Adi Shankara, Upadesasahasri 1.44
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One, who is eager to realize this highest truth spoken of in the Sruti, should rise above the fivefold form of desire: for a son, for wealth, for this world and the next, and are the outcome of a false reference to the Self of Varna (castes, colors, classes) and orders of life. These references are contradictory to right knowledge, and reasons are given by the Srutis regarding the prohibition of the acceptance of difference. For when the knowledge that the one non-dual Atman (Self) is beyond phenomenal existence is generated by the scriptures and reasoning, there cannot exist a knowledge side by side that is contradictory or contrary to it.

— Adi Shankara on Open individualism

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "One, who is eager to realize this highest truth spoken of in the Sruti, should rise above the fivefold form of desire: for a son, for wealth, for this world and the next, and are the outcome of a false reference to the Self of Varna (castes, colors, classes) and orders of life. These references are contradictory to right knowledge, and reasons are given by the Srutis regarding the prohibition of the acceptance of difference. For when the knowledge that the one non-dual Atman (Self) is beyond phenomenal existence is generated by the scriptures and reasoning, there cannot exist a knowledge side by side that is contradictory or contrary to it." in the context of "Adi Shankara, Upadesasahasri 1.44" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

Source: Wikiquote: "Open individualism" (S) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Adi Shankara

About Adi Shankara

Adi Shankara (pronounced aːd̪i ɕəŋkəɾə), who lived early 8th century CE, is one of the most revered Hindu philosophers and theologians from India who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta.