The Concept of Advaita Vedanta

Adi Shankara, an 8th-century philosopher, is widely regarded as the founder of Advaita Vedanta.

Advaita Vedanta is centered around the concept of non-duality, which posits that the self (Atman) and the universe (Brahman) are fundamentally one and not separate.

In Advaita Vedanta, Brahman is the term used to describe the ultimate reality, the universal consciousness, or the ground of all existence.

Atman is the term used in Advaita Vedanta to refer to the individual self, the inner essence or consciousness that is identical with Brahman.

Advaita Vedanta considers the world of appearances, or the phenomenal world, to be illusory or Maya, a veil that obscures the true nature of reality.

The ultimate goal of Advaita Vedanta is to attain Moksha, or liberation, which is the realization of the non-dual nature of reality and the merging of the individual self with the universal consciousness.

In Advaita Vedanta, the primary method of achieving Moksha is self-inquiry (Atma Vichara), which involves questioning the nature of the self and seeking to understand its true identity.

Advaita Vedanta posits that Maya, the world of appearances, is an illusion created by Brahman, the ultimate reality, due to the limitations of human perception.

Avidya, in Advaita Vedanta, refers to ignorance or lack of knowledge about the true nature of reality, which leads to the perception of duality and the phenomenal world.

Ishvara, in Advaita Vedanta, is the personal form of Brahman, the ultimate reality, worshipped as a deity with qualities and attributes.

Advaita Vedanta is compatible with other schools of Indian philosophy, as it seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of reality and the nature of existence.

The Upanishads, ancient Sanskrit texts, are considered the primary source of Advaita Vedanta, as they contain the teachings and insights that form the foundation of this school of thought.

Advaita Vedanta considers time to be an illusion, as it is perceived through the limitations of human consciousness and is not an inherent aspect of the ultimate reality.

Advaita Vedanta emphasizes the unity and interconnectedness of all things, recognizing that the universe is an inseparable whole and that all beings are fundamentally one.

Advaita Vedanta acknowledges the existence of evil as a part of the phenomenal world, viewing it as a consequence of ignorance and the limitations of human perception.