Advaita Vedanta and Neo-Advaita--what's the difference?

[Kirran]

I think that might be a bit of an over-generalisation, but from my limited experience, yes. There is purposeful avoidance of the H word. If not pan-religious, non-religious. But as with almost all philosophies, there are many variations. In that way, something like new-age.

No coincidence, they share some background I think, come from a similar place.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Is neo-Advaita Hindu?

In India at least, there is 'advaita' of various varieties. Is 'neo-advaita' the 'foreign advaita' of the Eckhard/Edward Tolle's genre (whatever is the correct name of that illustrious person)?
I have not read anything on 'neo-advaita'. I am just a village Hindu.

 

[Poeticus]

In India at least, there is 'advaita' of various varieties. Is 'neo-advaita' the 'foreign advaita' of the Eckhard/Edward Tolle's genre (whatever is the correct name of that illustrious person)?
I have not read anything on 'neo-advaita'. I am just a village Hindu.

Nahin, Dada-shree! Aap Village-Hindu nahin ho! Instead, you are a neo-Village-Hindu. You know, the atheist village kind. It's what happens when a village is located too near the JNU. Just kidding, but I know you laughed as you read this. Because your bhAnje is funny. Don't lie to me now, you know it's true.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I live far from JNU, physically as well as mentally. And, unfortunately for three generations till mine, we were not blessed with sisters. My daughter was the first to arrive. People asked my grandfather if he had a special recipe that our family had sons only (he was a Sanskrit pandit and people thought he had some mantra or something like that).

 

[Aupmanyav]

My bhanjes (nephews in relation), two are OK, one is hyper, one is depressive, and one (who is also my brother's son - double relation, a girl from my maternal family marrying into my paternal family) had a broken marriage. In all, five. Life, as it comes.

 

[shivsomashekhar]

This would have led to a good discussion, but I don´t feel that I can answer it, I feel rather discouraged.

Maya

If there is such a thing as universal truth (we can and should question this) which is available to all humans, if all the people we believe were enlightened found the same thing and not different things - such a truth cannot be limited to people who were born into a specific religion or with specific genes or to people who follow a specific path.

As an aside, I think people who are *not* questioning their fundamental assumptions cannot really be serious about enlightenment. It is just another source of entertainment. This applies to me too.

 

[Shantanu]

If there is such a thing as universal truth (we can and should question this) which is available to all humans, if all the people we believe were enlightened found the same thing and not different things - such a truth cannot be limited to people who were born into a specific religion or with specific genes or to people who follow a specific path.

As an aside, I think people who are *not* questioning their fundamental assumptions cannot really be serious about enlightenment. It is just another source of entertainment. This applies to me too.

Every human being is entitled to his or her own truths and live to a satisfied life in command of what is required. That is the enlightenment they deserve. You cannot force any person's enlightenment on others.