An Indian friend forwarded me an e-mail from his doctor-friend who introduced a beautiful video with a hymn by Adi Shankara:
“Both the videos are similar. Please insert the name of the God that you worship in place of “Shiva” at the end of each stanza. Adi Shankara believed in no caste or religion. His God was himself (Shiva), who is none other than the God you and I worship. Call Him by any name that you want to. For those who do not understand Sanskrit, the meaning is given in English.
I find it very enchanting and beautiful. Thanks, Anand.
The introduction to the video says:
“The great Adi Shankara of the eighth century summarized the entirety of Advaita Vedanta (non-dualistic philosophy) in six stanzas. When a young boy of eight, while wandering in the Himalayas, seeking to find his guru, he encountered a sage who asked him, “Who are you?” the boy answered with these stanzas, which are known as “Nirvana Shatakam” or “Atma Shatakam.” “Nirvana” is complete equanimity, peace, tranquility, freedom and joy. “Atma” is the True Self. The sage the boy was talking to was Swami Govindapada Acharya, who was, indeed, the teacher he was looking for.”
These few verses can be of tremendous value to progress in contemplation practices that lead to Self-Realization.”
