What is Advaita Vedanta in a nut-shell?

[Gnostic Seeker]

Greetings,

I'm wondering if you could give this Hindu-curious person a general overview of Advaita Vedanta, and maybe answer some questions. Thank you in advance for your help and consideration.

 

[StarryNightshade]

"Brahman alone exists". Or, if you prefer, complete non-duality/monism.

At least, that's how I understand it.

 

[Gnostic Seeker]

"Brahman alone exists". Or, if you prefer, complete non-duality/monism.

At least, that's how I understand it.

What is the origin of the philosophy? Who are some of its important figures such as founders and/or reformers?

 

[StarryNightshade]

As far as I know, non-Dualism has been around long before Advaita Vedanta. However, it really began to come into prominence because of Adi Shankara. If you are interested, I would look into reading his commentaries on various Hindu scriptures. As well as the Upanishads in general.

 

[Vinayaka]

GS, there is a ton of information on line, including in these forums, and on separate sites devoted to it. So the only thing I want to say is that it's by far the most common form of Hinduism adopted by westerners. Much of what you here about Hinduism is from this particular form of it. Almost the western non-dual teachers got inspired by Advaita Vedanta.

 

[Chakra]

What is the origin of the philosophy? Who are some of its important figures such as founders and/or reformers?

Sri Govinda Bhagavatpada, Sri Adi Shankara (Main guru of Advaita), Sri Madhusudhana Sarasvati (who has an excellent Gita commentary), Sri Anandgiri, Sri Vidyarana, Sri Suresvaraha (direct disciple of Shankara), Sri Sayanacharya, Sri Sarvajatma, Sri Hastamalakacharya (direct disciple), Sri Padmapadacharya (direct disciple), Sri Totakacharya (direct disciple), and Sri Narasimha Ashrama are just some of the Advaitins I can list from the top of my head (with using the internet to double check spelling )

There are some other Advaitins who are a bit different from the ancient Advaitins, and those are called Neo-advaitins (not a derogatory term). People like Dayananda, Ramana, Vivekananda, and Ramakrishna fall in that category.

My suggestion is not to listen to anyone to get information of Advaita but rather to consult the books written by the Advaitin acharyas. Advaita is one of the most misunderstood philosophies of Hinduism; the most misunderstood would have to be Madhva's Dvaita.

Regards

 

[Chakra]

As far as I know, non-Dualism has been around long before Advaita Vedanta. However, it really began to come into prominence because of Adi Shankara. If you are interested, I would look into reading his commentaries on various Hindu scriptures. As well as the Upanishads in general.

The commentary on Chadrogya Upanishad, Gita, Vishnu Sahasranamam, Vedanta, and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad are just a couple ones you should start with if you want to understand Advaita.
I'd start with his commentary on Vedanta and Gita first.

 

[George-ananda]

It is a belief in non-dualism; that God and creation are not-two. Only God/Brahman is real and He is pure consciousness sat-chit-ananda (being-awareness-bliss). The universe is a creative emanation from Brahman. It is a divine play/drama of Brahman where He separates Himself from Himself into finite forms and then returns Himself to Himself. So at mankind's stage we are on the return trip to Oneness. Separateness is seen as the illusion to overcome.

 

[Valjean]

In a nutshell, sans Sanskrit or Vedic references. Three stabs at it, for the layman:

There is only one "thing/consciousness/entity" in existence. It is dreaming reality/the universe.

You are the only thing that exists. You've taken the blue pill. You're dreaming the world.

Reality is a dream. All this diversity and activity is an illusion; a dream.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Advaita in a nut-shell? Here: 'Aham Brahmasmi" (I am Brahman, that which constitutes all in the universe), Tat Twam Asi' (That is what you too are), Sarva Khalu Idam Brahma (All things here are Brahman). There is no second (Dwiteeyo Nasti).

 

[Amrut]

Namaste,

Please visit,

Advaita Vedanta Anusandhana Kendra

to Skip to Advaita vedanta, please visit

The Advaita Vedânta Home Page

You may also visit

Understanding Advaita

To understand some basic concepts visit

Understanding Advaita - Understanding Advaita

Advaita-vedanta.org is an excellent website created by the one is following Sringeri tradition. The author has listed guru lineage and have given intros of some great gurus.

The first thing to read is prakaraNa grantha-s. tatva-bodha is considered as the most basic and often it is the first one to be read. Then read, panchikarana (optional), Atma bodh, Aparokshanubhuti and Vivekchudamani (most important text to understand advaita). Later read Gita which is commented by Advaita saints. It is better to listen to audio or video then read a commentary as an acharya tries to connect verse with upanishads and even prakarana grantha. Swami Chinmaya's Gita commentary is very popular.

Some people only read Tatva Bodh and Vivekchudamani.

Works of Sri Adi Shankaracharya can be found in below link:

Works of Shankaracharya, Advaita Vedanta Philosophy and Hindu Sacred Scriptures

Sri Adi Shankaracharya has also written commentary in on. Translation is available. Please note that commentaries by some saints like Swami Chinmaya and Swami Sivananda (of Divine Life Society) is not literal translation of Shankara Bhashya but it closely follows Shankara Bhashya.

After you read Tatva Bodh, vivekchudamani and then Gita commentaries for a dozen times, you can get a grasp of Advaita. Now since base is made, reading other stuff would be easy.

Panchadasi by Vidyaranya Swami is considered as manual of Advaita. It has 15 chapters, but first please read those three scriptures. Brahmasutra and it's commentary by Adi Sankara has to be read last, mostly it is given by the Guru. Brahma sutra is not for masses.

OM

 

[Maya3]

This

It is a belief in non-dualism; that God and creation are not-two. Only God/Brahman is real and He is pure consciousness sat-chit-ananda (being-awareness-bliss). The universe is a creative emanation from Brahman. It is a divine play/drama of Brahman where He separates Himself from Himself into finite forms and then returns Himself to Himself. So at mankind's stage we are on the return trip to Oneness. Separateness is seen as the illusion to overcome.

Maya

 

[George-ananda]

This



Maya

Thank you Maya. I'm flattered because my illusion of being a separate ego has not yet been extinguished.

But in all seriousness, Advaita is something very few educated and intelligent mainstream westerners are familiar with at all. It is not a concept the mainstream western person can quickly grasp; you have to think and ask questions for awhile. I think dualism (God and creation are two things) is an easier concept to grasp. I think that's why Advaita is called non-dualism (instead of simply 'singularity) because it is one stage beyond dualism. Thought can start more easily with dualism before moving on to non-dualism. We need to find the best way of explaining Advaita simply and briefly to intelligent westerners who we can assume are very familiar with dualism (but often unsatisfied with the understandings there). This simple introductory explanation needs no sanskrit word or names of masters they never can pronounce and classical texts on the subject which they're not going to read as their real motivation to learn has not been piqued yet.

So we need to find the best way to explain it in western terms and in a nutshell out of love for them and our wish that they can experience the peace, love and serenity that an Advaitan path can bring.

 

[Maya3]

Thank you Maya. I'm flattered because my illusion of being a separate ego has not yet been extinguished.

Nah, me neither. That´s ok. We are still cool

Maya