The Self-Shining Reality: The Vedantic Method of the Three States

“The Self-Shining Reality” (Paramartha Cintami) is largely based on the Bhasya (commentary) of Shankaracharya on the Mandukya Upanisad and the Gaudapadacharya’s Karikas, the fundamental text for the study and application of the method of the three States (avasthatraya prakriya). Additionally, the author has grounded the development of his arguments in the entire commentary of Shankara on the Prasthanatraya and the works of Sureshvaracharya. The result is a text of great breadth and depth of content presented in a remarkably straightforward form. Structured in great part according to the traditional method of a dialogue between the purvapaksin, who puts forward several objections and the siddhantin who establishes the correct doctrine, this book enquires into the Reality that underlies the three states of wakefulness (jagrat), dream (svapna) and deep sleep (susupti).