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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What is the origin of the phrase "देशकालवस्तुपरिच्छेदशून्यम्"?

Phrase "देशकालवस्तुपरिच्छेदशून्यम्" is used in many Advaita vedanta lectures. In which scripture it has its origin?
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Looking for a biography of Totapuri Maharaj by Monika Mitra

I came across a lady namely, Monika Mitra who had the good fortune of being in close contact of Totapuri Maharaj who was a wandering saint. She has written the only account of the saint with the title,...
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1 answer
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Why Srimad Bhagavatam is not mentioned by Sri Ramanujacharya, Sri Yamunacharya and Sri Adi Shankaracharya. Why is that. Vaishnava answer pls

Why Srimad Bhagavatam is not mentioned by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, Sri Yamunacharya or Sri Ramanujacharya
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Is Brahman beyond Advaita, Dvaita, and Visistha-advaita? If so, why have the great acharyas restrained themselves by these concepts?

Garuda Purana preta khanda chapter 49 states. अद्वैतं केचिदिच्छन्ति द्वैतमिच्छन्ति चापरे । समं तत्त्वं न जानन्ति द्वैताद्द्वैतविवर्जितम् ॥ २,४९.९२ ॥ Some Desire Advaita, others desire Dvaita. Neither ...
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How do Advaitins respond to the Vishishtadvaitic argument that attaining the state of Kaivalya does not lead to liberation?

In this Vishishtadvaitc work called Siddhanta sangraha, the author Sri Shailacharya, a Vishishtadvaitin of the Rāmānuja school argues- One who is interested in kaivalya-bhoga is included in amumukṣu ...
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An online version of Tattva Bindu of Vacapati Misra

I am interested in the works of Vacapati Misra I am wondering if I can get a free, english translation of his work Tattva Bindu where he summarizes his reasoning.
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Looking into Smarta

Can someone please refer to a scripture which describes the Smarta god and the 5 main forms. Also a scripture which adds Skanda as a form. Clarification: I mean Nirguna Brahman and learning about the ...
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Are there any answers from the School of Advaita to Shri Madhwacharya's Mayavada Khandana and Upadhi Khandana?

Does any Advaitin has answered or has answers to Shri Madhwacharya's Mayavada Khandana and Upadhi Khandana? MAYAVADA KHANDANA (Refer ESSENTIALS OF DASAPRAKARANA translated by Prof. K.T. Pandurangi) ...
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What are the principal upanishads according to different Vedanta sects?

I was wondering whether different Vedanta sects (Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, Dvaita, Dvaitadvaita, Achintya-bhedabhed-vada, shuddhadvaita and Akshar-purushottama) agree on the number of principal ...
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Commentaries on Abhinavgupta's Tantraloka translated to English

In the school of Kashmir Shivaism, if I'm not wrong, then both texts - Abhinavgupta's Tantraloka and Vigyaan Bhairava Tantra belong to Spanda Doctrine (please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm very ...
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Did Sri Ramanujacharya attain nirvikalpa Samadhi

Did Sri Ramanujacharya ever attain nirvikalpa samadhi or Dharmamegha samadhi and at last Maha Samadhi ?
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7 answers
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Do followers of dvaita really believe that advaitins are "deceitful demons"?

I came across a Shloka by Madhvacharya (ananda teertha) in which he calls advaitins as "deceitful demons". Also, in the work madvavijaya considered to be the authentic biography of Madhvacharya, the ...
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On what basis does an enlightened person decided what to do and what not to do in advaita vedanta?

From what I understand, for the enlightened person, it doesn't matter if he/she gains something or loses something because nothing we observe is ultimately real. Ultimately there is neither the ...
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How do advaitians interpret this verse from padma purana (Patal Khand 77.60) [v21]?

The Padma Purāṇ states: yannakhenduruchir brahma dhyeyaṁ brahmādibhiḥ suraiḥ guṇatrayamatītaṁ taṁ vande vṛindāvaneśhvaram (Patal Khand 77.60) [v21] “The light that emanates from the toenails of God’s ...
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How do Advaitans refute the claim that their philosophy is wrong against Padma Purana

This is according to Padma Purana 6.236.7 which reads: Mayavada or Advaita philosophy is an impious, wicked belief and against all the conclusions of the Vedas. It is only covered Buddhism. My dear ...
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On the nature of the soul - ability to create, fade, disappear, or still

Nature of the soul: Perishable, Uniqueness, etc. In Indian philosophy, there are multiple schools of philosophy including - Advaita, ShuddhaAdvaita (Vedantic), Sankhya, Yoga, Madhyamaka, Jaina, etc. ...
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1 answer
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Does the Brahman of Advaita Vedanta know every knowledge?

The Advaitha vedanta says that Brahman is the omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent being beyond any proper description that can be elaborated uses our 5 senses. Being the sat-chit-ananda can we ...
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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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Are wrong things also done by god?

Here it is written that god pervades in all. So, Does this mean wrong and evil things are also done by god ? It is also written that we should see god in everyone,so, Should we see god even in persons ...
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1 answer
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न तस्य कार्यं? Isn't Ishwara Nimitta Karana?

It says here that Shri Adi Shankaracharya says this in his Brahma Sutra Bhashya. Now this Saguna Brahman is he with a particular form as per Shankara, let us look at what he says “मन्त्रौ चेमावी...
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Do Shaktas and Shaivas have independent sects or they think themselves to be under Advaita?

I have seen that Vaishnavas are opposed to Advaita siddhanta. Are there Advaita Vaishnava sampradayas also? Also I want to know whether Shaivas and Shaktas think themselves as part of Advaita's ...
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how is advaita deep sleep blankness different from materialist nothingness?

i was convinced by the advaita point of view actually ia am still........but still a doubt is coming......acc to advaita in deep sleep or coma the blankness we expeirience is actually conciousness ...
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How Do Advaitins interpret Scriptural statements where the Impersonal aspect of Brahman is Subordinated to the Personal?

In the Scripture texts, One can at times Comes Across Verses Where The Formless Nirguna Brahman is subordinated to the Personal Form of Lord Krishna, where the personal form is either stated as the ...
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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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Is Spinoza's philosophy the same as advaita or vishistadvaita philosophy of India?

Spinoza's philosophy speaks about oneness of the universe. Is it the same as advaita or vishistadvaita which also speaks about untiy. As per wiki Article: After stating his proof for God’s existence, ...
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What are the outcomes of Kaivalya and Sayujya mokshas according to Gaudiya Vaishnavas?

As discussed here, the Upanishads describe the state of Kaivalya as the detachment/seperation of the Self from Prakriti. According to Advaitins, Kaivalya is said to be the ultimate state/moksha ...
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How does Svarūpa-Jñāna interact with Vrittis and Actions?

I understand that Swarupa Jnana casts light onto thoughts or modifications of the mind, but how does the process look like when an action is made or a thought is formed? How does Ahaṁkāra performs ...
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The relationship between Brahmin and Ishvara in Advaita Vedanta?

From what I have seen Nirguna Brahman seems more like a concept that is attainable bliss. Compared to Sanguna Brahman a deified persona of Nirguna. However, Advaitans also accept Ishvara as a supreme ...
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Advaita vs Dvaita

Which is really true Advaita or Dvaita as in Vedanta there are verses which agree with Dvaita philosophy and also verses which agree with Advaita philosophy. Many say that it depends on reality like ...
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Why Sri RamKrishna Paramhansa cut / attack Maa Kali with sword according to both dvaita and advaita perspective

Why did Sri Ramkrishna Paramhansa cut Maa Kali on the order of Sadhu Totapuri even though Sri RamKrishna Paramhansa considered both Dvaita and advaita and saguna and nirguna as same and he even said ...
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What is the Advaita argument for why causes can't have real existence?

The Khandana Khanda Khadya is a work by the 12th century Advaitin philosopher Shri Harsha which seeks to demonstrate that all supposed means of knowledge are invalid. As I discuss in this question, ...
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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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How do Advaitins explain Spatial Difference or देशीय भेद​?

According to Advaita there are no Bheda or difference in Brahman. It explains the indifference between souls by saying that the upadhi or delimitng agents separate one super soul into multiple souls. ...
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What exactly is Moola Avidya? Is it found in Adi Shankaracharya's Prasthana Traya Bhashya?

Shree Satchdanandendra Saraswati Swamiji claims that Moola Avidya is an add on concept which was later inserted into Advaita by Bhamati and Panchapadika Vivarana school. He says it is not found in the ...
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Good introductory references on Shatdarshanas that covers debates, arguments and principles

As far as I know, only Advaita Vedanta has been well commented for principal Upanishad. It belongs to the Vedanta school. Is ther any single text like AdvaitaSiddhi that covers the arguments, ...
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Mahavakyas According to Shri Adi Shankaracharya

I have read the Mahavakyas, which are central to the Advaita School, from the following Wikipedia page; however, did Shri Adi Shankaracharya mention them in his works or were they promoted to ...
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What is the validity of the claim that Gaudiya Vaishnavism is superior to Advaita Vedanta?

According to the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, when Sri Chaitanya was in Varanasi, he defeated Prakashananda Saraswati, the famous Vedantin. Showing this event, Vaishnavas claim that their philosophy ...
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Arguments: Re-birth

Is there any argumentative way to establish that rebirth exists? In shatdarshanas, it seems like a lot of them - samkhya, yoga, etc don't believe in rebirth. Although Yoga Sutras of Patanjali talk ...
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How do different Astika schools prove re-incarnation according to this verse of Bhagavad Gita?

Different schools - Shatdarshanas in Indian philosophy tackle the phenomenon of reincarnation differently. While there are sufficient yogic practices to experience past lives when on the path of self-...
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As per Advaita, Atman/Self/Brahman is unborn and doesnt "pass" away when body dies? What is the reference for it?

As per Advaita Vedanta, its the Sukshma Sharira(Subtle Body/Mind) which reincarnates after a body dies and Atman/Brahman/Self does not "pass away" or "leave" when body dies. But in ...
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Tonsuring head of new born

Apart from the family customs, is it alright to do the shaving head ceremony of the newborn after the first year is completed? I have read in many places that the tonsuring is done before the first ...
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List of Advaita Vedanta proponents: The rishis, sages, gods that supported Aham Brahmasmi

Consider this question as a sequel to this question: Advaita Vedanta Gitas Advaita Vedanta as an interpretation of Vedanta is one of the oldest. Consider this question as a comprehensive list of all ...
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Shatdarshanas: Who is understood to be the one that grants liberation and enlightment?

Consider this question as the sequel to: Foundational texts of Shatdarshanas Out of shatdarshanas: The Vedanta school has primarily three sub-schools: Advaita Vedanta, Vishishtadvaita and Davita. ...
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Brahm sutra number for pashvādabhis cha vīśekā

I am trying to identify the brahmsutra chapter and verse number for this verse pashvādabhis cha vīśekā पश्वादभिस च विशेका I came across this sloka in a lecture so might not have converted into text ...
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As per Advaita, is Shakti Brahman?

As we know that according to Advaita, Shiva and Vishnu are both Brahman. Is Shakti also a Brahman or is Maya (illusion) of Brahman?
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Why does nirguna brahman manifest only in 5 forms?

I know that Shiva, Durga, Vishnu, Surya and Ganesha are counted as manifestations of Nirguna brahman. Or in other way when nirguna brahman is seen through lens of maya, it is seen in 5 different ways. ...
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If absolute consciousness cannot be objectified ,what is the way to realize it? How to know it exists and all 5 sheaths appear to it and not the mind?

Advaita Vedanta says, Pure Consciousness (Chit) cannot be known as an object unlike Reflected Consciousness (Chidabhasa). How can we understand that all things appear to Pure consciousness but not the ...
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Why does the Universe exist?

If I am Brahman as Shankara states: I am other than name, form and action. My nature is ever free! I am Self, the supreme unconditioned Brahman. I am pure Awareness, always non-dual. — Adi ...
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How does Vedanta differentiate between reflected consciouness(Chidabhasa) and pure consciouness(Chit)?

Pure consciousness is said to be the source of reflected consciousness. How does Vedanta try to separate the mixture of mind and reflected consciousness from pure consciousness and establish the "...
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Question only for Advaitists about advaita and absoluteness

I heard from a knowledgable advaita vedantist blogger that if everything were not brahman or 'that', then brahman would not be complete, whole, infinite, absolute or sarvam, purnam and anantam, and ...

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