Aparokshanubhuti
The Aparokshanubhuti is a work attributed to Adi Shankara, though his authorship is doubtful. It is a popular introductory work that expounds Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
Etymology
Aparokṣānubhūti is a compound consisting of aparokṣa and anubhūti, meaning "direct cognition" or "direct experience of the Absolute." Swami Vimuktananda renders it as "Self-realization."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.
- Verse 100-129 describe Raja yoga as the means to attain samadhi and dwell in Brahma-consciousness. 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, and Vidyāraņya's Jivanmuktiviveka has been dubbed "yogic Advaita."