# How does one practice Advaita Vedanta? See also [[What is Advaita Vedanta]] Practicing **Advaita Vedanta** is not about adhering to rituals or external practices but about internal transformation and realising the non-dual nature of reality. It involves a combination of philosophical understanding, meditative inquiry, and ethical living. Below are the key aspects of practicing Advaita Vedanta in daily life: --- ### **1. Self-Inquiry (Atma Vichara)** This is the central practice of Advaita Vedanta, aimed at understanding the true nature of the Self. - **Ask “Who am I?”**: Focus inward and question your identity beyond the body, mind, emotions, and roles. - **Discriminate Between the Real and the Unreal**: Develop **viveka** (discernment) by distinguishing between the eternal (Brahman) and the transient (Maya). - Reflect on the teaching: _Atman is Brahman_—your true Self is infinite, formless, and one with all existence. --- ### **2. Cultivate Detachment (Vairagya)** Let go of attachment to fleeting pleasures, material possessions, and ego-driven desires. - Recognise the impermanence of worldly experiences. - Live with a sense of **non-ownership**, seeing yourself as a witness rather than the doer. - Accept life’s highs and lows with equanimity, knowing they belong to the realm of Maya. --- ### **3. Practice Meditation (Dhyana)** Meditation helps quiet the mind and dissolve the illusion of separation. - Focus on **non-dual awareness**: Contemplate the oneness of existence or simply rest in the awareness of being. - Use a mantra, such as _Aham Brahmasmi_ (“I am Brahman”), to align your thoughts with Advaitic truth. - Practice silence (**mauna**) regularly to turn inward and reflect on your true nature. --- ### **4. Study and Contemplation (Shravana, Manana, Nididhyasana)** Engage in a threefold process to internalize Advaita teachings: 1. **Shravana**: Study the scriptures (Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Brahmasutras) and commentaries by sages like Adi Shankaracharya. 2. **Manana**: Reflect deeply on these teachings, resolving doubts and assimilating their meaning. 3. **Nididhyasana**: Meditate on the teachings to directly experience the truth of non-duality. --- ### **5. Ethical Living (Dharma and Ahimsa)** Ethics are foundational to Advaita Vedanta because they purify the mind and make it receptive to truth. - **Practice Ahimsa**: Live non-violently in thought, word, and deed, recognizing the unity of all beings. - **Be Selfless (Karma Yoga)**: Perform your duties without attachment to the results, dedicating all actions to the divine. - **Foster Compassion**: See others as reflections of the same universal Self and act with kindness and humility. --- ### **6. Surrender (Ishwarapranidhana)** While Advaita teaches that you are ultimately one with Brahman, surrendering the ego to a higher power can be a powerful preparatory step. - Trust the flow of life and align with universal intelligence (Ishwara). - Let go of the need to control outcomes, recognising that the ego is an illusion. --- ### **7. Develop Awareness in Everyday Life** - Practice **mindfulness** in all activities, maintaining awareness of your role as the silent witness. - When you act, remind yourself: _I am not this body-mind complex; I am the unchanging awareness behind it._ - In interactions, see others not as separate individuals but as manifestations of the same Brahman. --- ### **8. Overcome Ignorance (Avidya)** The ultimate obstacle in Advaita is ignorance of your true nature. Overcoming it requires consistent practice: - Be vigilant of mental patterns that reinforce duality, such as identification with the ego. - Use contemplation to dissolve habitual thinking that separates "self" from "other." --- ### **Practical Steps to Start** 1. Dedicate time daily for self-inquiry or meditation. 2. Read and reflect on Advaita texts, such as the Mandukya Upanishad or Adi Shankaracharya’s _Vivekachudamani_. 3. Engage in selfless service (seva) to reduce egoic tendencies. 4. Simplify life by detaching from unnecessary possessions and desires. 5. Join satsangs or discussions with like-minded seekers to stay inspired. --- ### **Living Advaita in the World** Advaita Vedanta does not require renouncing the world. Instead, it transforms how you relate to it: - Live as though you are in the world but not of it. - Approach all experiences with the understanding that they are part of the same universal reality. - See the divine in everything—nature, people, and yourself. By consistently practicing these principles, the boundaries of duality begin to dissolve, allowing the realisation of oneness to shine through daily life.