Decoding Tattva Bodha by Adi Shankaracharya
You will never get Indian or Hindu philosophy if you haven’t read this one underrated book!
So just has how every field has a go-to starter kit or basic 101 primer for beginners, in our Vedic culture, that book is titled Tattva Bodha by Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya, who is one of the OGs of our Dharmic literature.
While the Srimad Bhagavad Gita is more of a practical self-help book, Tattva Bodha is a huge A-Z glossary or dictionary with clear definitions of all the basic technical terms, words & concepts you have to understand BEFORE you read all the heavy books later.
The whole book basically breaks down the 3 biggest questions that keep you awake until 2 AM - “Who are you? Who is God? And what’s your relationship?
I was planning to summarise the concepts it touches on in this Reel but there are 50+ terms to cover so you can comment “NOTES” to get the links to my detailed summary, as well as the free English PDF copy of the book.
But trust me, it has all the spicy details that’ll give you a PhD in the highest level of Sanatani thinking, which we call Advaita Vedanta, the idea that we are God.
And before you think that’s a crazy thought to have, this book will convince you of it by introducing you to:
1) Layers of reality
2) Qualities of a worthy seeker
3) Ingredients of the universe
4) 3 Types of bodies you have
5) 4 parts of your mental makeup
6) All the organs you have
7) States of your consciousness
8) Why you feel the way you do?
9) What does a Jiva mean?
10) What does Maya do?
11) Who is Ishwara & Brahman?
12) How to realise this God?
13) Why Hindus say we are Divine
14) Different types of Karma?
15) And how to get rid of them?
I’m shocked that so many people don’t know Tattva Bodha exists, whereas that’s the first scripture you should read to make yourself comfortable with our deep Hindu ideas & philosophies.
So comment the word “NOTES” & get my glossary in the DMs!