<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZEDc3ZnNWwc?si=N2TBIm7sTBCabMgz" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> # What is Advaita Vedanta? **Advaita Vedanta** is a non-dualistic school of Indian philosophy rooted in the ancient Vedic traditions. The term "Advaita" means "not two" or "non-dual," signifying its core teaching that the ultimate reality, **Brahman**, is singular, infinite, and indivisible. According to Advaita, the self (Atman) and Brahman are ultimately one and the same. This school is part of **Vedanta**, which interprets the **Upanishads**—the final sections of the Vedas—focusing on their philosophical and spiritual teachings. Advaita Vedanta is most famously articulated by the 8th-century Indian philosopher **Adi Shankaracharya**, who formalized and popularized its doctrines through commentaries and debates. --- ### Origins of Advaita Vedanta 1. **Vedic Roots**: Advaita traces its origins to the **Vedas**, particularly the **Upanishads** (e.g., Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka, Mandukya), which explore the nature of existence, consciousness, and the ultimate reality. 2. **Philosophical Evolution**: It evolved over centuries, synthesizing insights from earlier schools of thought, such as **Samkhya**, **Yoga**, and **Buddhism**. 3. **Adi Shankaracharya**: Shankara provided a systematic interpretation, emphasizing the unity of existence and offering methodologies like **jnana yoga** (the path of knowledge) to realize the truth. --- ### Key Teachings of Advaita Vedanta 1. **Non-Duality**: The universe's apparent multiplicity is a manifestation of ignorance (**avidya**). The ultimate reality, Brahman, is singular and beyond distinctions. 2. **Atman = Brahman**: The individual self (Atman) is not separate from Brahman. Realizing this identity is liberation (**moksha**). 3. **Maya (Illusion)**: The world of forms and duality is an illusion created by Maya, veiling the true nature of reality. 4. **Path to Liberation**: Self-inquiry and discrimination between the real and the unreal are emphasized as means to overcome ignorance and realize unity. --- ### What Advaita Vedanta Offers to Well-being #### **Individual Well-being** 1. **Inner Peace**: By recognizing the impermanence of the material world and the oneness of existence, individuals can transcend fear, anxiety, and attachment. 2. **Liberation (Moksha)**: The philosophy provides tools for self-realization and ultimate freedom from the cycle of birth and death. 3. **Ethical Living**: Understanding the interconnectedness of all beings fosters compassion, humility, and a sense of responsibility. #### **Collective Well-being** 1. **Unity Consciousness**: Realizing the non-dual nature of reality can dissolve divisions based on race, religion, and nationality, fostering harmony and cooperation. 2. **Sustainability**: Advaita promotes living in alignment with universal principles, encouraging respect for nature and sustainable living. 3. **Conflict Resolution**: The philosophy’s emphasis on oneness can provide a spiritual foundation for resolving interpersonal and societal conflicts. --- ### What Advaita Vedanta is Not 1. **Not Nihilism**: While it describes the world as an illusion (Maya), Advaita does not deny the practical reality of the world. It acknowledges the world's relative reality while focusing on the ultimate truth. 2. **Not Theistic in a Conventional Sense**: Advaita transcends anthropomorphic conceptions of God, emphasizing the formless and infinite nature of Brahman. 3. **Not a Religion**: It is a spiritual philosophy rather than a faith-based system, and its principles can be practiced independently of religious affiliation. 4. **Not Dualistic**: Advaita rejects dualistic philosophies that see God and the individual as fundamentally separate. --- In summary, Advaita Vedanta offers a profound vision of life centered on self-realization and unity. It invites individuals to transcend the illusions of separateness, enabling them to live with peace, compassion, and wisdom while contributing to a harmonious and inclusive world. --- See also [[Practicing Advaita Vedanta]] # Videos <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-9HnkiSeqm4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>