The Upadesa Sarah (Upadesa Saram) by Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. Translated with Commentary by Nome. Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, abiding in the eternal Silence of the Self, composed The Essence of Spiritual Instruction for the supreme good of all in response to the supplications of the devoted Muruganar. The poet-devotee was writing in Tamil the story of the wayward rishis who dwelled in the Daruka forest and practiced rites for the attainment of powers that they desired. Their egos humbled by Siva and perceiving the error of their approach, they humbly sought spiritual instruction from Siva. Siva graciously bestowed the instruction, and it is these teachings that Muruganar requested Sri Bhagavan, Siva himself, to reveal in verse form. So, the Maharshi composed thirty verses in Tamil. Later, Sri Bhagavan translated them into Sanskrit. The Tamil version is entitled Upadesa Undiyar, and the Sanskrit version is entitled Upadesa Sarah and is also referred to as Upadesa Saram. This work is the English translation of the Sanskrit Upadesa Sarah. With each verse there is a ten-point commentary emphasizing the profound significance of the verse for those practicing Self-inquiry in the quest of nondual Self-Knowledge. An appendix that contains just the Sanskrit text with transliteration is included for ease of recitation and similar purposes.

Upadesa Sara - the essence of all teaching - is one of the most popular Vendatic texts. It explains the paths of Action (Karma Yoga), Yoga (Astanga Yoga) and Knowledge (Jnana Yoga) and how they lead to the final goal of Self Knowledge. The great sage, Bhagvan Ramana Maharishi presents the subject in a simple and beautiful way. Swami Tejomayananda's commentary further simplifies the text and brings out its essence in an appealing way.

The great Tamil poet Muruganar approached the South Indian sage, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, and requested elucidation on the instruction which had been given by Lord Siva to the Rishis of Darukavanam (the Pine Forest). The Rishis had become hooked on action (karma) and every attainment threw up the desire for a further bigger, better attainment. They approached Siva and asked for help. Things have not changed much since then ... have they? The human condition continues to be enthralled with the shadows all the while oblivious to the all important source of the light. Sri Ramana Maharshi agreed and wrote this instruction in 30 verses. Later, the verses were translated into Telugu, Malayalam and, at the request of the great Sanskritist, Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni, they were also translated into Sanskrit. The Sanskrit work is known as Upadesa Saram (The Essence of Instruction). This is an English translation of that work with commentary by Miles Wright.

A Perspectve, In The Light Of The Teaching Of Ramesh S. Balsekar.

Verse work on self-realization.

Upadesha Saara has 30 verses containing the essence of the Vedantic teaching but it is written in a cryptic manner.Paramarthananda talks about all the spiritual Sadhanas in 4 levels in the form of Karma yoga, Upasana yoga, Ashtanga yoga and Jnana yoga. A spiritual seeker has to follow all the 4 yogas compulsorily & systematically and attain spiritual enlightenment. Karma yoga, upasana yoga & ashtanga yoga are preparatory disciplines which will give jnana yogyatha, preparing the mind for spiritual knowledge. Jnana yoga will enlighten a person through this knowledge. Shri Ramana has beautifully brought out these 4 yogas with more emphasis on jnana yoga.

Upadesa is a Sanskrit word which literally means facilitating an entity to come back to its source, its home. Saram means the essence of such instruction towards that direction. The essential nature of mind is consciousness. But being covered by cloud of tendencies, past experiences, thoughts mind forgets that its nature is consciousness. This is called Self-forgetfulness.A mind that is in a state of Self-forgetfulness(Atma vismruti) leaves its source which is Self and identifies with non-Self adjuncts like the ego(Ahamkara, "I" thought),thinking process(manas)intellect(Buddhi),memory (chitta)the physical body and seeks happiness outside and in the process collects lot of misery because of conflict that is inherent in the dualistic phenomenal reality. After a break even point unable to bear this misery it starts inquiring into what is the cause of all this misery and starts investigating "who am I”,” what is my nature”,” whence am i" etc. When mind uninterruptedly does this quest it existentially negates the five coverings(Pancha kosas) covering the consciousness i.e sheaths of body, vital airs(Prana)mind(manas,the thinking faculty),intellect(Buddhi, the discriminatory faculty, sheath of Self-ignorance(Anandamaya kosa)it remembers that its nature is pure conscious being. So in this way the process of bringing back the outgoing mind to its source is described in 30 Sanskrit slokas by Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi which is named as Upadesa Saram by him. If his message in this properly understood it annihilates Self-ignorance and confers Self-Knowledge. Such Self-knowledge conferring books are called Darshana Grandhas in Sanskrit.Upadesa Saram is such a book. In this work the author Dr.P.V.S.Suryanarayana Raju commented on these 30 slokas of Bhagawan's Upadesa Saram.