Author Description

In the Crest-Jewel of Wisdom Sankara summarizes the traditional path of knowledge that leads to the bliss of eternal freedom and Self-Realization. Charles Johnston’s translation is a classic which has withstood the test of time. This edition has all new Georgia 12 type for crisp clear easy reading. The other writings are: 1. The Awakening to the Self. 2. The Awakening to Reality. 3. The Essence of the Teaching. 4. The Song of the Self. Adi (the first) Sankara also known as Sankaracharya (Sankara the teacher) was one of the most prominent teachers in the religion the west calls Hinduism. Hinduism was in a great decline during the time in which Sankara lived and many view Sankara as having saved and revitalized Hinduism. Many of the modern teachings of non-duality and the path of knowledge trace their origin to or show a heavy influence from Sankara. Sankara’s work, the manuals and catechisms for learners, are complete and perfect. They really teach, quite plainly and lucidly, the first steps on the path of wisdom; they point out, with clear insistence, the qualities that are necessary to make these first steps fruitful; qualities without which the learner may remain, hesitating and halting, on the threshold, through lack of the force and moral worth which alone make any further progress possible. These necessary qualities are not difficult to understand. They are not strange psychic powers that only flatter vanity; they are not mere intellectual tricks that leave the heart cold; they are rather the simple qualities of honesty, of freedom from selfishness and sensuality – which have formed the basis of every moral code; the virtues so common and commonplace on the lips, but not quite so common in the life and character. These treatises of Sankara speak to the common understanding and moral sense in an unparalleled degree. They are an appeal to the reason that has hardly ever been equaled for clearness and simplicity by the sages of the earth. Their aim is Freedom from