Questions tagged [advaita]
Literally non-duality; a school of the Vedanta philosophy that declares the oneness of God, soul, and the universe.
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Is Brahman sentient in Advaita Vedanta?
If Brahman is Consciousness and Omniscient, then he should be sentient also since both are indiscernible.
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How does Vedanta (Uttara Mimamsa) school prove their Astikya (Existence of God) using Shabda pramana?
How does Vedanta(Uttara Mimamsa) school of Indian philosophy prove their Astikya (Theism) using Shabda(or Agama) pramana, and also how is Shabda pramana established as a valid pramana.
It would be ...
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1answer
188 views
Does the fragmental Atman travels?
Shankara in one of his verses gives the definition of jiva -""When the omnipresent Atman is limited or embodied by the mind,ego of subtle body, it is called jiva"".
I think what he means is, once the ...
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40 views
What is the story of Rishi Shakti?
Shakti is the father of Parashara and son of Vashishtha. Vashistha is well-known sage, Guru of Sri Rama, seer (द्रष्टा) of Vedic hymns and is among one of Shaptarshi. Parasara is also well-known sage ...
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Are there any references to Niralambopanishat and SukaRahasyopanishat prior to Adi Shankaracharya?
Among Vedantins; Advait is a widely followed philosophy.
The famous quote of Shree Adi Shankaracharya goes:
Brahma Satya, Jagat Mithya.
Now many Advaitins have mentioned that the verse was not ...
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2answers
221 views
How does Nirguna Brahman manifests into Saguna Brahman?
We all know that it's Saguna Brahman that does the job of creation but I would like to know, how Nirguna Brahman becomes Saguna Brahman in the first place. I know you guys would probably say that when ...
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53 views
Are there any popular works attributed to Govinda Bhagvatpada?
Govind Bhagvatpada was Guru (teacher) of Adi Shankaracharya who has preached Advaita (one of the most popular philosophy/doctrine of Vedanta). According to Advaita Guruparampara, he was Shisya (...
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1answer
133 views
Everything is a thought then why does this present moment feel so real?
I was listening to one of the YouTube lectures on Advaita(forget which one it was).
It states that “past, present and future - all is just a thought in your brain. The only reason this very moment ...
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154 views
What is the Vishishtadvaitin equivalent to “Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya Jeevo Brahmaiva Naparah”?
The philosophy of Advaita Vedanta was summed up by Adi-Shankara in a single verse:
Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya, Jivo Brahmaiva Naparah
English Translation: Brahman is the only Truth, the world ...
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2answers
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How to establish myself in the knowledge of the true self (Advaita)?
There are times when I feel that I have got it whereas there are days when I feel that I don’t understand anything.
Now I know I am always the unchanging self and it’s my mind that keeps going in and ...
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In Pratibimba Vada, which is the jivatman? The original or the reflected?
Here's an youtube video on the analogy of Two Birds, by Swami Sarvapriyananda (an advaitin monk).
Two birds by Swami Sarvapriyananda
Here, he compares the tree with our physical body, and the two ...
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0answers
78 views
Did Vedanta Desikan perform Samashrayanam for Vidyaranya?
The famous 13th century Sri Vaishnava Acharya Vedanta Desikan was childhood friends with the Advaita philosopher Vidyaranya, who served as the Shankaracharya of Sringeri and chief advisor of the ...
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57 views
How can the formless assume a form(incarnation)? [duplicate]
God is formless and he assumes a form, say.
Then that body is bound by time, space and causation. And anything bound has to change. But god is constant. Then are incarnations true? Then where are all ...
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In non-dualism does Atman reincarnate or transmigrate?
I've read that a small portion of the infinite spirit Brahman, becomes embodied. This embodied portion is called Atman. So does Atman reincarnate or goes from one body to another?
Again, if Brahman ...
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1answer
79 views
What is the belief behind god attaining human form?
If God is omnipresent and formless, then how did he attain human form in Puranas? What is the belief behind that?
how did Brahman become God in human form?
Are Puranas just for understanding the ...
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1answer
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Phrases like “Reflection of the real self” and “Space inside the pot”, are they simply theories?
Are they simply theories or are they actually mentioned in the upanishads? ... When it comes to the example of the two birds sitting on a tree, is it mentioned anywhere in the mundaka & ...
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1answer
80 views
How does Dhyaneshwar's nondualism differ from Adi Shankaracharya's philosophy?
It is often said Adi Shankaracharya and Dhyaneshwar advocated the same philosophy: Advaita Vedanta.
However, after some research, I found out that there are some sharp contrasting differences in the ...
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1answer
72 views
Does each of us have a causal body within us? [duplicate]
Causal Body is ignorance as per Advaita.
Here's an article i came across that was posted on an advaita website. Here's the link- Article no. 1. There it's mentioned that causal body does not reside ...
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1answer
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Please help me understand the below passage from Rig veda
I found the passage on Wikipedia page of Samkhya(sankhya) Philosophy.
Seven to the one-wheeled chariot yoke the Courser; bearing seven names the single Courser draws it.
Three-naved the ...
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Do any Vaishnav sect believe in Jivan Mukti?
I used to believe that JivanMukti; a state of liberation while still in this body was something that was specific to advaita Vedant sect only.
But I recently came across a quote by Gaudiya Vaishnav ...
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What do we mean by pure consciousness when we address Brahman?
After going through so many online articles i'm still not sure what exactly is Brahman as per advaita. Yes it can't be grasped by our limited senses but those who did describe "IT" has said the ...
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Need clarification on the analogy of dream in Advaita
My background is in Vishistadvaita and I have always had a few challenges in understanding some of the concepts from Advaita and have wondered if later acharyas in the Advaita sampradaya have provided ...
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What was samkhya's criticism on vedanta?
From a site I read the following passage of strong criticism on Sankara's Vedanta.
Later philosophers also declared Mayavada to be crypto-Buddhism. The Sankhya philosopher Vijnana-bhiksu (1550–1600 ...
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What are the differences in teachings between Yoga Vasista, Ashtavakra Gita, and Vivekachudamani?
Yoga Vasistha (योग-वासिष्ठ), Ashtavakra Gita (अष्टावक्रगीता), and Vivekachudamani (विवेकचूडामणि) are teachings about Enlightenment and (Moh)Maya. What are the Philosophical differences between these ...
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Do any sects that do not subscribe to advaita believe in the concept of Maya?
Instead of the popular meaning illusion, I like the definition from
http://vedantastudent.blogspot.com/p/maya.html
"Maya creates apparent multiplicity in a universe where only Brahman really exists."...
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1answer
87 views
Different souls part of same Supreme soul?
It is said that all different souls are basically part of that one supreme soul and finally all merge into it. When a person is awakened he basically sees himself in everyone, hence doesn't criticize ...
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What is the view of shankara vedantins on kundalini yoga?
There is a book which deals with spiritual pursuit of one of the pontiff of the sringeri sankara mutt
He has discussed his experiences on various subjects including kundalini yoga in this book
http:/...
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1answer
152 views
Where do I find this Advait (non dual) philosophical quote by Nammalvar?
Alvars were devotees of Lord Vishnu who propagated Vishnu devotion in ancient India. One of the Alvar named Nammalvar said the following (found from Teachings' of Ramana Maharshi book) -
In ...
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What are the similarities between Svabhavika Bhedabheda Vedanta and Advaita Vedanta philosophies?
As some of you might be knowing, the renowned Sri Vaishnava acharya, Ramanujacharya before becoming a Sri Vaishnava, was a disciple of a Vaishnavite named Yadava Prakasha who propounded the Svabhavika ...
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What is the basis for the classification of scriptures as vyava harika pramanya and tattvika pramanya?
It is commonly posited in advaita that scriptures referring to omniscience and other perfections of Brahman have only relative validity (vyava harika pramanya) whilst those speaking of non-dualism ...
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Is Atman really Brahman? [duplicate]
Recently I am going through Adhvaita Vedhanta.
It is said that brahman present in every one's body as Athman. Athman is nothing but consciousness.
May be at the time of Adi Shankara, science is not ...
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Why do some people see Sankhya as the highest truth?
Some people believe Sankhya to be the highest truth. They neglect Advaita. What are their main points for believing like this? Isn't it generally understood and accepted that Advaita is the highest ...
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Why does Adi shankaracharya think that self cannot perceive a relation between itself and avidya?
Adi Shankara's doctrine of Maya is very widely known specially among the Vedantins; according to which all the dualities are perceived by self owing to ignorance(avidya) and that self is one without a ...
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1answer
122 views
Can advaita's nirguna brahman speak? [duplicate]
Some advaitins claim that Nirguna Brahman spoke through Krishna, but is this in accordance with advaitin theory that Brahman is without any characteristic, is speaking not considered a characteristic, ...
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How does Advaita interpret the devatas to the Isha Upanishad mantras?
Advaita is a non dual philosophy which says there is no distinction between Jivatma and Paramatma (Brahman). There is only one soul which is Brahman.
In the Isha Upanishad or Ishavasyopanishad which ...
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230 views
Why are we under Maya and Avidya if we are Brahman?
According to Advaita Vedanta, we i.e. Jivas are all Brahman in reality but are under Maya and Avidya. I want to know how Maya and Avidya came into Brahman?
P.S. I am aware that Maya has no beginning....
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According to advaita vedanta how can a formless entity/god do Lila?
lokavat tu lila kaivalyam [Brahma Sutras - 2.1.33] The creation is
merely a sport of Brahman.
How can a formless entity enjoy Lila? Doesn't it sound too nihilistic?
(Note: Lila can also be ...
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2answers
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Who sees through the lens of mAyA?
Advait Vedantins say when Brahman is 'seen' through the lens of mAyA, Brahman appears as Ishwar.
Is there 'something' before mAyA to wear the lens of mAya? If there is, what is that 'something' which ...
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2answers
336 views
Why does Sri Ramakrishna say that Saguna Brahman is real despite being an Advaitin?
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is known to have taught Advaita Vedanta to His devotees. However, in one of well-known quotes, He says both Nirguna Brahman and Saguna Brahman:
It's enough to have faith ...
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1answer
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Can someone explain the philosophy of avibhagadvaita?
How is it different from advaita and vishistadvaita, and how does it reconcile yoga and Sankhya with vedanta?
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Is Advaita's Nirguna Brahman same as Madhyamaka's “emptiness of emptiness”?
In Adi Shankaracharya's Advaita Vedanta, Nirguna Brahman (Brahman without form or qualities) is the Para Brahman (Supreme Brahman) according to this Wikipedia article. This is the Ultimate Reality of ...
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330 views
How do Advaitins counter the rebuttal of Ramanujacharya on Advaita Vedanta in His commentary on Bhagavad Gita 2.12?
Shree Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita 2.12 states:
"There never was a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor any of these temporal kings. Nor will there be any time in future when ...
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1answer
181 views
Was Goswami Tulsidas a reconciler of Advaita and Vishishtadvaita?
Goswami Tulsidas, the sixteenth century poet, one of the greatest Rama-bhaktas of all time, incarnation of Rishi Valmiki was the composer of famous works like Hanuman Chalisa, Ram Stuti and most ...
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Why do Advaitins strive to realize Brahman if only Brahman exists?
If, as Advaitins say, only Brahman ultimately exists, then why do saints, Shankaracharyas, and others strive to realise Brahman, and for that live an austere life? After all, in Advaita Brahman itself ...
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1answer
84 views
Was Vijnanabhiksu a Vaishnavite scholar?
According to the Wikipedia article on Yoga Sutras, the famous scholar Vijnanabhiksu was a Vaishnavite:
Vijnanabhiksu's Yogabhashyavarttika ("Explanation of the Commentary on the Yoga Sutras" of ...
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1answer
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According to vedanta from where does jivaatma originates?
Origin and end of jivatma?? Is it created or can the atma divide? what happens to atma in nirvana or moksha, how did it come to be, how can it be eternally fragmented from the supreme? How did the ...
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Is Adi Shankaracharya's Kena Upanishad Vakya Bhashya available in English?
Generally the Advaita philosopher Adi Shankaracharya has only given one Bhashya or commentary for each of the Mukhya or primary Upanishads. But in the case of the Kena Upanishad, he composed two ...
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Is there any difference between Advaita philosophy of Adi Shankaracharya and the Advaita philosophy of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan?
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India, is known to have written a commentary on the Brahma-Sutras. Radhakrishnan's Vedanta philosophy was Advaita. Now my question is that is there ...
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1answer
266 views
Why do some Advaitins wear an Urdhva Pundra made of ash?
Originally, most Advaitins had Vishnu as their Ishta Devata, but nowadays most Advaitins have Shiva as their Ishta Devata. Kanchi Mahaperiava, the former Shankaracharya of the Kanchipuram, explains ...
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1answer
109 views
Do non-Advaita Vedanta philosophies also believe that buddhi is part of Prakruti/Pradhana?
Do Vedanta philosophies other than Advaita also believe that Buddhi is part of Prakriti/Pradhana and not part of/is individual self? If yes, how do liberated beings think in Vaikuntha?
