CREST JEWEL OF DISCRIMINATION

The Crest Jewel of Discrimination, or Vivekachudamani, is a famous work by Adi Shankara that expounds Advaita Vedanta philosophy.  It describes developing "viveka," that is, the faculty of discrimination, explaining that it is essential to the spiritual life.  It calls it the "crown jewel" among the essentials for moksha, liberation.

The word "viveka" means discrimination, "chuda" is crest, and "mani" means jewel.  Hence, Crest Jewel of Discrimination.

While Shankara wrote commentaries on the Brahma Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, his principal work is the Vivekachudamani.

It consists of 580 verses in Sanskrit and is in the form of a dialogue between the master and the disciple.  The master explains to the disciple the nature of the Atman and the ways to research and know the Atman.  The book instructs the disciple step by step how to reach the ultimate, Brahman, through the Atman.

The text begins with Shankara's salutations to Govinda, whom some interpret as God and others as Shankara's guru Sri Govinda Bhagavatpada.  It then teaches the disciple the ways to attain self realization, methods of meditation (dhyana), and how to know the Atman.  A description of an enlightened man (Jivanmukta), and a man of steady wisdom (Sthitaprajna) complete the work.

The Crest Jewel of Discrimination has been translated into various languages, often accompanied by a commentary in the same language.  English translations and commentaries include those by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood, Swami Madhavananda, and Swami Chinmayananda.  Tamil translations and commentaries include those by Ramana Maharshi. 

An English translation of the full text is available for free on the Internet at www.realization.org/page/namedoc0/vc/vc_0.htm, while a 56-part lecture, as audio files, can be found at Vedanta.com.  Click on "Browse Catalogue," and then click on the picture of Swami Prabhavananda, the lecturer.