Self-Knowledge

by Abhedananda

In this age of scepticism and materialism few people care to know their real Self, which is Divine and immortal. But the knowledge of the true Self has always been the principal theme of the philosophy and religion of Vedanta. Even in its most ancient writings, the Upanishads, which form portions of the Vedic Scriptures, we find how earnestly Self knowledge or Atma jnana was sought after and extolled. The great inspired seers mentioned in these Upanishads discovered and taught that knowledge of the Self lies at the root of all knowledge, whether of science, philosophy or religion. Every sincere seeker after knowledge, therefore, who desires intellectual, moral or spiritual development, must first learn to discriminate between spirit and matter, soul and body, and then realize the all knowing Divine Self who is the eternal foundation of the universe.

133 pages, Hardcover

First published August 19, 2008

About the author

Swāmi Abhedānanda (Bengali: স্বামী অভেদানন্দ), born Kaliprasad Chandra (Bengali: কালীপ্রসাদ চন্দ্র) was a sanyasin associated with the Bengali Rennaisance of Vaisnavite Vedanta. Swami Vivekananda encouraged him to head the Vedanta Society, New York in 1897, and spread the message of Vedanta, a theme on which he authored several books. In 1921 he returned to India, and the next year he traveled to Tibet to study with the lamas there. He later founded the Ramakrishna Vedanta Math in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and Darjeeling, India. At the time of his death, he was last surviving direct disciple of the 19th century mystic Sri Ramakrishna.

Reviews

[Celia Sánchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six lectures on the 'absolute" according to monism(advaita).The teachings of 'Upanishads ' presented in a nutshell.The self has formed the central theme of discussion.The monistic theory maintains that one and the scoend less self or Atman is the cause and foundation of every one of the phenomenal universe and everything that evolves from that prime-cause,goes back to that cause or source after playing the role of manifestations.

Informative read .....