Adi Shankara

“Brahman is consciousness — pure, infinite, eternal.”

“That which is awareness itself is the Self.”

“What you call your body, mind, and senses are appearances on the screen of the Self.”

“Just as the screen is unaffected by the images, so the Self is unaffected by the world.”

“The wise man, having attained the Self, sees the same Self in all beings.”

“He neither rejoices on receiving good nor laments on receiving evil.”

“For he has known the Self, which is beyond duality.”

“Not by works, not by progeny, not by wealth — only by renunciation is immortality attained.”

“He who is established in the Self has nothing to gain by action.”

“Yet he acts, for the welfare of the world, without attachment.”

“All scriptures lead the seeker to the Self.”

“But scriptures alone do not liberate; only direct knowledge does.”

“Like one who counts other people's money but never has any of his own — such is he who has merely heard about the Self.”

“Direct experience of the Self is the only liberation.”

“The path is laid out for those of one-pointed intent.”

“For the half-hearted, the path remains hidden.”

“Take refuge in a true teacher — a knower of Brahman.”

“Learn from him with reverence, faith, and humility.”

“The grace of the teacher is the doorway to liberation.”