Shankara (686-718 AD), also known as Shankaracharya, a spiritual teacher (acharya), is considered one of the greatest saints, philosophers, and poets of ancient India.
As a “child prodigy,” by the age of ten, he practically knew all sacred scriptures, had written commentaries on them, and debated with scholars about them. When he died at the age of 32, he had reformed a large part of Indian spiritual life, founded ten monastic orders, and left behind a vast literary legacy.
His teaching, Advaita Vedanta, is one of the six great systems of knowledge and philosophy in India.

“Brahman, the Absolute Being, Absolute Knowledge, and Absolute Bliss, is real. The universe is not real. Brahman and Atman (the individual’s inner Self) are one.”