🦚Indian Philosophy Unit 11 – Advaita Vedanta: Shankara's View of Reality

What's Advaita Vedanta?

• One of the main schools of Vedanta, a branch of Hindu philosophy based on the Upanishads
• Advaita means "non-dualism" or "non-secondness" in Sanskrit, emphasizing the unity of reality
• Proposes that the ultimate reality, Brahman, is the only truth, while the world of multiplicity is an illusion (maya)
• Teaches that the individual self (atman) is identical with the ultimate reality (Brahman)
• Aims to help individuals realize their true nature and attain liberation (moksha) from the cycle of rebirth (samsara)
• Developed and systematized by the 8th-century philosopher Adi Shankara
• Influenced by the teachings of the Upanishads, particularly the Mandukya, Brihadaranyaka, and Chandogya Upanishads

Shankara: The OG of Non-Dualism

• Adi Shankara (788-820 CE) is considered the most prominent exponent of Advaita Vedanta
• Born in Kalady, Kerala, to a Nambudiri Brahmin family
• Became a sannyasin (renunciate) at a young age and traveled across India, engaging in philosophical debates
• Wrote extensive commentaries on the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Brahma Sutras, which form the basis of Advaita Vedanta
• Established four mathas (monasteries) in the four corners of India to spread his teachings
  • Jyotir Math in the north (Badrinath)
  • Govardhana Math in the east (Puri)
  • Sharada Math in the west (Dwarka)
  • Sringeri Math in the south (Sringeri)
• Emphasized the importance of direct experience and knowledge (jnana) in attaining liberation
• Debated with scholars from other philosophical schools, such as Mimamsa and Buddhism, and established Advaita Vedanta as a prominent school of thought

The Big Idea: Brahman is Everything

• Brahman is the ultimate, non-dual reality in Advaita Vedanta
• It is the absolute, unchanging, eternal, and infinite consciousness that underlies all existence
• Brahman is described as sat-chit-ananda (existence-consciousness-bliss)
  • Sat: Brahman is the ultimate existence, the ground of all being
  • Chit: Brahman is pure consciousness, the source of all knowledge and awareness
  • Ananda: Brahman is infinite bliss, the ultimate state of happiness and contentment
• Brahman is beyond all dualities, such as subject-object, good-evil, and life-death
• It is the substratum of the entire universe, the source from which everything originates and into which everything dissolves
• Brahman is not a personal God, but rather the impersonal, transcendent reality that encompasses all existence
• Realizing the true nature of Brahman and one's identity with it is the ultimate goal of Advaita Vedanta

Maya: Why Reality Isn't What It Seems

• Maya is the illusion or the apparent reality that veils the true nature of Brahman
• It is the power of Brahman that creates the appearance of multiplicity and diversity in the world
• Maya is not a separate entity from Brahman but is dependent on it, just as a mirage depends on the desert sand
• It is the cause of ignorance (avidya) that makes individuals perceive the world as real and separate from Brahman
• Maya operates through two main powers:
  • Avarana shakti: The veiling power that conceals the true nature of Brahman
  • Vikshepa shakti: The projecting power that creates the appearance of the world and individual selves
• The world of multiplicity, including the individual self, is a product of maya and is ultimately unreal (mithya)
• Realizing the illusory nature of maya and the true nature of Brahman is essential for attaining liberation

Atman and Brahman: You're the Universe, Dude

• Atman is the individual self or soul in Advaita Vedanta
• It is the pure consciousness that resides within each living being
• Atman is not the body, mind, or ego, but the unchanging, eternal witness of all experiences
• Advaita Vedanta teaches that atman is identical with Brahman, the ultimate reality
• The famous Upanishadic statement "Tat Tvam Asi" (That Thou Art) encapsulates this idea
• The apparent difference between atman and Brahman is due to the illusion of maya
• Realizing the unity of atman and Brahman is the key to liberation (moksha)
  • This realization is known as "atma-jnana" or self-knowledge
• The Mahavakyas (great sayings) of the Upanishads, such as "Aham Brahmasmi" (I am Brahman), point to this non-dual reality
• Recognizing one's true nature as Brahman leads to the dissolution of ignorance and the end of suffering

Levels of Reality: It's All Relative

• Advaita Vedanta distinguishes between two levels of reality: absolute (paramarthika) and relative (vyavaharika)
• Absolute reality (paramarthika satta) is Brahman, the non-dual, unchanging, and eternal truth
• Relative reality (vyavaharika satta) is the world of multiplicity, which is a product of maya and is ultimately unreal
  • This includes the individual self, the world of objects, and the experiences of pleasure and pain
• There is also a third level of reality called pratibhasika satta, which refers to the illusory appearances, such as dreams or hallucinations
• The relative and illusory realities are superimposed on the absolute reality due to ignorance (avidya)
• The snake-rope analogy illustrates this idea:
  • In dim light, a rope may be mistaken for a snake, causing fear and anxiety
  • Upon closer examination, the snake is revealed to be a rope, and the fear subsides
  • Similarly, the world of multiplicity is superimposed on Brahman due to ignorance, causing suffering
• Realizing the absolute reality of Brahman and the illusory nature of the relative reality is the goal of Advaita Vedanta

Liberation: Escaping the Matrix

• Liberation (moksha) is the ultimate goal of Advaita Vedanta
• It is the realization of one's true nature as Brahman and the freedom from the cycle of birth and death (samsara)
• Liberation is attained through self-knowledge (atma-jnana), which removes ignorance (avidya) and the illusion of maya
• Advaita Vedanta emphasizes the direct path of knowledge (jnana-marga) as the primary means to attain liberation
  • This involves studying the Upanishads under the guidance of a qualified teacher (guru) and engaging in self-inquiry (vichara)
• Other paths, such as devotion (bhakti) and action (karma), are considered preparatory steps that purify the mind and create favorable conditions for self-knowledge
• Upon attaining liberation, the individual realizes their identity with Brahman and experiences infinite bliss (ananda)
• The liberated person (jivanmukta) continues to live in the world but is unaffected by its joys and sorrows, as they have transcended the illusion of maya
• After the death of the physical body, the liberated person attains final liberation (videhamukti) and merges with Brahman, never to be reborn again

Why It Matters: Advaita's Impact

• Advaita Vedanta has had a profound impact on Indian philosophy, spirituality, and culture
• It has influenced other schools of Vedanta, such as Vishistadvaita (qualified non-dualism) and Dvaita (dualism)
• Advaita Vedanta has also had a significant impact on Indian literature, art, and music
  • Many poets, such as Adi Shankara and Kabir, have expressed Advaitic ideas in their works
  • The concept of maya has been a recurring theme in Indian art, often depicted as a veil or a web that conceals the true reality
• Advaita Vedanta has influenced modern Indian thinkers, such as Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo, who have reinterpreted its teachings for contemporary audiences
• The non-dual philosophy of Advaita Vedanta has also attracted interest from Western philosophers and spiritual seekers
  • Philosophers such as Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche have been influenced by Advaitic ideas
  • Advaita Vedanta has been compared to Western philosophical traditions, such as Neoplatonism and Idealism
• The teachings of Advaita Vedanta continue to inspire and guide spiritual seekers around the world, offering a path to self-realization and liberation from suffering