Aparokshanubhuti
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The Aparokshanubhuti (Sanskrit: अपरोक्षानुभूतिः) is a work attributed to Adi Shankara, though his authorship is doubtful.[1][2] It is a popular introductory work (prakarana grantha) that expounds Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
Etymology
Contents
- Verse 89-99 deal with prarabdha, the karmic consequences of past deeds in the present life. Whereas Shankara supports the common notion that even a jnani bears those consequences in the present birth after realization, the Aparokshanubhuti argues against this view.[4]
- Verse 100-129 describe Raja yoga as the means to attain samadhi and dwell in Brahma-consciousness.[1] The synthesis of Advaita Vedanta with yoga is typical for late medieval Advaita Vedanta, incorporating elements from the yogic tradition and texts like the Yoga Vasistha and the Bhagavata Purana,[5] and Vidyāraņya's Jivanmuktiviveka (14th century) has been dubbed "yogic Advaita."[6][7]
Commentaries
The oldest extant commentary on this work is a Sanskrit commentary (Dipika or 'Elucidation') by Sri Vidyaranya (14th century). This work has been repeatedly translated and commented upon in other languages.