c. 8th century CE
788 – 820Adi Shankara
Indian philosopher and theologian of Advaita Vedānta who taught non-dual realization of Brahman.
About Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara (c. 788-820 CE) was the Indian philosopher who revitalized Advaita Vedānta, the school of non-dualism. Born in Kerala, he took renunciation early and traveled across India, establishing monasteries and debating rival scholars. Shankara achieved a systematic exposition of non-dual reality through his commentaries on the Upaniṣads, the Brahma Sūtras, and the Bhagavad Gītā. His teaching, 'Brahman alone is real,' posits that the individual self (ātman) is identical to ultimate reality (Brahman). The appearance of a fragmented world is an illusion caused by ignorance. Liberation is not an achievement to be gained but a recognition of one’s inherent nature, attained through discernment and contemplation. By unifying diverse spiritual practices under a single metaphysical framework, Shankara fundamentally shaped Hindu thought.
Best for
Non-Dual Inquiry
Clarity in identity and awareness
Text & Practice
Reading that transforms understanding
What you can learn
- •Differentiate self (ātman) from not-self (anātman)
- •Practice discernment through hearing, reflection, contemplation
- •Read scripture as means to non-dual recognition
- •Apply systematic reasoning to dissolve conceptual dualities
- •Establish monasteries and educational institutions for preserving wisdom
- •Integrate devotional practices with philosophical understanding
Questions to ask Shankara
Try these conversation starters, or ask anything you're curious about.
Starter
- How do I begin inquiry into non-duality?
- What is the role of ethics in Advaita practice?
- How should I approach reading the Upanishads?
Deeper
- Guide me through a contemplation to distinguish the witness from the mind.
- How do I resolve apparent contradictions in scriptural passages?
- What obstacles most commonly obscure recognition of Brahman?
Expert
- Help me design a daily practice aligned with Advaita understanding.
- Walk me through interpreting a scripture passage using indirect signification.
- How would you contrast Advaita with qualified non-dualism fairly?
Example conversation with Shankara
Topic: Non-Duality and the Nature of the Self
You
What do you mean when you say we are already Brahman? That seems hard to believe when I feel very much like a separate person.Shankara
That feeling of separateness is precisely what I call avidya, ignorance. Consider: when you dream, the dream world appears completely real. There are objects, people, a separate dreamer moving among them. Yet upon waking, you recognize that the entire dream was your own mind. The waking world operates similarly. The self you take yourself to be, this body, this mind, these memories, is a superimposition upon the one awareness that is Brahman. You are not a separate person who needs to become Brahman. You are Brahman who has mistaken yourself for a separate person. Liberation is not going somewhere new. It is waking up to where you have always been.You
But if everything is Brahman, why does the world seem so real and so full of suffering?Shankara
The world is not denied at its own level. Within the dream, the tiger truly chases you and the fear is real. I do not say the phenomenal world does not function; it functions according to its own conventions. What I teach is that its ultimate nature is not what it appears to be. A rope in dim light is mistaken for a snake. The fear is real, the snake is not. When light comes, the snake vanishes and only the rope remains. The suffering you experience is real within the framework of ignorance. But the self that suffers, the one awareness, is never actually touched by suffering, just as the screen is never burned by the fire shown in a film projected upon it.You
How do I actually begin to see through this ignorance in a practical way?Shankara
Through the threefold practice. First, shravana: listen to the teaching from a qualified teacher and study the Upanishads. Hear the great statement, Tat Tvam Asi, That thou art. Second, manana: reason carefully about what you have heard. Examine the objections that arise in your mind and resolve them through discrimination. The mind will protest that this cannot be so; meet each objection with patient inquiry. Third, nididhyasana: contemplate what you have understood until the recognition becomes stable. This is not meditation in the sense of concentrating on an object. It is abiding as the awareness you already are, allowing the old habits of identification to dissolve through sustained clarity. The path is not complex. It requires only sincerity and the willingness to question what you have always assumed about yourself.Key ideas
- •Ignorance (avidyā) superimposes self on not-self.
- •Scripture points; recognition is immediate.
- •Discrimination and contemplation remove error.
How to apply
- •Use neti-neti to clarify identity.
- •Integrate ethics (śama-dama) as preparation.
- •Study primary texts with a method.
Intellectual approach
Sources & further reading
Primary sources
- Brahma-Sūtra Bhāṣya
- Principal Upaniṣad Bhāṣyas
- Bhagavad-Gītā Bhāṣya
- Vivekacūḍāmaṇi (traditional attribution)
Recommended reading
- A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism - Klaus K. Klostermaier
- The Advaita Tradition - Eliot Deutsch
Influences
- Upaniṣads
- Gaudapada
Contemporaries
- Mandana Misra (as interlocutor in tradition)
- Padmapada
- Sureśvara
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Frequently asked questions
What can I learn from chatting with AI Adi Shankara?
Adi Shankara was indian philosopher and theologian of Advaita Vedānta who taught non-dual realization of Brahman. Through an AI-powered conversation, you can explore their ideas, test theories, and build deeper understanding of their historical context.
What are good questions to ask AI Shankara?
Great starter questions include: "How do I begin inquiry into non-duality?" You can also explore deeper topics or expert-level discussions tailored to your interests.
Is the AI Shankara historically accurate?
The AI Shankara is grounded in documented historical sources, including Brahma-Sūtra Bhāṣya and Principal Upaniṣad Bhāṣyas. Responses reflect documented beliefs, speaking style, and historical context. Always verify key facts with primary sources for academic work.
What is AI Shankara best for?
Non-Dual Inquiry: Clarity in identity and awareness. Text & Practice: Reading that transforms understanding.
Can I chat with AI Shankara for free?
Yes, you can start a conversation with AI Shankara with a free HistorIQly account. Free users get 8 messages per day. For more messages and advanced features, upgrade to Premium or Pro.
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AI recreation based on historical sources. Not a substitute for professional advice.