to the Guru. The ultimate goal is to transcend the illusory world of duality and realize the inherent oneness with Brahman, achieving liberation (Moksha). The text, through its structured dialogue and profound explanations, aims to dispel ignorance and lead the seeker to the highest spiritual state of being.